Social and Emotional Learning Storytime
Revised January 2026
Unlike other themes, social and emotional learning should be included in all storytimes if possible. I would choose just one or two of these books, and add to other books and songs to bolster a preschooler’s self-esteem. Themes of friendship, sharing, kindness, and related concepts are things a preschooler understands, and work well as a foundation for social and emotional learning.
For a related hands-on experience. Make one of these arts and crafts projects: 45 Fun Social Emotional Activities for Preschoolers – Teaching Expertise.
Social and Emotional Learning Picture Books
Ahmed, Nadia. The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Everything.
Ahmed, Roda. Etta Extraordinaire.
Alexander, Claire. A Little Bit of Respect.
Alper, Sascha. The Littlest Drop.
Alphabet Rockers. You Are Not Alone.
Andonegui, Sabrina. Messy Monkeys.
Ashling, Lindsay. An Unexpected Thing.
Athaide, Tina. Meena’s Mindful Moment.
Bailey, Jenn. A Friend for Henry.
Bartoli, Marta. Every Little Kindness.
Baugh, Helen. The Spots and Dots.
Bedia, Elizabeth. Balloons for Papa: A Story of Hope and Empathy.
Bell, Davina. What to Do When You’re Not Sure What to Do.
Bomgaars, Megan. Born Brave.
Boniello, Alex. A Case of the Zaps.
Boynton, Sandra. Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great!
Brun-Cosme, Nadine. Rabbit, Duck, and Big Bear.
Burach, Ross. The Little Butterfly That Could.
Catchpole, J. What Happened to You?
Cenko, Doug. Who Took My Lollipop?
Ciccio, Adam. A Thought Is Just a Thought.
Cornwall, G. Jabari Jumps.
Cronin, Doreen. Lawrence & Sophia.
Dierrfeld, C. Rabbit Listened.
Doyle, Ruth. A Horse Called Now.
Doyle, Ruth. The Zoo Inside Me.
Dreyer, Dylan. Misty the Cloud: Friends Through Rain or Shine.
Dunlap, Cirocco. Crunch: The Shy Dinosaur.
Dyckman, Ame. Don’t Blow Your Top!
Edwards, Allison. Worry Says What?
Emerald, Taimani. We Are Allies!
Engelberg, Yair. Pockets Full of Rocks.
Fang, X. Broken.
Finison, Carrie. Don’t Hug Doug.
Fisher, Lalena. Friends Beyond Measure.
Fogliano, Julie. I Don’t Care.
Fong, Pam. A Spark in the Dark.
Frost, Maddie. Capybara Is Friends with Everyone.
George, Kallie. Our Playground Rules!
Giang, Kristen Mai. Action Jasmine.
Glynn, Dylan. Rain Boy.
Gomez, Blanca. Dress-up Day.
Graves, Sue. Croc Needs to Wait: A Book about Patience.
Graves, Sue. Elephant Learns to Share: A Book about Sharing.
Hall, Michael. Punch! Story About Kindness.
Hao, Janie. Mad at Dad.
Hart, Caryl. Sonny Says Mine!
Hart, Caryl. Thank You For the Little Things.
Haughton, Chris. Don’t Worry Little Crab.
Hegarty, Patricia. 123s of Kindness.
Higgins, Ryan T. Norman Didn’t Do It!: (Yes, He Did).
Hout, Mies Van. If Only…
Jacoby, Sarah. Can I Sit with You?
John, J. The Smart Cookie.
Kerascoet. I Forgive Alex: A Simple Story About Understanding.
Khorram, Adib. Bijan Always Wins.
Kjaergaard, A. Coffee Rabbit Snowdrop Lost.
Kokias, Kerri. A Person Can Be…
Kurpiel, Sarah. Elephant’s Big Solo.
Lang, S. Grumpy Monkey.
Lee, B. The Boy with Big Feelings.
Levis, C. Ida Always.
Lombardo, Constance. Itty Bitty Betty Blob.
Lucas, Angie. My Big Embarrassing Elephant.
Ludwig, Trudy. Brave Every Day.
Manley, Ben. Vampire Peter.
Marcero, Deborah. Out of a Jar.
Medina, Juana. I Feel! A Book of Emotions.
Meserve, Jessica. Beyond the Burrow.
Messer, Claire. Grumpy Pants.
Meyers, Seth. I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared!
Miller, Pat Zietlow. When You Are Brave.
Mills, Julia. I Am Stuck.
Mora, O. Saturday.
Morales, Yuyi. Bright Star.
Mountford, Karl James. A Voice in the Storm.
Myers, Maya. Not Little.
Nainy, Mamta. Rainbow Hands.
Naylor-Ballesteros, Chris. Frank and Bert.
Newson, Karl. How to Be Brave.
Newson, Karl. How to Help a Friend.
Paglia, Isabella. The Box.
Parr, Todd. I Am Strong!
Peck, Christine. Too Many Bubbles: A Story about Mindfulness.
Percival, Tom. Finn’s Little Fibs.
Percival, Tom. Milo’s Monster.
Percival, T. Ravi’s Roar.
Percival, Tom. Tilda Tries Again.
Perdomo, Juliana. Sometimes, All I Need Is Me
Perkins, M. Home Is in Between.
Plohl, Igor. Happy Again.
Powers, Andie. I Am Bold: For Every Kid Who’s Told They’re Just Too Much.
Powers, Andie. I Am Quiet: A Story for the Introvert in All of Us.
Rinck, Mananke. Popcorn Bob Can’t Stop Popping.
Rummel, Lynn. I Remember My Breath: Mindful Breathing for All My Feelings.
Shankman, Ed. Leo the Lazy Lizard.
Shea, B. Who Wet My Pants?
Silverstein, Karol Ruth. Stuck! (Help, Please!).
Smith, Maggie. My Thoughts Have Wings.
Snyder, Gabi. Look.
Spires, Ashley. The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do.
Stein, Joshua David. The Catalogue of Hugs.
Stopek, Shoshana. Heads Up!: A Resilience Story.
Theule, L. A Way with Wild Things.
Underwood, Deborah. Walter Had a Best Friend.
Vere, E. How to Be a Lion.
Voss, Jonathan. The Wishing Balloons.
Wade, Stef. The Very Last Leaf.
Wallace, Chelsea Lin. Dare to Be Daring.
Wynter, Anne. Everybody in the Red Brick Building.
Xiaoyu, Jin. Peacock Is a Little Shy.
Yamasaki, Katie. Place Hand Here.
Zhang, Gracey. Lala’s Words: A Story of Planting Kindness.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University iSchool