Social and Emotional Book Recommendations

The following is a list of children's books divided by the goals of Social and Emotional Domain. Some of these books will overlap with other goals of the SDELG. The list was compromised of recommendations from NAEYC, Scholastic, US Department of Education, CDC, Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations, and more. These are just suggestions and there are many skill-building books that may not be included on this list.

Some titles include a link to a read-aloud and/or activities.

Goal SED-1: developing a positive sense of self

1. Bear’s Picture by Danial Pinkwater
2. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
3. Mice Twice by Joseph Low Storyline Online read-aloud
4. Ella Sarah Gets Dressed by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
5. Thunder Boy Jr. by Sherman Alexie
6. Hey, That’s My Monster by Amanda Noll Storyline Online read-aloud
7. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon Storyline Online read-aloud
8. I Like Being Me: Poems about kindness, friendship, and making good choices by Judy Lalli
9. I Am a Cat by Galia Bernstein

Goal SED-2: developing relationships~~familiar adults

1. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney Book Nook activity Advina cuanto te quiero
2. Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney Book Nook activity
3. No Matter What by Debi Gliori Book Nook activity
4. Baby Cakes by Karma Wilson Book Nook activity
5. Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller Storyline Online read-aloud

Goal SED-3: developing relationships~~other children

1. My Tooth is LOST! A Monkey & Cake Book, by Drew Daywalt
2. Big Al by Andrew Clements Book Nook activity
3. The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen Barnes and Noble activity
4. I Like Being Me: Poems about Kindness, Friendship, and Making Good Choices by Judy Lalli
5. When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden Storyline Online read-aloud
6. No More Noisy Nights by Holly L. Niner Storyline Online read-aloud
7. Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes Storyline Online read-aloud (ASL)
8. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Storyline Online read-aloud Book Nook activity
9. Drawn Together by Minh Le
10. Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry

Goal SED-4, SED-5, and SED-6: self-regulation and pro-social behaviors

1. Eat Pete! by Michael Rex
2. Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale Storyline Online read-aloud
3. When I’m Feeling…books: Sad, Angry, Scared all by Trace Moroney
4. ABC Look at Me by Roberta Grobel Intrater
5. Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi Book Nook activity
6. Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail Book Nook activity
7. Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban Book Nook activity
8. Glad Monster Sad Monster by Ed Emberley & Anne Miranda Book Nook activity
9. Feeling Happy by Ellen Weiss
10. The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
11. See How I Feel by Julie Aigner-Clark
12. When I Feel…books: Frustrated, Jealous, Happy all by Marcia Leonard
13. How I Feel…books: Sad, Frustrated, Angry, Scared all by Marcia Leonard
14. Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly & James Dean YouTube read-aloud
15. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
16. I Am Not Scared by Anna Kang YouTube read-aloud
17. Waiting by Kevin Henkes
18. We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
19. You, Me and Empathy: Teaching Children About Empathy, Feelings, Kindness, Compassion, Tolerance and Recognizing Bullying Behavior by Jayleen Sanders
20. Lying Up a Storm by Julia Cook
21. Harrison P. Spader, Personal Space Invader by Christianne C. Jones
22. The Very Fairy Princess: Attitude of Gratitude by Julie Andrews and Emma Watson Hamilton
23. The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds