Recommendations on a Good Book to Help Toddler Express Frustration and Anger?

I have two favorites that kids ask for again and again when we read them at my preschool-
"When Sophie get Angry, really, really angry" by Molly Bang, where Sophie gets so mad she runs and runs and finds a quiet place, in this case outside, to calm herself
and "Sometimes I'm Bombaloo" by Rachel Vail where Kate throws her own little tantrum and becomes someone named "Bombaloo" but in the end mom helps her pull things together with a little time out and lots of love.
Both of these are wonderful and really reflect the intense feeling of anger in children and then show how these two girls could calm down and come back with a fresh heart!

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Suess! It relates colors to different moods and animals and I used it when my son was having terrible twos. It's a board book, so its very sturdy!

I was so mad by mercer mayer. Its a little critter book. my grandson loves it.

I'd suggest starting sign language. My son is 8 months and is now able to tell me when he wants a bottle and we no longer have him crying when he his hungry. He does cry a little, but he does the sign for milk and all is good when he sees me make a bottle.
She sounds like she still has a hard time putting what she feels into words. Try Signing Time movies. Or start reading a book about sign language. Before I was pregnant I took ASL in college since I knew I wanted my children to know it. So maybe you can take a class somewhere??

This is a truly tough stage. It will prepare you for teenage years, when at both stages we go through hormonal changes. The secret is to remain calm (easier said than done), check with the ped or health food store for an herbal remedy. Good luck, momma

I haven't dealt with this with my own child yet, but can recommend an item we used a lot in a daycare setting. Google "A Box Full of Feelings" and take a look at it. It helps them validate their feelings and more easily express them since they often can't sort through them as easily as we think. We used this from toddler all the way through school age. Sometimes the older kids thought it was silly, but it would really make them stop and think about their feelings and why they feel that way.

If you don't want to buy the box, don't panic! You could probably make it with a little work. Shoe box (decorated by her of course!) and you could make the faces or print them off from the internet. Whatever you do, get them laminated! You can either do it yourself with laminating paper bought at the store, or you might be able to take them to a place like Staples and have it done there.

I don't know your child at all but from what you wrote it sounds like she could be having self regulation problems. These are the children who are the easiest babies sometimes, but they can also be the most difficult babies. The biting thing could be that she is looking for more proprioceptive input. If she doesn't have her 2 yr molars in yet she might be getting them now. This could be temporary or it could morph into something else as she gets older. I would have her seen by an occupational therapist because they can tell by their body what is going on with their emotions. She is much too young for "talk therapy" If the body is out of sync, so will be the emotions and self regulation. She may only need a sensory diet of activites to keep her at an optimal level of functioning so when things overwhelm or frustrate her she can handle it. SOme good books are Sensational Kids and The Out of Sync Child and Raising a Sensory Smart Child. I may be totally off base but I urge you to check it out and not let it go. Lots of kids are experiencing processing issues these days.

Your question makes me laugh, remembering my youngest. He was a screamer, and I remember him chasing his older sister with choppers flying.

He grew out of it. I have no book recommendations though.

Hey S.. I'm so happy you posted about this. I can't believe I didn't think to do this with my little guy!

I just went to Amazon to check out the books mentioned below...and a whole other list of similar books came up:

Glad Monster Sad Monster by Anne Miranda
Mouse was Mad by Linda Urban
On Monday When it Rained by Cheryl Kachenmeister
Sometimes I'm Bombaloo by Rachel Vail
When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry... by Molly Bang

aYokaReeder.com- she is the best, we love her.
best, k