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We all often encounter students grappling with big emotions, especially anger. Integrating thoughtfully selected picture books into our teaching can provide children with relatable scenarios and practical strategies to navigate their feelings. Here are ten insightful books about anger that can help teach this complex emotion in a supportive way.
1. Roaring Mad Riley by Allison Szczecinski
In this engaging story, Riley, a young dinosaur, becomes furious when a classmate accidentally knocks over her block tower. Guided by her teacher, Mr. Rex, Riley learns effective techniques to manage her anger, like deep breathing, counting to ten, and visualizing calming images. The book also includes activities to reinforce these strategies, making it a valuable resource for both classroom and home settings. Bonus – it’s written by yours truly! 🙂
*Classroom Tip:* After reading, facilitate a discussion about situations that make students feel angry and if any of the coping strategies Riley tried feel like one’s they may want to explore.Â
2. Anh’s Anger by Gail Silver
This book about anger follows Anh, a young boy who feels intense anger when his grandfather calls him away from playtime. Encouraged to sit with his anger, Anh personifies the emotion and learns to understand and manage it through mindfulness and breathing exercises. The book introduces children to the concept of befriending their emotions, promoting self-awareness and emotional regulation.
*Classroom Tip:* Incorporate a simple mindfulness exercise where students close their eyes, take deep breaths, and acknowledge their feelings without judgment.
3. Mad at Dad by Janie Hao
This narrative explores a child’s experience of feeling angry with a parent, and how she realizes how much she dislikes feeling mad. I love how this book shows that even when you try coping skills, they aren’t a magic wand to make big feelings disappear. The twist comes when the girl realizes that her dad is actually the one who may help her feel better. This simple yet creative book about anger also has lift the flap/expanded page elements making it really fun and interactive for small groups.
*Classroom Tip:* Encourage students to share times they’ve felt upset and coping skills haven’t worked the way they’d hoped. What are some things you can do to shift your emotions?
4. Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival
Ravi, the smallest in his family, feels overlooked and becomes so angry that he transforms into a tiger. This transformation helps him express his frustration but also leads to unintended consequences. This creative book about anger illustrates the importance of expressing emotions constructively and the impact of anger on relationships.
*Classroom Tip:* Have students create their own “anger animal” drawings and discuss how they can “tame” these animals using calming strategies.
5. First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch
Set in Kenya, this story depicts the friendship between two boys from different tribes who initially distrust each other. Through a shared experience, they learn to overcome their prejudices and work together. While not solely about anger, the book addresses conflict resolution and empathy, showing how understanding can replace anger.
*Classroom Tip:* Discuss the importance of empathy and understanding in resolving conflicts and have students role-play scenarios to practice these skills.
6. Way Past Mad by Hallee Adelman
Keya feels extremely angry after a series of frustrating events, leading her to act out against her friend. The story follows her journey of recognizing her emotions, understanding their impact on others, and finding ways to make amends. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging feelings and taking responsibility for actions.
*Classroom Tip:* Create a “feelings chart” where students can identify and share their emotions daily, fostering an environment of openness and support.
7. Hello, Anger by Jessica Sinarski
This book encourages children to acknowledge and greet their anger, promoting a healthy relationship with the emotion. It provides practical tools for managing anger, such as breathing exercises and positive self-talk, empowering children to handle their feelings constructively.
*Classroom Tip:* Teach students a simple breathing exercise, like inhaling for four counts and exhaling for four counts, to use when they feel angry.
8. Sometimes When I’m Mad by Deborah Serani
This story explores various situations that can trigger anger in children and offers coping strategies to deal with these feelings. It normalizes the emotion of anger and provides practical advice on how to express it in healthy ways, such as talking to someone or engaging in physical activity.
*Classroom Tip:* Role-play different scenarios with students to practice the coping strategies presented in the book.
9. Swarm of Bees by Lemony Snicket
In this whimsical tale, a boy’s anger is depicted as a swarm of bees, illustrating how unchecked anger can cause chaos. The story conveys the message that while anger is natural, it’s important to manage it before it leads to negative outcomes.
*Classroom Tip:* Use this metaphor to discuss how anger can “buzz” around and brainstorm ways to “calm the swarm” through various techniques.
10. Fergal and the Bad Temper by Robert Starling
Fergal, a young dragon, struggles with controlling his fiery temper, especially when he’s constantly told what to do. This leads to problems with his friends. Through observing others, he learns different methods to manage his anger, like counting to ten and taking deep breaths. The story highlights the importance of self-control and the positive effects of managing emotions.
*Classroom Tip:* Create a “calm-down corner” in the classroom equipped with tools like stress balls, coloring pages, and breathing exercises inspired by Fergal’s strategies.
Incorporating these books about anger into your teaching can provide children with relatable examples and practical tools to understand and manage their anger.
By fostering open discussions and practicing the strategies presented, educators can help students develop emotional intelligence and healthier ways to cope with their feelings.
Looking for more specific resources for teaching and affirming anger strategies? Check out this toolkit.
