Browse our recommended books to help improve children’s wellbeing. Includes books about dealing with feelings, how to beat the bullies, and being your best self.
Looking for more reading ideas? Take a look at our recommendations.
Feel Your Happy
Emily Coxhead
Every day there are new things to explore. All around us there is lots to see, hear, smell, touch and taste. But sometimes it can feel overwhelming – like everything is too much. Everyone feels this way sometimes, but with a little help from Sloth and the people you love, there is always a way to feel your happy!
Full of joyful illustrations and practical ideas, this is an uplifting introduction to the senses – and how to manage sensory overload.
Mr Panda’s Feelings
Steve Anthony
Lemur is happy and Swan is scared. But how is Mr Panda is feeling?
Find out and help your little bears express their emotions with this simple board book story.
Bee You!
Smriti Prasadam-Halls
What kind of person do you want to be? Kind, smart, thoughtful or wise, the possibilities are endless.
Follow all of these amazing bees on their busy day, from their hive to school, on good days and bad days, and learn that being yourself is the best you that you can be – and if you believe in yourself, life can be sweeter than honey.
What Are Feelings?
Katie Daynes
This thoughtful book explores happiness, sadness, anger, fear and worry in a friendly and approachable way.
Adorable animal characters experience different emotions, while imaginative flaps answer important questions such as ‘Why don’t I feel happy all the time?’ and ‘How can I cheer up my friend?’.
The Feelings Doctor and the Emotions Toolkit
Anna Llenas
One day, Nuna was in a situation where she didn’t know how to say no and it left her feeling strange and confused. So she went to see Colour Monster who is now a doctor and can help to heal emotions, especially those that are big and difficult to understand.
To begin with, Nuna cannot find the right words. But with the help of Colour Monster and his emotions toolkit, Nuna learns how to use tools and techniques that will make her feel better.
Together they try things like deep breathing, arts and crafts, blowing bubbles and dancing until she starts to feel calmer. Now will Nuna be able to talk about what’s bothering her?
My Thoughts and Me
Nima Patel
We all have difficult thoughts sometimes, but we don’t have to believe them.
Discover a variety of helpful and age-appropriate strategies for managing troubling thoughts and negative self-talk in this uplifting follow-up to ‘The Best You’.
Hello Me!
Naira Wilson
Written by a child psychologist, this beautiful book follows a young boy as he learns to love and accept himself, with all his flaws!
Relatable characters and a gentle storyline introduce little ones to the concept of mental health in an accessible and engaging way, encouraging them to think about how to look after themselves and accept themselves for who they are.
Featuring exquisite illustrations and tips on how to foster a life-long sense of wellbeing, this is a stunning addition to any library. Be yourself in the world. Don’t give up! And love yourself for who you are.
Sohal Finds a Friend
Jion Sheibani
Everyone feels worried sometimes. But what if your worries came to life and started following you around? Sohal worries about a lot of things – the dark, mutant sheep, not having any friends – you name it, he worries about it!
So one night he draws his worries to make himself feel better – and somehow they look a lot less worrying once he’s scribbled them down. Imagine Sohal’s surprise when he wakes up the next morning, and finds a set of funny furry friends at the end of his bed! His worries have come to life, and it’s not long before Hurt, Fail, Anger, Big and Alone have turned his world upside down.
Now it’s up to Sohal to work out how to keep his worries under control – and have some serious fun while he’s at it.
We Feel Happy!
Katie Abey
A fantastic first book of feelings that introduces little ones to a wide range of emotions. Why are the animals happy? What has made them feel sad? What do you feel excited about?
Vibrantly illustrated by the talented Katie Abey, ‘We Feel Happy!’ includes the feelings: happy, calm, worried, shy, curious, grumpy, sad, scared, sorry, excited, and a guide written by early years specialist, Dr Helen Lewis, with lots of useful information for speaking to children about their emotions.
What Are You Feeling?
