Growing a Reader: Kids' Books, Tips and More

“Temper tantrums, however fun they may be to throw, rarely solve whatever problem is causing them.” 
Lemony Snicket, Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid

Has this ever happened to you? You make what you hope will be a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up a few items for dinner. With your two-year-old in tow, you don’t grab a cart because you are optimistic that it will be faster this way. When you take a shortcut past the brightly packaged sugared cereal, you instantly regret your decision. Within seconds of the word “No” coming out of your mouth, your child is on the floor screaming, yelling and kicking. There is no reasoning with them, there is no calming them down, you stand there feeling helpless as everyone stares at you. Your first instinct is to pick them up and run from the grocery store, but you know they’ll either flail all their limbs and injure you or themselves, or pull the dreaded “jelly body” move and slide out of your arms. Hopefully, they tire themselves out quickly and red-faced you can make a quick exit out of the store.

Thankfully my daughter has long outgrown this stage, but I see this happening to other paren'ts all the time — I feel for you!

I frequently get requests for picture books that deal with behavioural issues like controlling anger, or throwing temper tantrums, and there are no shortage of books that deal with this topic. Often with a lot of humour, these books are entertaining and useful as teaching tools to help children learn to identify emotions and how to handle them.

Stories About Temper Tantrums and Outbursts

Anh's Anger
Written by Gail Silver
Illustrated by Christine Kromer

Anh gets very angry when his grandfather tells him to stop playing and eat his dinner. He confronts his anger in the form of an imaginary creature and has to learn how to calm down. This book teaches about acknowledging and resolving emotions.

The Most Magnificent Thing
Written and Illustrated by Ashley Spires

This is an excellent book about overcoming frustration when things don't turn out exactly like planned. The little girl decides she is going to make a magnificent thing, but she can't get it to look like the plans in her head. She tries and tries until her frustration overcomes her. When she calms down, she realizes she has done pretty well.

Peter Panda Melts Down
Written by Artie Bennett
Illustrated by John Nez

Peter Panda has a meltdown every time he doesn't get his way. This is truly a bad day in the life of a three-year-old. Bedtime can't come soon enough, as Peter melts down in the car, at the grocery store, the library, the park and more.

You Get What You Get
Written by Julie Gassman
Illustrated by Sarah Horne 

Melvin throws a fit every time things don't go his way. When he goes to school he learns the phrase "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit", now he has to learn to follow that at home too. Your kids may also be familiar with the phrase "you get what you get and you don't get upset".

Stories About Feeling Grumpy and Angry

Grumpy Bird
Written and Illustrated by Jeremy Tankard

Bird is having a bad day and just wants to walk alone. Gradually his friends join him, and he soon realizes it's not such a bad day after all.

Mouse Was Mad
Written by Linda Urban
Illustrated by Henry Cole

Mouse is mad and doesn't know what to do with himself, so he copies the actions of all his animal friends. Finally he tries something of his own which works to make him feel better.

Olive and the Bad Mood
Written and illustrated by Tor Freeman

Olive is having a terrible day and takes her temper out on all her friends, causing her bad mood to spread. When Olive feels better she can't understand why everyone else is grumpy.  This humourous story is a great way to show kids how their behaviour effects how others feel (in a light-hearted way).