Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: The best books for Kids About Being Mad include When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang, Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban, Sometimes I'm Bombaloo by Rachel Vail and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
Feeling mad is normal, but children need help understanding anger and learning what to do with it. These picture books name angry feelings, show safe ways to let them out and remind kids that the feeling will pass.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry | Molly Bang | 3-7 | kids with big feelings |
| Mouse Was Mad | Linda Urban | 3-7 | kids who stomp and shout |
| Sometimes I'm Bombaloo | Rachel Vail | 3-7 | kids with tempers |
| Llama Llama Mad at Mama | Anna Dewdney | 2-5 | toddlers |
| Grumpy Monkey | Suzanne Lang | 3-7 | grumpy kids |
| The Color Monster | Anna Llenas | 3-6 | kids learning feeling names |
| Angry Octopus | Lori Lite | 4-8 | kids who need calm-down tools |
| When I'm Feeling Angry | Trace Moroney | 2-5 | young children |
| I Was So Mad | Mercer Mayer | 3-6 | Little Critter fans |
| Andrew's Angry Words | Dorothea Lachner | 4-8 | kids who say hurtful things |
| Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day | Judith Viorst | 4-8 | kids having a bad day |
| Grumpy Bird | Jeremy Tankard | 3-6 | funny story fans |
| Ravi's Roar | Tom Percival | 3-7 | kids who explode |
| How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger | Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis | 8-12 | older kids |
| Cool Down and Work Through Anger | Cheri J. Meiners | 4-8 | kids learning calm-down steps |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
Sophie runs outside and calms down in nature. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids with big feelings.
2. Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban
Mouse discovers that staying still can calm anger. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids who stomp and shout.
3. Sometimes I'm Bombaloo by Rachel Vail
Katie turns into someone else when she's angry. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids with tempers.
4. Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama has a tantrum while shopping. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: toddlers.
5. Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang
Jim learns it's okay to feel grumpy. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: grumpy kids.
6. The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
A monster sorts his feelings into colours, including red for anger. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: kids learning feeling names.
7. Angry Octopus by Lori Lite
A sea child teaches an octopus a relaxation technique. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids who need calm-down tools.
8. When I'm Feeling Angry by Trace Moroney
A bunny explains what anger feels like. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: young children.
9. I Was So Mad by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter gets mad when he can't do what he wants. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: little Critter fans.
10. Andrew's Angry Words by Dorothea Lachner
Andrew's angry words travel around the world. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids who say hurtful things.
11. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Everything goes wrong for Alexander. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids having a bad day.
12. Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
Bird wakes up grumpy, and his friends cheer him up. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: funny story fans.
13. Ravi's Roar by Tom Percival
Ravi turns into a tiger when he gets angry. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids who explode.
14. How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger by Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis
Practical tools for managing anger. Recommended ages: about 8-12.
Best for: older kids.
15. Cool Down and Work Through Anger by Cheri J. Meiners
Simple steps to calm down safely. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids learning calm-down steps.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers, start with Llama Llama Mad at Mama and When I'm Feeling Angry. Kids who explode will connect with Sometimes I'm Bombaloo and Ravi's Roar. For calm-down tools, Angry Octopus and Cool Down and Work Through Anger help, while older kids should try How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 2 to 12, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.