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.

The Masquerade Ball

The Masquerade Ball

12
 min
5
+
4.68

Dennis, a model and well-behaved pupil, is very much looking forward to the school masquerade. He disguises himself so well that none of the children recognise him. And so he discovers that suddenly he doesn't have to be polite or good. After all, no one can see him. But is this really true?

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.

Discovering the Emotions: Fear

Discovering the Emotions: Fear

12
 min
5
+
4.68

Martin continues his search for these things called feelings. Where do emotions actually live and what do they look like? While last time he came across Anger, he is now going to visit another of his neighbours, and in the process he encounters Fear.

Friends from the Land of Eternal Winter

Friends from the Land of Eternal Winter

6
 min
3
+
4.67

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.

Here’s to the Ants!

Here’s to the Ants!

7
 min
5
+
4.67

Black ants and red ants are not natural friends. However, when a heavy storm befalls the forest, it affects all the insects in our story. Both colonies of ants are equally endangered. These sworn enemies are not used to putting their differences aside, but suddenly they find themselves united in the name of survival. Let’s see how they resolve their animosity…

The Ladybird With One Spot Missing?

The Ladybird With One Spot Missing?

11
 min
5
+
4.67

Leonora is different from the other ladybirds in her village — she was born with six spots instead of seven. Some of the others mocked her for this, even though it was simply her natural appearance. But gradually, their attitudes changed. Let’s read the story and find out how Leonora dealt with this difference of hers.

Discovering the Emotions: Disgust

Discovering the Emotions: Disgust

10
 min
5
+
4.67

Today Martin continues his search for feelings, still as keen as ever to find out where they are hiding. Let’s continue to accompany him on the journey through his apartment building, where this time he meets a neighbour who is forever disgruntled. We are now poised to learn about the feeling of Disgust.

The Noble Tower Crane

The Noble Tower Crane

9
 min
3
+
4.62

Work on the construction site is about to get underway, and the machinery is ready to go. Two diggers are showing-off their skills. Only the crane stands apart, as his time has not yet come — he must wait until the foundations are in. The diggers start to make fun of the crane, teasing him about being useless. But then the tables suddenly turn, forcing the snarky diggers to recognise their ill-behaviour…

The Kind Knight With the Golden Cloak

The Kind Knight With the Golden Cloak

6
 min
5
+
4.59

Do you know the story of St. Martin and why we still remember him today? Take a trip back in time with us to explore this legend about the kindness of the human heart, about generosity and helping others.

The Rainbow-Loving Zebra

The Rainbow-Loving Zebra

8
 min
5
+
4.54

The black and white zebras are happy in their black and white world and don’t need any more colours. At least that’s what they think. But Matilda is no ordinary zebra. She decides to show her friends how beautiful colours can be.

Discovering the Emotions: Surprise

Discovering the Emotions: Surprise

9
 min
5
+
4.5

Which of the feelings will Martin find out about today? On the third floor of the apartment building, a Surprise awaits him in the form of a very resourceful neighbour — an inventor, in fact! Join him as he experiences much in the way of astonishment.

Discovering the Emotions: Anger

Discovering the Emotions: Anger

10
 min
5
+
4.23

Young Martin doesn’t understand what emotions are and decides to undertake a search. What are these so-called feelings and where are they located? He sets out on this exploration in the apartment building where he lives, very much hoping that his neighbours can help him unravel the mystery...

The Christmas Puppy

The Christmas Puppy

13
 min
5
+
4.95

The magic of Christmas is not hidden in many gifts, but in good deeds. One little puppy manages to melt the hearts of two adults, who until then hadn’t wanted to complicate life with a new family member, and especially not one like a dog, which as we all know can create be quite messy…

Tracking Love Down

Tracking Love Down

7
 min
5
+
4.89

Violet is bothered by something she doesn’t understand: love. What is it and what does it look like? Do you have to buy someone a bunch of roses if you want there to be love at home? To answer her worries, she and her daddy play a game of detectives, and together they find out whether there’s any love at home or not, and if so, what it actually looks like. Let’s join the three of them and find out!

The Squirrel That Had Trouble Saying Sorry

The Squirrel That Had Trouble Saying Sorry

8
 min
3
+
4.88

Suzy the squirrel is gifted in many ways, but she can't do one thing: she can't say "sorry." However, one of the animals in the forest teaches her why we need this word, and Suzy finds out that a sincere apology can smooth things out and bring us closer.

Paul the Pebble

Paul the Pebble

11
 min
5
+
4.88

Paul isn’t any ordinary hero — he’s a tiny pebble. Actually, he’s not really a hero. Unlike all the other pebbles that live on the banks of the creek, he is extremely afraid of the water, and he generally feels quite useless. But then Paul encounters a beetle called Mr Shiny and discovers how to be useful and how to work through his fear at the same time! At long last, Paul realises how wonderful life can be.

The Angry Bus

The Angry Bus

9
 min
5
+
4.86

An old bus and its trusty driver have been driving their route together for many years. Every morning, they help to get all the impatient, in-a-hurry people to work. They’d been through a lot together and nothing could easily ruffle their feathers. But one day, something awful happened and it crossed just about every line and the bus reacted. What did he do?

The Golden Sardine

The Golden Sardine

10
 min
5
+
4.83

Mikey’s ordinary breakfast suddenly takes an extraordinary turn when he finds a magic golden sardine inside a fish can. But there’s a catch – the fish will only grant food-preserving-related wishes. What can Mikey do about that?

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.

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