Families who loved The Bad Day by Frann Preston-Gannon 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 stuck in a cycle of frustration or feels like the universe is conspiring against them. It is the perfect antidote to a grumpy mood, using humor to validate that bad days are universal and temporary. Through a series of slapstick mishaps, the story shows how a group of animals find themselves in ridiculous, stuck situations. While the book focuses on the chaos of things going wrong, it ultimately centers on empathy. It teaches children that when we feel our lowest, looking outward to help someone else can be the very thing that turns our own day around. It is ideal for preschoolers and early elementary students who are still learning to regulate big emotions when faced with minor setbacks.