HabitSeedsA story written for your child about big feelings
Big feelings are easier to handle once they have a name. This story helps your child find the words for theirs, and one thing to do next.
- Best for
- Ages 2–4, Ages 5–7
- Length
- 24, 28, 32 pages, based on reading age
- Price
- From $7.99, one-time
- Written
- New for your child
Why it’s so hard for them
Young children feel emotions at full volume but often don't have the words for them yet. A meltdown is sometimes the only way to say "I'm disappointed" or "I'm worried" when you don't know those words.
Naming a feeling, and knowing why it showed up, is a first step toward handling it. Stories are a gentle place to practice, because it's easier to talk about how a character feels than about yourself in the middle of it.
How the story goes
Every book is written from what you tell us, so yours will be its own. Here’s the shape a story like this usually takes.
A feeling shows up
Something happens, like a canceled playdate or a lost toy, and the hero feels it strongly. The story names the feeling and why it came.
Noticing it in their body
Hot cheeks, a tight tummy, wet eyes. The hero learns what the feeling feels like, so they can spot it next time.
One thing to do
A slow breath, a hug, or telling a grown-up "I feel sad because..." A small step your child can borrow.
The feeling passes
The hero feels better and learns that big feelings come and go. Every feeling is allowed; the story is about what to do with it.
Questions to ask while you read
The conversation is where the lesson sticks. Pause on a page and try one of these, then let your child lead. Why we build books this way.
- How did the hero feel when that happened? Why?
- Where did they feel it in their body?
- When did you feel like that? What helped?
Questions parents ask
My child has meltdowns. Will this help?
A story can give your child words for what they feel and a picture of what to do, which tends to help over time alongside what you do at home. If meltdowns are frequent, intense or getting worse, talk to your pediatrician.
Can the story focus on one feeling?
Yes. Tell us which feeling your child struggles with most, like anger, worry, jealousy or disappointment, and when it shows up, and the story will center on it.
Is this a social story about emotions?
It's close, but not quite. Social stories are short, literal stories that walk a child through one situation step by step, and they're often used with autistic children. Ours are illustrated picture books with a plot, built on the same core idea: a child like yours, a clear picture of what happens, and one concrete thing to do. Describe the situation and the words you use at home, and we'll build the story around them.
Do I pick from ready-made books?
No. Every book is written and illustrated new from what you tell us: what your child is facing, a hero you name, their reading age and the setting. This page is a starting point, not a finished book.
How much does a book cost?
Ages 2–4: 24 pages for $7.99; Ages 5–7: 28 pages for $9.99; Ages 7–10: 32 pages for $11.99. Length and price follow the reading age you select, paid once. No subscription. Sign in before checkout and your first book is 20% off.
Do you use a photo of my child?
No, never. The hero is an original illustrated character you name and describe, so the story is about what your child is going through, not their face.
How do I get the book?
Writing and illustrating takes a few minutes after checkout. You read it in our online reader, download it as a PDF to print at home, and we email you when it's ready.
Tell us what’s happening.
We’ve filled in a starting point. Change it to match your child, and we’ll write the rest.
Create a book