First Feelings Happy

Discover the joy of emotion with First Feelings Happy, a beautifully crafted book that gently introduces very young children to the concept of happiness. Developed alongside a child psychologist, this inclusive story uses gender-neutral characters and avoids stereotypical colours, making it accessible for neurodivergent and neurotypical readers alike. Paula Bowles' vibrant illustrations help bring happiness to life while teaching children to recognise and understand this positive emotion. The book also offers simple coping strategies to support emotional resilience and wellbeing from an early age.

Educational Benefits:

• Encourages recognition and expression of happiness in young children.
• Supports emotional literacy by linking feelings with coping mechanisms.
• Promotes inclusivity through gender-neutral and non-stereotypical imagery.
• Builds early resilience by teaching emotional regulation skills.

Classroom Ideas:

• Use during storytime to spark discussions on happiness and wellbeing.
• Create an emotion chart where children can mark how they feel each day.
• Incorporate art projects that explore what happiness looks like to each child.
• Organise role-play scenarios to practise identifying and expressing happy feelings.

Information:

• Ages: Early childhood
• Format: Illustrated picture book
• Illustrator: Paula Bowles