How Do I Feel? A Dictionary of Emotions for Children
-
Estimated Delivery:Nov 12 - Nov 16
-
Free NZ courier on urban orders over $100
Free NZ courier on rural orders over $150
Fast Courier to Australia from $16
How Do I Feel? A Dictionary of Emotions for Children
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is "How Do I Feel?" best for?
Perfect for ages 5–99+! Honestly, this book is one for the whole family. It has been used with young children right up to adults in their seventies who have emailed me to say the book has helped them so much. Therapists and psychologists have also emailed to advise they are using the book with all age groups.
It is clear and easy to understand. The real magic happens when kids (and adults) suddenly go from “I don’t know what I'm feeling” to “I feel ashamed” or “I feel overwhelmed”.
Why is being able to identify our emotions so important?
Because when a child (or adult!) can say “I feel ashamed” instead of just exploding, hiding, or hurting themselves, everything changes.
Naming the feeling is the very first step to calming it. It turns a scary, overwhelming wave into something we can understand, share, and let flow through us.
Research backs this up again and again: Kids who can accurately name their emotions → have fewer tantrums → make friends easier → do better at school → grow into adults with lower anxiety, depression, and addiction rates (Harvard’s 75-year study + decades of emotional-intelligence research).
In other words: The bigger a child’s feeling-word vocabulary, the smaller their inner world feels, and the happier and braver they become.
That’s exactly why "How Do I Feel?" gives children 65 beautiful, honest words (even the tricky ones like shame, jealousy, and remorse). Because every word we give them is a little life-raft for the big waves.
How many emotions are in the book and why does that matter?
65 emotions – from the big obvious ones (happy, sad, angry) to the sneaky, harder ones kids actually feel every day: shame, disappointment, jealousy, overwhelmed, embarrassed, vulnerable…
Most feelings books stop at 20–30. We went to 65 because the more words a child has for their inner world, the less they explode and the more they talk. Simple as that.
Will this actually help with tantrums and big meltdowns?
Yes. Over and over parents tell me the same thing: within days their child starts pointing to a page and saying “This is me right now” instead of exploding, bottling things up or feeling confused and scared with their emotions.
Every emotion in the book explains how the body looks/feels AND why the feeling is actually helpful (yes, even shame and anger have a job!).
That single shift – from “bad feeling” to “helpful messenger” – is what calms the storm.
Are there tips for parents or is it just for kids?
This book isn't just for kids. The older generations probably didn't learn about emotions like this. I didn't!
So I have made all our books so that the adults can learn alongside our kids. Every book has parent/teacher notes at the back which expands on the book with helpful questions to ask your child to really create those deeper conversations and connections.
Plus we offer a lot of free resources along with our books.
How is this different from other feelings books or charts?
Most books/charts label the feeling and stop there. We go deeper:
- What does it REALLY feel like in the body?
- Why is this feeling helpful? (Yes, even the “uncomfortable” ones)
- Beautiful illustrations of children from all over the world with energy lines by Craig Phillips
- Created-from-real-therapy depth (this is literally the book I needed as a suicidal teenager)
It’s not just a book. It’s the cycle-breaker so many of us wish we’d had.
#1 NZ Bestseller
With 60+ definitions to help improve emotional literacy. This HUGE hardcover book with over 140 pages, is all about our children learning to recognise and label emotions and feelings.
Join Aroha and her friends as they share how different emotions might feel in the body and how each emotion might be helpful. This emotions dictionary is all about helping children find the words for how they truly feel. Learning to recognise and label our emotions correctly is such an important skill for life.
Giving our children this language helps to build emotional literacy. It is a gift to give children the tools to know how to recognise what they truly feel and that is it okay to feel all emotions. When they know that no emotion is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and that all emotions provide messages, then it takes away any attachment to that emotion being part of who they are.
