Reading aloud children’s books to your elementary students is a great way to introduce and teach self regulation. Below is a list of our favorite picture books to teach this social emotional learning topic. They all lend themselves well to facilitating rich classroom discussions around self regulation. My Magic Breath, Ravi’s Roar, The Bad Mood and the Stick and Neck and Neck are part of our self regulation SEL Unit, which includes interactive read aloud lesson plans among tons of other resources for teaching self regulation. Learn all about these self regulation books below and how you can use them to teach self regulation!
8 Self Regulation Books
Below are 8 self regulation children’s books for elementary teachers. Your kids will love these read alouds! They are great for teaching self regulation, as well as many other concepts and skills.
1. My Magic Breath by Nick Ortner and Alison Taylor
As we know, sometimes it is hard to feel happy! This story teaches students to breathe in and out, letting go of angry and sad thoughts to make room for happy ones. Through mindfulness, students can learn how powerful the breath is in regards to self regulation. My Self Regulation SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
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2. Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival
Ravi is the smallest and youngest in his family. Normally being small doesn’t bother Ravi, until one day when his family goes to the park. After missing out on ice cream and not being big enough for the playground, he roars so loud that others become scared of him! Ravi, like readers, will learn the importance of self-regulation and how it affects others. My Self Regulation SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
3. The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket
Curly was in a bad mood. She got enjoyment from poking her brother with a stick, but that set her mother off in a bad mood! Students will learn how moods may come and go, but it is important to stay regulated so others are not impacted. My Self Regulation SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
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4. Neck and Neck by Elise Parsley
Leopold the giraffe is a popular attraction at the zoo. One day, Leopold finds he has some competition at the zoo, a giraffe balloon! Leopold quickly learns the importance of compassion, kindness, and friendship as he helps the boy who gave him such grief. My Self Regulation SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
5. Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival
The fifth book on this list of self regulation books is Meesha Makes Friends. Meesha loves to make things, but has a hard time making friendships. When she is creating dolls out of recycled items, a new friend joins in! Students will see Meesha practice self regulation as she practices deep breathing, creating, and taking space. Readers can also make connections to feeling similarly to Meesha! Check out these Meesha Makes Friends activities!
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6. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
The little boy in the story loves dragons and decides to have a taco party for them. However, he doesn’t realize the mild salsa he bought actually has pieces of jalapeno peppers in it! The dragons’ actions after eating the spicy salsa lend themselves to a class discussion on self regulation. Explain that self regulation is controlling your own behavior, and when we are demonstrating self regulation, we are controlling our emotional and physical responses to things. Check out these Dragons Love Tacos activities!
7. The Year We Learned to Fly by Jaqueline Woodson
On a rainy day, a brother and sister listen to their grandmother’s advice to use their imagination when feeling bored. Their grandmother teaches them to use their creativity to fly away. They fly to different places with beautiful flowers and soft winds. This strategy helps them when they fight, fuss, and when they are bored. This story lends itself to teaching about self-regulation strategies and having conversations around feeling bored. Check out these The Year We Learned to Fly activities!
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8. Bear’s Loose Tooth by Karma Wilson
The last book on this list of self regulation books is Bear’s Loose Tooth. Bear has lots of worries as he experiences a wiggly tooth. While it was very scary, he was able to talk with his friends and stay calm. In the end, the tooth fairy came and losing his tooth was a fun experience! Readers can empathize with Bear, and connect to his regulation strategies. Students may also make connections around feeling scared or worried about losing their teeth. Check out these Bear’s Loose Tooth activities!
Integrated SEL and Literacy Activities
Below are some integrated SEL and literacy resources for elementary teachers.
SEL Unit
Our Self Regulation Unit, which is available individually or as part of a year-long SEL bundle, includes lessons for the first four books on this list. This unit is packed with lesson plans, teaching resources, games, and activities. Click an image below to either get this individual self-regulation unit or get ALL 30 SEL units!
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SEL Book Companions
As I mentioned earlier, I love teaching SEL skills using picture books. That’s why I created the Starts With a Story Collection. High quality children’s literature supports elementary teachers in delivering meaningful and accessible SEL lessons. Many of the read alouds on this list are part of this book companion collection. Check out the book companions below!
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In closing, we hope you found this list of self regulation books for kids helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:
