5 Books and Resources for Emotional Regulation

I love books SO MUCH! But they are not just for me...the young people I work with also think they are pretty neat too.  

I talk about my love of books and why using books in Play Therapy, or Bibliotherapy, is so essential when working with kids HERE. I also have a free download of 70 Books to use with young people for emotional regulation work.  Check out the download HERE! 

I wanted to highlight the top 5 books I use for emotional regulation: 

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas 
This one is by far one of the most popular, and respectful, books about all the different big feelings that we can have.  Our main character meets “The Color Monster” who is all tangled up in emotions.  She helps the monster untangle all of his emotions and he ends up feeling much better.  Check out my favorite activity with this book and a free download HERE!  You can also check out the book HERE! 

Listening to My Body by Gabbi Garcia 
This book is fantastic for going beyond feelings to tie feelings to sensations in our bodies.  It helps with self reflection, mindfulness, and regulation and also has self reflection activities!  Thinking about picking up a copy? Get one HERE!

​Gabbi also has a FREE activity guide with multiple activities that go with the book on her webpage HERE! 

Sometimes I’m Bombaloo by Rachel Vail 
Here we meet Katie Honors who has some pretty big feelings. Bombaloo feelings to be exact. These feelings are hard and scary but she is able to figure out what to do to feel like herself again.  One of the things I really like about this book is it features a female identified character having big angry feelings.  It normalizes for girls that they are not the only ones to have tantrums and outbursts.  I also love that it doesn’t name the feeling - bombaloo can be whatever they like. Grab your copy HERE! 

Hey Warrior! 
I have so many favorites books for emotional regulation - but for teaching the neuroscience behind regulation this one takes the cake! It is the most expensive but honestly so worth it.  It takes young people through the science behind the sympathetic nervous system response, normalizes it, and gives you the foundation for all other regulation work! You can check it out HERE! They miiiight also have a plushie Amygdala that I also just miiiight have in my Playroom.  If you are so filled with jealousy and need one get yours HERE! 

B is for Breathe by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd 
This concept is really fun! We get taken through the alphabet and for each letter we learn a new coping skill! It is definitely a great way to get the gears of the children we work with turning to identify what skills they like, don’t like, and need to do more of!  Oh and lots of opportunity for practice! Check it out HERE! 

And that’s a wrap! Now, if you can’t get enough of books (like me) check out the free download of 70 books for emotional regulation HERE! 


What are your favorite books for regulation? Let me know in the comments below! 

Looking for more resources for regulation? Check out my training on Keep Calm and Regulate On: Play Therapy and the Neuroscience of Emotional Regulation! ​

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