This morning’s baby book club pick is The Feelings Book by Todd Parr. I’ve seen it in English, Spanish, and a bilingual English/Spanish edition, which is the version I picked up at Barnes & Noble, thanks to a gift card I received when my daughter was born.
There may be other translations out there too, but these are the ones I’ve come across.
Why We Love It
💯 Bilingual edition available (English/Spanish)
💯 Engaging, high-contrast illustrations
💯 Great for introducing emotional vocabulary
💯 Especially enjoyable for neurodivergent families
💯 More dynamic than standard black-and-white baby books
Why I Chose This Book
This pick reflects some additional goals I have for my daughter’s at-home bookshelf.
I mentioned in my Sharks Teeth to Tail post that I want a good mix of topics including nature topics, planets, general science topics, good habits, math, arts and music.
Well, in addition to that, I want a variety of Spanish, English, and bilingual books.
(Oh, and did I mention I want all of this and to keep the collection around twenty books or less? I might need to adjust my expectations.)
I also chose The Feelings Book because I want to start introducing emotional intelligence concepts from the beginning.
While I’m not sure it fully qualifies as an “emotional intelligence” book, I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to be more fun than I expected and felt like a great fit for our neurodivergent family.
Our Experience
Alongside the usual feelings (sad, happy), the book includes playful ones like “sometimes I feel like being in the bath all day” or “sometimes I feel like being loud.” I love that.
My daughter is drawn to the high-contrast artwork. She watches each page closely, and reaches out to touch the pages.
At first, the art style wasn’t my favorite, but as I read and connected with the content, I started to appreciate the unique illustrations.
In fact, if you’re looking for a high-contrast book recommended for newborns’ developing eyesight, this is a fantastic alternative to black-and-white baby board books.It’s more engaging for both baby and parent, and I expect it to have better longevity. While there’s probably a limited window for books with black-and-white baby animals, I can see The Feelings Book staying interesting for years to come.
A Closer Look at the Bilingual Edition
My husband, a native Spanish speaker, did catch one error in the translation. Still, I’m really glad this book is available in a bilingual edition.
I believe it’ll be helpful for my daughter to see both languages side by side, paired with consistent imagery and meaning, as she develops her language skills.
Final Thoughts: Will It Stay on the Shelf?
This book didn’t immediately capture my heart the way No Matter What did, and it’s not factual like Sharks: Teeth to Tail, but it absolutely earns a spot on our favorites shelf. (Though I may have to give my husband a Sharpie to fix the translation error!)The unique art style, bilingual format, and handling of emotions in a kid-friendly (and neurodivergent-friendly) way make The Feelings Book a winner.
