Everyone feels frustrated at times. Children may feel frustration when they cannot do something they want to do or have something they want to have. You can help your preschoolers learn how to identify how their bodies feel and what they can do when they’re frustrated. Use these books to help children identify frustration feelings and explore how they can begin to manage these emotions.
Preschool Books About Frustration
The word “frustrated” may be unfamiliar to preschoolers but the feelings definitely are not. They feel those feelings even if they don’t have a name for them. Other words that may describe the same feelings are “upset” or “unhappy.”
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang
Amy wanted to make a perfect bao, just like her parents and grandmother. But Amy’s bao don’t turn out right—too big, too small, too full, too crumbly. But Amy is determined to make the perfect bao.
How I Feel When I Hear NO by Dr. Ronit Farzam
Emotion Books About Feeling Frustration
Fail-a-bration by Brad and Kristi Montague
Have you ever tried something that didn’t work out? Or made a mistake? Everyone has! Instead of being sad or mad, smile and have a party instead. A Fail-a-bration! Because making mistakes and failing are just part of the process.
Fred Gets Frustrated by Jennifer C. Kelly
Fred gets upset when things don’t go as planned. He learns things he can do to cope with his frustration.
Frustrated Ninja by Mary Nhin
The ninja explores what may happen when frustrated and what to do to calm the frustration flames.
The Seeds of Success SEL Curriculum includes a week of lesson plans, activities, songs and more all about identifying and managing feelings of frustration.
Kids Books About Emotions: Feeling Frustrated
Not Perfect by Maya Myers
Dot is good at a lot of things. But she’s not perfect at anything. She tries a lot of things but she isn’t perfect at any of them. What can she do?
The Very Frustrated Monster by Andi Green
Twitch tries very hard to get everything right. But he quickly gets upset when things don’t go his way.
More Tools to Help Preschoolers Manage Emotions
Feelings Check-in Cards – You can use these printable feelings cards to quickly and easily create a daily classroom routine that promotes social-emotional learning in children. Your preschoolers can practice identifying their own feelings and the feelings of their friends in the classroom.
Feelings and Emotions Games – What better way to teach your students about their feelings than through some fun games? Discover a few of my go-to activities.
Calming Down
Calm Down Corner – It’s important to have a special area in your classroom that teaches children how to manage their emotions safely. Discover how to create a designated space in the classroom for children to practice social-emotional regulation.
Calm Down Kit – Use these resources in your calm down area or another space to help kids learn and remember how to self-regulate and how to use coping skills.
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