Children with autism are often very poor at identifying, understanding, and regulating emotions. They are usually especially deficient in empathizing, or understanding that other people have emotions. It’s an area that doesn’t get enough attention. I’ve been meaning to post some of these on my website, www.coachmike.net, but for now I’ll list them here in this blog along with my ratings. I’ve listed the levels as beginner, intermediate, and advanced just for simplicity. For kids who can’t read you can still read the books to them and break them down into simple terms. These books are great for neurotypical kids as well, of course.
These books on emotions are different than ones on social stories or social skills. There are a lot of great books on learning to share, having good manners, and being safe and careful. Those are all necessary and great but books on emotions take it a step further. “When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry,” by Molly Bang is a great example that shows a girl getting mad and then getting over it. Another great book is “Proud of Our Feelings” by Lindsay Leghorn, which shows each child with a different feeling and asks the reader, “When do you feel _____?”
For teaching children about emotions, when in doubt, I advocate the philosophy of John Gottman in “Raising the Emotionally Intelligent Child.” The main idea of the book is that it’s best to validate a child’s emotions by telling him or her, “It’s ok to be upset. I know you’re upset. Everybody gets upset sometimes,” then offer a strategy, rather than to just say, “Don’t be upset.”
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Title
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Author
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Description
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Level
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How are You Peeling?
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Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
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Fruits and vegetables are made to look like facial
expressions |
Beginner
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The Feelings Book
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Todd Parr
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Colorful, simple concepts on emotions.
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Beginner
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When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Really Angry
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Molly Bang
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Sophie gets angry, then cools down.
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Beginner
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If You’re Angry and You Know It
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Cecily Kaiser
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Strategies for what do do when you get angry
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Intermediate
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On Monday When It Rained
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Cherryl Kachenmeister
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A boy experiences emotions, the reader guesses which ones.
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Intermediate
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When Lizzie was Afraid of Trying New Things
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Inger Maier
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Lizzie is afraid, tries things, then gains confidence
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Intermediate
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Proud of Our Feelings
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Lindsay Leghorn
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Each child has a different feeling
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Intermediate
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Having a Conversation/Feeling Happy, etc.
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sandboxlearning.
com
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Customized books for kids with autism
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Intermediate
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When I’m Feeling Scared
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Trace Moroney
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A rabbit feels scared in different situations
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Intermediate
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When I’m Feeling Sad
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Trace Moroney
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A rabbit feels sad in different situations
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Intermediate
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I’m So Mad!
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Robie H. Harris
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Girl goes shopping with Mommy, is mad, then happy.
|
Intermediate
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Sometimes Bad Things Happen
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Ellen Jackson
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Bad things happen, you can do things to feel better
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Intermediate
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Timothy Tugbottom Says No!
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Anne Tyler
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He says no, then tries things and likes them
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Intermediate
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The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Be Sad
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Rob Goldblatt
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A boy realizes the same things that make him sad also make
him happy. |
Intermediate
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When I Feel Angry
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Cornelia Maude Spelman
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Rabbit feels angry and uses strategies to cope
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Intermediate
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When I Feel Scared
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Cornelia Maude Spelman
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Bear feels scared and uses strategies
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Intermediate
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When My Worries Get too Big
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Kari Dunn Buron
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Strategies for anxiety
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Intermediate
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What to Do When You Worry Too Much
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Dawn Huebner
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In-depth explanation of worrying and what to do about it
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Advanced
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Andy and His Yellow Frisbee
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Mary Thompson
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A girl has a brother with autism
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Advanced
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The Bear Who Lost His Sleep
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Jessica Lamb-Shapiro
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Story about worrying too much
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Advanced
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The Penguin Who Lost Her Cool
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Marla Sobel
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Story about controlling anger
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Advanced
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Stop Picking on Me
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Pat Thomas
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Explanation of bullying
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Advanced
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I’m Scared
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Elizabeth Crary
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Several situations about being afraid and what to do
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Advanced
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I’m Frustrated
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Elizabeth Crary
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Several situations about being frustrated and what to do
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Advanced
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