Families who loved Steps and Stones by Gail Silver often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is overwhelmed by a sudden 'storm' of temper after a playground disagreement or a perceived social slight. Steps and Stones provides a gentle, personified look at anger through the eyes of Anh, a young boy who feels abandoned by his friends during playtime. Instead of lecturing, the story introduces 'Anger' as a hairy, purple creature that Anh must learn to sit with rather than fight. Based on the mindfulness teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, this book is ideal for children aged 4 to 8 who are developing the self-regulation skills needed for independent play. It transforms the abstract concept of cooling down into a concrete practice of mindful breathing and walking, helping children see that while feelings are powerful, they are also temporary. Parents will appreciate how it validates the intensity of a child's frustration while offering a proactive tool for reconciliation.