Books Like What Makes Me Happy?
Families who loved What Makes Me Happy? by Catherine Anholt often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved What Makes Me Happy? by Catherine Anholt 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 starting to experience big, swirling emotions but lacks the vocabulary to tell you exactly what is wrong. It serves as a gentle emotional primer, helping children understand that feelings like boredom, jealousy, or fear are just as natural as happiness and joy. Through a series of relatable everyday vignettes, the book validates the child's internal world by showing diverse characters navigating typical preschool situations. Written in soft, rhythmic verse, the book is designed for children ages 2 to 5. It does not just focus on the 'positive' emotions, but provides a safe space to discuss the 'thorny' ones, like feeling cross or shy. Parents will appreciate how the detailed, cozy illustrations by the Anholts provide visual cues that help kids connect their physical sensations to specific emotional labels. It is an ideal choice for establishing a daily check-in routine or for decompressing after a particularly emotional day.
