5 Books That Help With Temper Tantrums

We’ve all been there. Tears, yelling, limp limbs, kicking, screaming - the full monty of toddler emotions can be a lot to bear. Luckily, family reading is a wonderful place to tackle tantrums. We look for books that showcase authentic experiences your child can relate to; include emotional management strategies; encourage kids to be honest with their feelings & give them the space to express it; and give parents an opportunity to name the behavior and talk through outcomes…

Llama Llama Mad at Mama. We love this rhyming tale of meeting in the middle. Little Llama does not want to go shopping and Mama is not interested in making it “fun.” A mini meltdown helps them both realize the power of compromise.

My Mouth is a Volcano. When Louis has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he erupts -his mouth is a volcano! But when others begin to interrupt Louis, he learns how to respectfully wait for his turn to talk. We love this book’s empathetic approach to teaching the value of respecting others, listening & waiting for one’s turn to speak.

Hands Are Not for Hitting. This book teaches children learn that violence is never OK. Hands can do many good things - playing, making music, learning, counting and helping - but never hitting. Simple words and full-color illustrations teach the importance of managing anger & small feelings.

When Sophie Gets Angry - Really Really Angry. Everybody gets angry sometimes. And for children, anger can be very upsetting. In this Caldecott-honor book, children will see what Sophie does when she gets angry. People do lots of different things when they get angry. What do you do?

Jilly’s Terrible Temper Tantrums: And How She Outgrew Them. When Jilly, a happy little kangaroo, has a series of Terrible Temper Tantrums, her parents lovingly help her through them. Children will be very familiar with the frustrations that trigger Jilly's upset feelings, and will applaud her dawning understanding that seeking help and a hug is far superior to the misery of a temper tantrum.