The Little Book of Feelings is a gentle, beautifully written rhyming story designed to help babies and young children begin to recognise and understand their emotions from the very start of life. Created by two educational psychologists as part of the Welsh Government’s Give It Time parenting initiative, this free printable book is ideal for reading aloud with children from birth through to early childhood.
The story explores how emotions can come and go—like sunshine and rain—and teaches that all feelings are okay. It uses soothing rhyme and repetition to introduce the names of different emotions and how they might feel in our bodies or show up in our behaviour. Through the pages, kids learn that it is safe to feel sad, happy, angry, surprised or frustrated—and that there are ways to feel better with the support of a trusted adult.
Key themes include:
Naming and noticing emotions in ourselves and others
Understanding that all feelings are valid and temporary
Learning calming strategies through modelling and connection
Building secure relationships through shared reading and comfort
Developing pre-reading and emotional vocabulary through rhyme
The book also includes a section for parents and carers, offering guidance on how to personalise the story, use it to start conversations, and support a child’s emotional development in everyday life.
This resource is ideal for:
Babies, toddlers and preschool-aged children
Use at home by parents, foster carers or grandparents
Early years settings, nurseries, and storytime groups
Health visitors, family support workers and early help teams
Emotional literacy work with young children
Whether used as part of a bedtime routine or during quiet bonding time, the Little Book of Feelings supports secure attachment, emotional resilience, and early learning through rhythm, rhyme and relationship.
