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EARL: Early Childhood Education

This guide is intended for students in the Early Childhood Education program. It will help you locate children's picture books in the Library collection, and conduct research using our online databases.

Suggested Search Terms

Books about feelings and emotions can be found easily by searching for the term in SpartaCat.  Try these:

  • afraid
  • angry
  • lonely
  • nervous
  • sad
  • grumpy

Books on Feeling Scared

Celestine, Drama Queen

Author: Penny Ives (Author/Illustrator)
Published: 2009
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Celestine the duck is sure that she is destined for stardom, but when her big break comes, she is temporarily stricken with stage fright"--Publisher's description.

The Dark

Author: Lemony Snicket; Jon Klassen (Illustrator)
Published: 2013
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Laszlo is afraid of the dark, which lives in the same big, creaky house as he does, until one night the dark pays him a visit"--Publisher's description.

The Fun Book of Scary Stuff

Author: Emily Jenkins, Hyewon Yum (Illustrator)
Published: 2015
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"In this story, a little boy tells his two dogs about all the things that scare him"--Publisher's description.

Leonardo, the Terrible Monster

Author: Mo Willems (Illustrator)
Published: 2005
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
Leonardo is a terrible monster -- he can't seem to frighten anyone. When he discovers the perfect nervous little boy, will he scare the lunch out of him? Or will he think of something better?

Jabari Jumps

Author: Gaia Cornwall (Author/Illustrator)
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all..."--Publisher's description.

Sam, the Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World

Author: Mo Willems
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"When two fearful children are terrified of each other, their respective monsters try to help"--Publisher's description.

The Scaredy Cats

Author: Barbara Bottner; Victoria Chess (Illustrator)
Published: 2003
Location: Bethlehem
"When the Scaredy Cat family's fears keep them from doing things, Baby Scaredy Cat suggests they might be missing good things as well"--Publisher's description.

Snip Snap!

Author: Mara Bergman; Nick Maland (Illustrator)
Published: 2005
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Three siblings are frightened by the wide mouth, long teeth, and strong jaws of the alligator who has crept up the stairs--until they decide they have had enough"--Publisher's description.

When I Feel Afraid

Author: Cheri J. Meiners; Meredith Johnson (Illustrations)
Published: 2003
Location: Bethlehem
Explains that many things can be frightening and provides examples of what one can do to feel less afraid, such as asking for help from a person one trusts. Includes information and extension activities for parents or teachers.

Books on Feeling Angry

Crankenstein

Author: Samantha Berger; Dan Santat (Illustrator)
Published: 2013
Location: Monroe
"A boy who looks ordinary transforms into grumbling 'Crankenstein' when faced with a rainy day, a melting popsicle, or bedtime, but everything changes when he meets a fellow Crankenstein"--Publisher's description.

The Day Leo Said I Hate You!

Author: Robie H. Harris; Molly Bang (Illustrator)
Published: 2008
Location: Bethlehem
"Leo, upset that he has been hearing the word 'no' all day, lets three words slip out that he wishes he could take back"--Publisher's description.

Sometimes I'm Bombaloo

Author: Rachel Vail; Yumi Heo (Illustrator)
Published: 2002
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"When Katie Honors feels angry and out of control, her mother helps her to be herself again"--Publisher's description.

When I Feel Angry

Author: Cornelia Maude Spelman; Nancy Cote (Illustrator)
Published: 2000
Location: Bethlehem
"A little rabbit describes what makes her angry and the different ways she can control her anger"--Publisher's description.

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry

Author: Molly Bang
Published: 1999
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
A young girl is upset and doesn't know how to manage her anger but takes the time to cool off and regain her composure. Awards note: Caldecott Honor, 2000; Charlotte Zolotow Award, 2000

Books About Other Emotions

Accident!

Author: Andrea Tsurumi
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"When Lola the armadillo accidentally knocks over a jug of juice all over her parent's favorite chair, her panic sets off a chain reaction that sends the whole town into chaos... this silly and sincere book will help readers realize that making a mistake isn't a disaster"--Publisher's description.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Author: Judith Viorst; Ray Cruz (Illustrator)
Published: 2009
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"On a day when everything goes wrong for him, Alexander is consoled by the thought that other people have bad days too"--Publisher's description.

Alexander, Who's Trying His Best to Be the Best Boy Ever

Author: Judith Viorst; Isidre Mones (Illustrator)
Published: 20147
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"After eating an entire box of doughnuts leads to consequences Alexander does not like, he decides to be the best boy ever for the rest of his life"--Publisher's description.

The Bad Mood and the Stick

Author: Lemony Snicket; Matthew Forsythe (Illustrator)
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Curly's bad mood travels from person to person, unexpectedly leaving opportunities for forgiveness, laughter, and love in its wake"--Publisher's description.

Hooray for Reading Day!

Author: Margery Cuyler; Arthur Howard (Illustrator)
Published: 2008
Location: Bethlehem
"First-grader Jessica, a big worrier, is especially afraid that she will make a mistake when she is reading in front of her class and parents on Reading Theater Day, but after lots of practice reading to her dog Wiggles, she performs perfectly"--Publisher's description. Awards note: A Junior Library Guild selection

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School

Author: Lauren Child
Published: 2004
Location: Bethlehem
When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her.

Little Beaver and the Echo

Author: Amy MacDonald
Published: 1998
Location: Monroe
"Unaware that the voice from across the pond telling him he's lonely is his echo, a little beaver sets out to make a friend of that voice, encountering real animal friends on the way"--Publisher's description.

The Most Magnificent Thing

Author: Ashley Spires (Author/Illustrator)
Published: 2013
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"A little girl has a wonderful idea. She knows just how it will look; she knows just how it will work. But making the most magnificent thing turns out to be harder than she thinks"--Publisher's description.

Pearl's New Skates

Author: Holly Keller (Author/Illustrator)
Published: 2004
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Pearl's birthday skates have a single blade and learning to use them is harder than she expects. Will Pearl ever skate in real life the way she skates in her dreams?"--Publisher's description.

Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses

Author: James Dean (Illustrator); Kimberly Dean
Published: 2013
Location: Bethlehem
"Pete the Cat wakes up feeling grumpy; nothing seems to be going his way. But with the help of some magic sunglasses, Pete learns that a good mood has been inside him all along"--Publisher's description.

Susan Laughs

Author: Jeanne Willis; Tony Ross (Illustrator)
Published: 2000
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Rhyming couplets describe a wide range of common emotions and activities experienced by a little girl who uses a wheelchair."--Publisher's description.

Understand and Care

Author: Cheri J. Meiners; Meredith Johnson (Illustrations)
Published: 2003
Location: Bethlehem
Explores how one can understand other people's feelings and how to be a good friend to someone who is feeling happy or sad.