We may have experienced this ourselves being labelled ‘naughty’ or ‘out of control’ due to feeling angry a lot. However, this behaviour is just a way for a child to communicate. Diving deeper into why they are acting that way, why they may be feeling the things they are, can help us find some answers with our child. It can also help us find ways to help them empower themselves with tools to feel better.
Use this book to start conversations about different emotions. If you can, give examples of things you have experienced. When you see a child experiencing an emotion, help your child label it. “Are you feeling ... right now?”
This book can be used with children from 5 years of age up to 100+ as everyone might get something from the book.
There are over 200 emotions and so we couldn't include them all in just one book, however, this book is the most extensive book about emotions for children.
Storylines Notable Books 2021 - Non-Fiction Winner
Available on Kindle Fire for colour E-Readers
Shipping
We use cardboard boxes that can be re-used in your garden as a great weed mat whenever we can but due to a huge number of our books getting water damaged we have had to opt for a recycled plastic option for some books. We also use a brown eco tape which can go into your compost. Every parcel is packed with gratitude!
Aotearoa
Free urban/residential delivery NZ wide on all orders over $100.
Free rural delivery NZ wide on all orders over $150
Orders under $100 to urban/residential addresses, shipping is $6.95 NZ wide.
Orders under $150 to rural addresses, shipping is $11.95 NZ wide.
We will dispatch your order within 1-3 working days and you will receive an email confirmation with tracking details.
Orders are shipped and tracked via either Post Haste or NZ Post and expected delivery within NZ is 1-3 working days, 3-5 working days for rural deliveries.
Australia
Orders to Australia are sent via NZ Post and charged from $16 depending on your location. Remote locations in Australia are charged at $22.
We heavily subsidise the shipping to Australia. The actual cost can be over $30 for a small parcel of books, so we subsidise this shipping as much as we can. 💕
If you order an item that is a pre-order or out of stock, your order will be sent altogether when all items are in stock.
- Australia Metro $16: 10-15 working days from collection
- Australia Non-Metro $16: 10-15 working days from collection
- Australia Remote $22: 10-20 working days from collection
Rest of the World
Returns Policy
Wildling Books wish all our customers to receive their products in perfect order. If there is something wrong with the product you have received or if your delivery is not correct, please contact us immediately at matt@wildlingbooks.com. If you send us an email, please include as many details as possible including your order number and photographic evidence of any damage, and in some cases a photograph of the packaging itself. Please ensure you keep your delivery until the return process is complete.
No refunds, returns or exchanges will be processed unless contact has been made about any issues within thirty (30) working days of receipt of your item. We may be able to extend this time under special circumstances, but please make contact as soon as you notice any problems so we can remedy the situation for you. We do not refund purchases on the basis of changing your mind.
There are no refunds or returns available for ebooks or printables, so please choose carefully when ordering. We may ask for you to return the product in which case, we will refund the value of the purchased product, but we do not have to refund the value of the shipping. If you are required to return the product, you must pay for the shipping to return the goods and this must also be arranged by yourself. The goods are your responsibility until they reach our office. Please ensure you pack the return safely to prevent any damage to the products or boxes. New Zealand customers are protected by the Consumer Guarantees Act.
Through lockdown this has been a great tool to check in with my own feelings and to ensure I am in the best position to help the wh_nau I support. Cant wait to use this in practice when levels permit.
Best investment I made all my life , everyone should have this
This book is far beyond what I expected, it is beautiful in every sense. My children and I have loved looking through the book so far and I can not wait to share it with other children and teachers I work with
How amazing is this book! I have not only recommended it to fellow parents with children but also for adults and family members. This awesome book is not only helping my daughter understand that it's OK to feel the way we do but also it's helping me recognise and understand my emotions as well. Thank you!
A smooth process from start to finish. Clear information on the books and posters, followed up by an easy and straightforward purchasing process, with excellent communication and delivery. I love the books and posters and would highly recommend.
I bought this book for my son and I, I thank you for creating such a beautiful book that explains things I can't- what emotions feel like in the body. I can't wait for us to learn together.