Daniel Gray-Barnett
An illustrated guide to emotions that helps children identify and articulate how they are really feeling, ‘What Are You Feeling?’ aims to develop emotional literacy for children aged 5-8 years. It is a book about finding interesting words for interesting feelings.
It explores what lots of feeling words really mean and which words best describe the many feelings a child may have.
Usborne Lift-the-Flap Questions and Answers About Feelings
Lara Bryan
Why can’t I be happy all the time? What can I do when I feel like exploding? Is it ok to give up?
This book is packed full of tips, tools and everyday situations to help kids think about and answer these big questions for themselves.
The Fantastic Book of Feelings: A Guide to Being Happy, Sad and Everything In-Between!
Marcia Williams
How do you feel today? Whether you’re happy, sad or anything in-between, this book is the perfect guide to understanding and celebrating all your feelings! In colourful comic-strip stories, explore a whole range of emotions and discover ways to cope when any feeling becomes overwhelming.
Packed with top tips for mental wellbeing and a first aid box for feelings, this is a helpful and engaging guide celebrating the importance of good mental health.
Roar Like a Lion: How Animals Can Help You Be Your Best Self
Carlie Sorosiak
Can a wombat offer us life lessons on kindness? Can we possibly learn bravery from the meekest of hedgehogs? The answers to these questions and many others can be found in the pages of the illustrated book, as we look to the natural world to show us humans the way.
This book is full of advice from the animal kingdom, from the plucky platypus to the welcoming wombat, the perceptive pigeon to the cheerful chimpanzee.
Every Body
Molly Forbes
This is an essential guide to embracing and respecting all bodies, for readers aged 9+.
We all have a body. They don’t always function the same as other people’s. And they certainly don’t all look the same. But one thing is certain – every body deserves respect. Sometimes social media can make us feel like we’re not good enough if we don’t have a ‘perfect’ body.
But the truth is, everyone feels bad about their bodies sometimes – even celebrities with millions of followers. Author and campaigner Molly Forbes is here to show you that you – and ONLY you – get to decide how you feel about your body. And if we want to change the conversation around body image, we need to advocate for every single body – including those that look or function differently from our own.
It’s time to stop criticising the way we look, and celebrate all our glorious differences!
Moving On Up: Beat the Bullies, Make Fearless Friendships and Deal With Funny Fails
Rosie Jones
Navigate the perils of growing up in this hilarious and confidence-building guide to friendship, beating the bullies and overcoming cringe-worthy moments – by comedian and bestselling children’s writer, Rosie Jones.
No one knows quite as much about friendship fails, dealing with bullies and being TOTALLY embarrassed, then Rosie Jones. You name a completely awkward situation, and she’s been there, got the t-shirt and probably done it all again. Rosie knows just how hard growing up can be, but she also knows that you can overcome the difficult and embarrassing moments with the help of good friends and a good sense of humour.
So, sit back, grab a packet of crisps and crunch your way through this super handy guide to navigating all the tricky growing up stuff (and styling out of all the totally cringe moments life throws your way).
Healthy Mind, Happy You: How to Take Care of Your Mental Health
Emily MacDonagh, Josefina Preumayr and Ana Sebastian
Healthy mind, happy you! This reassuring, fact-packed book for girls and boys is all about how to maintain good mental health while growing up. Dr Emily MacDonagh, a practising NHS doctor and OK! magazine’s popular Health and Parenting Columnist, talks about anxiety and mental health in a simple and friendly way.
Topics include: What is anxiety, and how can you manage it? Why do people have low mood and depression? How to understand and express your emotions. Plus, expert tips and practical information on self-esteem, the physical changes of puberty, resilience, and lots more.
A Better Day
Alex George and Fitz Hammond
What if we could think of mental health in a positive way? Sweep away the rain clouds. Talk about what’s on our minds. And care for our mental health in the same way we look after our bodies. In this empowering and hopeful handbook, Youth Mental Health Ambassador Dr Alex George is here to show us how.
‘A Better Day’ is a positive, accessible and practical toolkit guiding young readers in how they can care for their mental health with confidence.