The Way I Feel Paperback – Picture Book, 2 Mar. 2021

Unlike a lot of the emotions books available in which scenarios are presented that might make a child feel a certain way, this publication has short poems that describe a variety of emotions, without saying that they are good or bad, right or wrong. The book focuses on how you feel not what makes you feel a particular way. I like this approach. The aim is to help children to articulate how they feel and to talk about emotions without being made to feel at fault for how they feel. I skip the 'scared' page because it is about being scared of a thunder storm at night and the child wants the light on, neither of my children are scared of these things and I don't want to give them ideas! The other descriptions of emotions do not lead a child to associate a particular feeling with a particular situation. This means parents can use the poems as a spring board for talking about feelings and emotions that are specific to the individual child that might be different to generalised ideas of what makes us feel sad, angry, etc. (Many books seem to focus on the 'he snatched my toy, I feel angry, what do I need to do to stop that feeling' approach to emotions that might lead a child to modify his behaviour in a negative way). This book simply, and with lovely illustrations, says 'here are some emotions, we all feel them, they are all a part of who we are'.I used this with one of my children who gets very upset and sometimes angry at what he thinks is unfairness, but my other boy loves the book too and they quite often like to have it read just because they enjoy it.

My boys, who just turned 4 and 2, have loved this book since we got a couple months ago. They love imitating the emotions, there are some vibrant but not too over the top illustrations and a lovely rhyme. Would definitely recommend for toddlers and preschoolers.

My son's OT recommended this for him - he has ASD and can struggle to articulate his feelings or even recognise them. This book has been brilliant at articulating a wide range of feelings - and not just happy / sad and he really loves it. I'd hugely recommend it myself to anyone whose child needs a bit of help in this area. It's brilliant.

This is a super idea, discussing feelings. It is a great way to bring up how we feel and what makes us feel this way with children. More should be done and using stories to make it even better.

Very good book for my nursery children! They want me to read it again and again!

Bought for young child with anxiety, really reassuring nice book about feelings and emotions

Came really fast and was a great resource for an emotions group I ran at work. Kids loved it and it really helped open up discussion.

Beautifully illustrated. Love all the feelings explored as they are so relavent to toddler experiences. Gorgeous book. Only criticism is some of the rhymes feel a bit forced but overall fabulous book.