Early days but the grandchildren are enthusiastic about the new books. I think they are very good and helpful.
This seems like it will be a great to tool to help identify emotions better and communicate in more meaningful ways.
Thank you
I am so grateful for your creation and putting it out there, it is truly a treasure for our hearts, thank you for your magic.
I spent ages looking at this book, the illustrations are AMAZING!!! I bought this book for my neuro spicey whānau howver when I started reading through the book I found it very relatable as well. I don't think this book has an age group per say, it is so useful for all of us of different ages to safely express our emotions, to understand them and to sit with those emotions and have a proactive outlet for these. Just brilliant 💯
I work as a therapist for young people and use this book regularly in my practice to find the right words with my young clients for what is happening in their life. Is it a beautiful, thorough book with great wording and inclusive and diverse illustrations.
I have a private copy that I use at home with my own young person and husband, too.
A wonderful book that provides insightful ways to understand feelings and their possible meanings. Great for all ages!
Excellent service, great communication and the book is exactly what I wanted in wonderful condition and perfect packaging. Would definitely be purchasing more books from Wildling when required.
Awesome book so helpful
Love love love this book and the use of words to describe exactly how emotions can creep in , how they might look and feel and even had some that I hadn’t thought of a name for but there they were .!!
You have definitely covered every feeling and emotion possible and it’s a great easy read for all ages with great illustrations too !
Such a good buy !
This is an amazing book. Its teaching my children (and myself) about emotions and how they can deal with those emotions.
I’m 38 and my counsellor recommended I get this book to aid recovery from a complex chronic illness. I’m really glad she did - I think it being aimed for kids is actually a plus because there’s no extra jargon - the messaging is really simple and clear.
I am now recommending it to everyone I know who has kids (so that their kids can gain from it but I’m also hoping the parents get something from it too because I really think the vast majority of the world’s population needs to improve their emotional understanding!)
This book was very well received by the person I bought it for. Thankyou.
I totally love it, my students will enjoy a little read when their not feeling to great
Thanks
Beautiful and comprehensive book on feelings
Great book!!!
My 3 grand daughters decided to play schools yesterday..the eldest wanted to use the “How do i feel” book to present to the class so i thought that was great. They are only 7 and 5 so early days for them reading but they understand the concept and the illustrations really help explain the emotion. A wonderful book for the girls to refer to as the grow up! Highly recommend..
A wonderful book to share with your children! My kids love choosing an emotion to read about whilst absorbing the amazing illustrations. This is a great way to start a conversation about how your kids are feeling or discuss an incident from the day. What a beautiful addition to the family library. Highly recommend this book to everyone.
Fabulous and Amazing Book!! 🤩
Absolutely adore this book!
I’ve been reading through it with my almost 13 year old (end of August) son who is Autistic and neurodivergent and both of us have enjoyed reading through and learning some new emotions whilst gaining further knowledge of how the body responds physically to each emotion and other names used for each one! The illustrations are brillant and vibrant!
Useful for Children, Pre teen/Teens & Adults alike!
Will definitely be recommending to other friends, parents, professionals and educators! 🤩🥰
With gratitude for you sharing your knowledge to help others learn and grow in Emotional Intelligence with is such a vital life skill.
I+am+a+school+teacher+always+trying+to+help+students+understand+their+emotions+and+their+effect+on+others.+These+books+are+enormously+helpful+for+individual+needs+and+the+stories+I+purchased+promote+discussion%2C+thinking+and+ideas+to+practice+for+students+in+the+whole+class.+Thankyou+
Love the concept of this book and it generates some great conversations. The vocabulary in the explanations is a bit too advanced for my 7 year old though
My daughter was very pleased with the book. However, this Nana also bought the toddler appropriate version which my 2 year old granddaughter related to much better. The other one will definitely be referred to often as she grows up. Very pleased with my purchases.
Love this book, have bought it three times. Who knew there were so many emotions and actually every emotion has a purpose. Love the art and the intellect 🙏
