When my kids were toddlers, bedtime was usually pretty rough! At the end of a full day of child-care, my kids would often dissolve into tears, start screaming, and need hugs all at the same time while I tried to get their pajamas on and their teeth brushed. As a parent, trying to navigate this mix of emotions at bedtime – or any time of day – can be very frustrating.<\/p>\n
Learning to control big emotions can be challenging for young kids who are also developing a sense of personal control and independence. Unfortunately, this jumble of feelings can often peak at the end of the day when parents are trying to get kids to bed. A consistent bedtime routine that includes reading books can help ease the nightly toddler drama!<\/span><\/p>\n Reading every night with my kids, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a>, has been part of their bedtime routine since infancy. One day, hoping to navigate my kids\u2019 bedtime meltdowns, I went to the children\u2019s section of our local bookstore to see if I could find some new books. The Color Monster: A Pop Up Book of Feelings<\/span>\u00a0was on display. Opening this book, I knew immediately that my toddlers would connect with the fun colors and characters and enjoy sorting the pop-up \u201cfeelings\u201d into jars on the book\u2019s pages. I hoped the book\u2019s themes would help us through bedtimes for years to come.<\/span>\u00a0It did \u2013 and over time, I found several other helpful books about feelings;<\/span> here are a few of my favorites:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Books About Feelings for Toddlers<\/u><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Teeth Are Not for Biting<\/em><\/span> by Elizabeth Verdick (age focus 1.5-4 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When I Am\/Cuando Estoy<\/em><\/span> (English\/Spanish) by Gladys Rosa-Mendoza (2-4 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Llama Llama Mad at Mama<\/em><\/span> by Anna Dewdney (2-5 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings <\/em>by Anna Llenas (2-5 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Big Feelings<\/em><\/span> by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman (3-6 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Books About Feelings for Early School Aged<\/u> Kids<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Grumpy Monkey<\/em><\/span> by Suzanne Lang (3-7 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My Body Sends a Signal<\/em><\/span> by Natalia Maguire (4-7 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ravi\u2019s Roar<\/em><\/span> by Tom Percival (4-7 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Happiest Kid<\/em><\/span> by Sarah Bagley Steele (4-8 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day<\/em><\/span> by Judith Viorst (5-9 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Books With Strategies for Kids to Cope With Strong Feelings<\/u><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Little Monkey Calms Down<\/em><\/span> by Michael Dahl (ages 1-4)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings<\/em><\/span> by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd (2-5 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hands Are Not for Hitting<\/em><\/span> by Martine Agassi (3-6 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Breathing Makes it Better<\/em><\/span> by Christopher Willard and Wendy O\u2019Leary (3-6 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even Superheroes Have Bad Days<\/em><\/span> by Shelly Becker (4-7 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Good Egg<\/em><\/span> by Jory John and Pete Oswald (4-7 years)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kids learn well through stories<\/a> and connecting with the characters in them. Books about feelings can be a great addition to your family collection or your next baby shower gift. Whether it\u2019s The Color Monster, Llama Llama, Alexander, or Grumpy Monkey, these characters are sure to be enjoyed by parents and kids alike!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Resources for Parents<\/strong><\/p>\n Reach Out and Read<\/a><\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatrics<\/p>\n Developmental Milestones of Early Literacy<\/a><\/p>\n How to Share Books with Children 2 and 3 Years Old<\/a><\/p>\n How to Share Books with Your Preschooler<\/a><\/p>\n Zero to Three<\/p>\n