Emotions and empathy

What’s the best way of dealing with anger or sadness? How can we know what others are feeling, and why are sympathy and tolerance so important? Stories don’t only tell our children about factual information, they also enable us to pass on valuable advice to them about empathy and emotions. In today’s world, emotional intelligence is very important and it is well worth developing it from a young age.

How Evie Didn’t Want to Wear Glasses

How Evie Didn’t Want to Wear Glasses

10
 min
5
+
4.87

Evie is sad because she has to wear glasses. What bothers her most is that her friends might make fun of her. Out of fear, she decides to hide her glasses and every morning, after saying goodbye to her mother, she secretly takes them off so that no one can see them. But how will this little secret turn out?

Christmas For Everyone

Christmas For Everyone

5
 min
5
+
4.86

Christmas is coming soon and little Carl is worried about whether their lonely neighbour Mrs Lizzie will get any Christmas presents. So he decides to make a gift for her himself. But how will the boy deal with it?

Discovering the Emotions: Sadness

Discovering the Emotions: Sadness

11
 min
5
+
4.83

Martin is gradually getting to know the neighbours on the different floors of his apartment building, and is finding out more about them while also stumbling on some emotions. We’ve already accompanied him on his experiences with Anger and Fear, and now he’s about to run into Sadness.

The Nicest Gift

The Nicest Gift

6
 min
5
+
4.81

Emma is unhappy because the other children in her class make fun of her wild hair. But one day, her teacher’s wise words change her perspective. Come and join Emma’s classmates as they discover why her hair (and not only that) is actually a very valuable gift.

The Little Fairy & The Little Witch

The Little Fairy & The Little Witch

16
 min
5
+
4.81

The story is about why it’s a good idea to help our parents. The little girl’s parents are feeling desperate — they do not know how to deal with their daughter, who does not want to help with anything around the house. They tried everything possible, raising their voice and pleading with her, but all in vain. Then one night, the little girl has a strange dream, thanks to which she sees the error of her ways and decides to behave differently.

Maya Goes Into a Rage

Maya Goes Into a Rage

9
 min
3
+
4.79

Maya’s day has not got off to a good start. A series of unfortunate events has made her cross, and she doesn’t know what to do with all the anger she can feel bubbling up inside her. Luckily, her daddy is with her, and he knows exactly how to sort it out. Come along with Maya and find out about it for yourselves!

The Spiders in the Music Cabinet

The Spiders in the Music Cabinet

15
 min
5
+
4.75

In an abandoned house live two little spiders who want nothing better than to be left alone. They don’t like change, and they can’t stand noise. But one day, their peace is disturbed by the house’s new occupants. Find out how they get along with their new housemates in this tale that will teach you about the beauty of music and how it can affect and enchant us.

The Unusual Racer

The Unusual Racer

6
 min
5
+
4.75

Only the best kid-racers can take part in this race, and Lucy is among them. From the start, we can tell that Lucy is not an ordinary racer, but we don’t know what makes her exceptional until later in the story. The message here is that regardless of who we are, we can achieve our dreams.

The Apple Pie

The Apple Pie

6
 min
5
+
4.74

Tommy is sad about something the other children said to him at school – they laughed at him because he looked different. Then his mum teaches him an important lesson while they make an apple pie together. Find out what that lesson was in this short story.

The Bashful Doll

The Bashful Doll

9
 min
3
+
4.73

Lily’s toys gained a new addition: a doll named Amelie. But there is a small problem — Amelie chooses not to play with the other toys, and doesn’t even speak to them. The other toys don’t have a clue as to what is going on. So they decide to find out why Amelie is acting so aloof. Let’s discover what’s holding her back!

The Unicorn Who Had a Secret

The Unicorn Who Had a Secret

11
 min
3
+
4.73

All the horses on the farm are pleased when a new friend arrives. Interestingly, the newbie is not an ordinary horse —  he’s a unicorn called Felix. Everyone likes him, and he’s immediately invited to join in their games. They all have enormous fun together. Indeed, Felix has a lovely character and gets along well with everyone. But he has a secret. Can you imagine what that secret might be? Let’s see if you’re right.

The Day Roamer Got Bored

The Day Roamer Got Bored

8
 min
3
+
4.72

Tomcat Roamer is having a day that is so ordinary and quiet it is rather dull. In fact, it gets so boring that Roamer starts misbehaving. Luckily, his trusty friend Scoot is nearby and gives him some tips on how to cope with his boredom.

Rudy the Rubbish Truck

Rudy the Rubbish Truck

11
 min
5
+
4.72

Rudy is a little rubbish truck who does his job with great joy. But when some new rubbish trucks suddenly appear on the streets, Rudy becomes scared and angry — what if these trucks want to replace him?! This eco-themed fairy tale explores the causes of anger and other unknown feelings in children.

Shizuko the Sea Creature

Shizuko the Sea Creature

13
 min
5
+
4.72

In this underwater story, you will learn about a special fish with a meaningful name. And besides hearing about the wonders of the underwater world and about interesting four-toothed creatures, you will also discover some ways to manage boredom.

Appreciating Edith

Appreciating Edith

8
 min
5
+
4.7

Edith is the school cleaner, but the pupils don’t pay much attention to her. However, everything changes when she suddenly has to take some time off. The children come to realise what a huge difference a clean school makes and how crucial the job of a cleaner is. In addition to everything they are taught in class, the pupils learn that every occupation should be valued.

Discovering the Emotions: Joy

Discovering the Emotions: Joy

6
 min
5
+
4.69

On his journey to his neighbours’ apartments in the quest for feelings, Martin has one more floor of the building left to visit. Let’s see who lives on the fifth floor. And let’s hope that it will be a pleasant experience, maybe even Joyful!

Friends from the Land of Eternal Winter

Friends from the Land of Eternal Winter

6
 min
3
+
4.68

Oliver is a little penguin who likes to play with his best friend, Minnie the seal. One day, when Minnie starts behaving strangely, Oliver sets out on a quest to find out what has changed. Can he accept his friend’s new friend? Learn more about friendships and jealousy in this story for very young children.

How the Sunshine Made Friends with the Rain

How the Sunshine Made Friends with the Rain

6
 min
3
+
4.68

Annette is grumpy, because it is going to rain all week while she is on holiday with her family. But on the way to the campsite she learns some new things about why rain is important. And then she sees something magical in the sky! Read this story to find out what it was.

Questions about

Emotions and empathy

Why are stories about emotions and empathy important for children?

Stories about emotions and empathy help children understand their feelings and build strong social connections. For example, The Girl with the Almond Eyes encourages children to appreciate diversity and embrace differences, fostering emotional intelligence.

Do these stories also appeal to adults reading with children?

Definitely! Many stories from this category can resonate with adults as well, reminding them of their own experiences with anxiety and how they overcame it.

How can stories help children deal with fear or anxiety?

Stories can provide relatable scenarios where characters overcome fear or anxiety. Little Sophie and the Great Fear addresses a child’s worries about change and the unknown, offering a comforting message about resilience.

Can these stories be used as tools for starting family discussions?

Absolutely! Stories in the Emotions and Empathy category are designed not only to entertain but also to encourage meaningful conversations within families. These stories often include situations children can relate to, making it easier for parents to address sensitive topics. By creating a safe and open space for discussion after reading, families can use these stories as stepping stones to explore values, emotions, and the challenges of growing up. Parents can also share their own experiences related to the story themes, deepening the conversation and making the lessons learned even more impactful.

Mio tip: install the Readmio