We all have bad days sometimes. This can sometimes be difficult for us to remember when emotions are running high and we feel like our kids are being difficult. It is our job as parents to teach kids how to handle bad days and consider the joys to look forward to. I decided to gather this list of children’s books for a bad day to help kids handle those grumpy feelings so they can move on to the better days.

Standard Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission from purchases you make through the links in this post. I received ‘Angry Cookie’ in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Angry Cookie

Written by Laura Dockrill and illustrated by Maria Karipidou

This hilarious interactive story introduces the reader to a very angry cookie. From the beginning of the book, he tries to convince the reader to close the book and leave him alone. As the story continues, he decides to share the reasons behind his anger. Once he realizes that the reader is sticking around and listening, his day suddenly seems a bit brighter. The text is full of emotion, making this a fun one to read out loud. Kids will love that the cookie is speaking directly to them, and parents will appreciate the message that a bad day can sometimes be turned around by a good friend and a shoulder to lean on.

Grumpy Pants

Written and illustrated by Claire Messer

In this adorable story, Penguin is having a grumpy day and he just can’t shake it. No matter what he tries, he finds that his grumpiness just won’t go away. In the end, he realizes that the best way to deal with a grumpy day is to wash off the bad feelings and start a new day fresh. The relatable story is paired with simple illustrations using a mostly blue color palette. Kids will recognize the frustration that Penguin is feeling, while parents will appreciate the suggestions the story offers for calming down and washing away a bad day.

Related Post: Teach Kids about Feelings with the Moodsters

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Written Judith Viorst and illustrated by Ray Cruz

In this classic story, Alexander is having a bad day. Everything seems to go wrong, and he just knows that it will be a terrible day. The story is full of big and small frustrations that kids can relate to, and the repeating refrain about his day is a lot of fun to read aloud. The illustrations are done in pen and ink, highlighting the gray, depressing day that he is having. The story reminds readers that sometimes we will all have bad days, and that you can’t escape from them. But the ending gives hope that not every day will be bad.

Grumpy Monkey

Written by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang

Jim Panzee is having a grumpy day. Everything is bothering him and he can’t shake his bad mood. His friends try to help him out, but their suggestions don’t help. Eventually he realizes that he just needs to be grumpy for a while. The story is really relatable for kids and adults who have had grumpy days when they just want to be left alone. The illustrations are full of fun animal characters, and some of the suggestions from Jim’s friends are great ways for kids to try to shake off their grumpy days too.

When Sophie Gets Angry–Really, Really Angry…

Written and illustrated by Molly Bang

This book is a great exploration of anger and the necessity of getting some space and alone time when you are overwhelmed. Sophie is a young girl who loses her temper while playing with her sister. Her anger keeps brewing until she is ready to explode. Sophie runs out the door and escapes to the solitude of nature while she deals with her big, overwhelming emotions. The lesson in this story is an important one, as we are always trying to teach kids to walk away from overwhelming situations and get themselves under control. The illustrations use lots of vibrant colors and jagged lines, emphasizing the big emotions that Sophie is dealing with.

Do you have any books that you turn to on bad days? Share in the comments below!