Books to help toddler express emotions

[Row23]

Just wondered if anyone had any recommendations for books which help explain emotions to a toddler? Something that could maybe get him talking about his emotions a bit?
He’s 3 and just seems to completely shut down when it comes to emotions. I’m not expecting him to express everything perfectly, but maybe he just doesn’t have the basic understanding.
He loves books so something explaining different emotions or how we handle emotions like anger (eg not hitting).

I don’t think you get this from a book. You get this from someone validating what you’re feeling. I think you need to put an effort into naming emotions for him. “I can see you were so happy to see that beautiful butterfly, or to get a treat from granny” or “You must feel so proud that you climbed to the top of the climbing frame all by yourself” or “I can see you feel really disappointed that you didn’t get to have sweets like Henry did. It’s okay to feel disappointed when things don’t happen the way we want them to” or “I can tell you feel angry that you didn’t get to buy a toy. I feel angry sometimes too when I can’t do what I want to do.”

Also you name your emotions with him. And call yourself out when you get it a bit wrong. “Mummy felt really frustrated when the car wouldn’t start. I’m sorry if I was a bit grumpy with you. It can be hard feeling frustrated when everything feels like it’s going wrong.” They need to see emotions in action to get it.

There is a book called the colour monster that teaches children about the different types of emotions

There are so many excellent children's books for this! My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss is understandable for a toddler, but also great for any age.

Also the Blue Kangaroo books by Emma Chichester Clark are great on tackling basic toddler feelings.

When he's slightly older, Oh The Places You'll Go, also by Dr Seuss, is brilliant. Also Boy, was I Mad, by Kathryn Hitte.

The colour monster is a good one.

I agree that they’re learn through seeing us do it / validating feelings. We do all of this, I tell him I’m feeling annoyed so I’m going to do deep breaths etc. I talk to him about how things make me feel. We say that it’s ok to feel X but you can’t hit / throw / be rude etc.
I just think he needs something more physical to actually grasp the idea of emotions for himself. Reading about becoming a big brother really helped him link that my tummy had a baby in, so I think a book could help him make the link in his brain. So he can actually see an emotion instead of just feeling it and not knowing what it is.

Ooh yes I think I’ve heard of this. I shall take a look, thanks

Fabulous, thank you for all of the suggestions!

Calm mindfulness for kids…
where the wild things are
the baddies
rubys worry
I’m angry’ by Michael Rosen

I disagree with pp who said you don’t get this from a book. There is a whole kind of psychology called bibliotherapy and therapeutic stories are a thing

123 of kindness series

Also if you go to the library there will be a specific decision on this so you can try out a few

Happy Hippo, Angry Duck by Sandra Boynton is great (for adults as well as toddlers)

The film Inside Out is quite a good one to introduce them to the idea that feelings live inside us. Not sure if it would be a bit too long at 3 though.