Babbitt, Natalie.
Bub, or the Very Best Thing.
HarperCollins, 1994.
2–3 PB

A pair of royal parents consults with all kinds of court experts to determine what is the best thing for their child.

Bailey, Linda.
When Addie was Scared.
Kids Can Press, 1999.
2–3 PB

Addie overcomes her fear of hawks in order to protect her family’s chickens.

Bluthenthal, Diana.
I’m Not Invited?
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003.
2–3 PB

A little girl is sad, confused, and disappointed when she thinks she has been left out of her friend’s party plans.

Burleigh, Robert.
Pandora.
Silver Whistle, 2002.
4–5 PB

When Pandora opens a forbidden jar, she releases evil and danger into the world, but manages to hold on to hope.

Cain, Janan.
The Way I Feel.
Parenting Press, 2000.
K–3 PB

Text and art combine to explain and illustrate feelings of anger, fear, and happiness, to name a few!

Catalanotto, Peter.
Emily’s Art.
Atheneum, 2001.
2–3 PB

Emily’s artistic spirit is crushed and then revived in this story of a child’s first experience with an art contest.

Frame, Jeron Ashford.
Yesterday I Had the Blues.
Tricycle Press, 2003.
2–5 PB

Perhaps you’ve had the “blues,” but have you had the “greens,” or the “yellows”? This book associates feelings with colors.

Freymann, Saxton.
How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods.
Arthur A. Levine Books, 1999.
2–5 PB

Expressive fruits and vegetables illustrate a wide variety of emotions. Captions include vocabulary that helps children explore and express their feelings.

Heyer, Merilee.
The Weaving of a Dream.
Viking Kestrel, 1986.
4–5 PB

Only one of three sons feels compassion for his mother and is able to complete a difficult task on her behalf.

Hoose, Phillip.
Hey, Little Ant.
Tricycle Press 1998.
2–5 PB

Readers see both sides of the story when an ant tries to convince a boy to spare its life.

Hubbard, Woodleigh Marx.
Whoa Jealousy!
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002.
2–5 PB

Jealousy, envy, greed, rivalry are represented by various animals that try to interfere in a child’s life.

Lobel, Arnold.
Frog and Toad Together.
HarperCollins, 1972.
2–3 PB

Two close friends experience a range of emotions as they work and play together.

McPhail, David.
The Teddy Bear.
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2002.
3–5 PB

A little boy displays empathy for a homeless man who loses a treasured belonging.

Murphy, Mary.
I Feel Happy, and Sad and Angry and Glad.
Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
K PB

This simple story connects everyday happenings to feelings.

Park, Frances.
Good-Bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong.
National geographic, 2002.
2–5 PB

A little girl must leave her country and adjust to life in America.

Polacco, Patricia.
Mrs. Katz and Tush.
Bantam Doubleday, 1994.
2–5 PB

A young boy exhibits empathy as he provides service for, and ultimately befriends, an elderly woman.

Smith, Patricia.
Janna and the Kings.
Lee & Low Books, 2003.
2–3 PB

Janna experiences a range of feelings in this book, from excitement, and joy, to grief and loneliness, as she shares Saturdays with her grandfather.

Steptoe, John.
Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale.
Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books, 1987.
4–5 PB

Of Mufaro’s two daughters, only Nyasha shows true empathy and compassion.

Wishinsky, Frieda.
Give Maggie a Chance.
Fitzhenry & Whiteside Ltd., 2002.
K–1 PB

Maggie freezes up under the pressure of having to read aloud in class. a classmate comes to Maggie’s rescue.

Woodson, Jacqueline.
Visiting Day.
Scholastic Inc., 2002.
2–5 PB

A little girl goes to visit her dad in prison. Told from a child’s perspective, the story is all about a family’s loyalty and love for each other under difficult circumstances.

Yoshiko, Uchida.
The Bracelet.
Philomel Books, 1993.
4–5 CB

A young girl, who is sent to a Japanese internment camp, depends on the memories of a close friendship to sustain her through tough times.