Little Kids, Big Emotions: Jealousy
We have a few more emotions to hit before this series is over, but if you’ve missed any of the previous posts, please make sure to go back and take a look – happy, sad, mad, shy, enthusiasm, frustrated, silly, calm, anxious, and scared!
Today’s emotion is the green-eyed monster of jealousy (a reference from Shakespeare’s Othello). This is a somewhat complicated emotion, but one that crops up over and over again, especially when it comes to sibling rivalry. You most likely familiar with the constant refrain, “But I want what they have.” Whether it’s a new sibling, or a friendship that changes with the addition of a new friend, or any other variety of instances, jealousy is an emotion that kids will come in contact with. I think it’s important for kids to understand what this emotion is and what it means and then also how caregivers can acknowledge it and help kids process through it.
Sometimes it’s about a scarcity mindset (that person has more of something than I have), sometimes it’s about attention (dad is paying more attention to my sibling), but what it comes down to is understanding the emotion and not accepting unwelcome behavior based on the emotion. Emotions are valid, behavior based on emotion can be acceptable or unacceptable. And as caregivers, it’s your job to help kids navigate the difference – a tall order, for sure. Using picture books to create opportunities for conversation is a great option!
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Little Kids, Big Emotions: Jealousy
Awesome! by Craig Shuttlewood
Marvin the moose and Woody the beaver are BFFs. But their friendship is tested when Marvin does something totally AWESOME and Woody remains ordinary. The other forest animals now adore Marvin – calling in his new superhero services to help right wrongs, solve problems, and fix trouble. They even build a statue in his honor! Woody watches with envy, hatching a not-so-awesome plan to put all eyes on him. Can Woody and Marvin save their friendship? Craig Shuttlewood explores friendship, jealousy, and forgiveness in this relatable picture book about finding the awesome inside each of us.
The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain
Come for a visit in Bear Country with this classic First Time Book® from Stan and Jan Berenstain. Brother just got a new bike for his birthday, and now Sister is green with envy. Will she ever be able to get passed it? This beloved story is a perfect way to teach children about jealousy and how to overcome it.
Boxitects by Kim Smith
Meg is a brilliant and creative boxitect. She loves impressing her teacher and classmates with what she makes out of boxes.
But there’s a new kid at Maker School: Simone. Simone is good at everything, and worst of all, she’s a boxitect too.
When the annual Maker Match is held, Meg and Simone are paired as a team but can’t seem to stop arguing. When their extraordinary project turns into a huge disaster, they must find a way to join creative forces, lift each other up, and work together.
Milo’s Monster by Tom Percival
Milo loves spending time with his best friend, Jay. But when a new girl named Suzi moves in next door to Jay, Milo starts to feel left out. The jealous feeling gets stronger and stronger-until suddenly, a GREEN-EYED MONSTER pops up beside him! Soon, the monster is twisting up all of Milo’s thoughts and making him sad. It won’t leave him alone! Can Milo find a way to free himself from the monster and repair his friendship?
Warm and uplifting, Milo’s Monster is an ideal starting point for helping children to build strong friendships and say goodbye to jealous feelings.
The New Kitten by Joyce Carol Oates, illustrated by Dave Mottram
As the only cat in her house, Cherie is accustomed to being showered with treats and affection. So when her family brings home a new kitten named Cleopatra, Cherie resents that she’s no longer the center of attention—and she can’t believe all the trouble that the kitten gets away with! Is one home big enough for two kitties?
The New Small Person by Lauren Child
Elmore Green starts life as an only child, as many children do. He has a room to himself, where he can line up his precious things and nobody will move them one inch. But one day everything changes. When the new small person comes along, it seems that everybody might like it a bit morethan they like Elmore Green. And when the small person knocks over Elmore’s things and even licks his jelly-bean collection, Elmore’s parents say that he can’t be angry because the small person is only small. Elmore wants the small person to go back to wherever it came from. Then, one night, everything changes. . . . In her signature visual style, Lauren Child gets to the heart of a child’s evolving emotions about becoming a big brother or sister.
Norman Didn’t Do It! (Yes, he did.) by Ryan T. Higgins
Norman is a porcupine. Mildred is a tree. Norman and Mildred are best friends. Just the two of them. And only the two of them.
When another tree pops up (surprise!), Norman wrestles with feelings of jealousy as he watches Mildred and the other tree grow closer. Will Norman and Mildred’s friendship survive?
Plenty of Love To Go Around by Emma Chichester Clark
Plum the dog loves being her family’s Special One. So when Binky the cat moves in next door and everyone showers him with attention, Plum feels left out. Cats are not her favorite thing! Binky follows Plum everywhere, even to the park, which everyone knows is not for cats. And on top of that, Binky is so annoyingly clever. Is he the new Special One? Or is there enough love for both of them?
Second Banana by Blair Thornburgh, illustrated by Kate Berube
The kids in Mrs. Millet’s class are putting on their annual nutrition pageant. Every kid plays a food. Every kid gets a line. It is a big deal. But this year, there aren’t quite enough parts for everybody. So the class is cast: Fish, Cheese, Broccoli, Blueberry, Banana, and . . . Second Banana. Second Banana feels rotten. She wants to be the ONLY banana!
In this deliciously original school story, author Blair Thornburgh and illustrator Kate Berube recognize the dreadful disappointment that a casting list can cause—as well as the power of friendship, creative thinking, and a good attitude to turn a rotten situation into one that’s quite ap-peel-ing. Showtime!
Unicorn (And Horse) by David W. Miles, illustrated by Hollie Mengert
Unicorn is a unicorn. And Horse is, well . . . not.
Horse is brown. Horse is plain. And Horse can’t stand the unicorn he shares a pen with. Unicorn dances. Tra la la! Horse does not. Blah blah blah. But when robbers kidnap Unicorn for a local circus, what will Horse decide to do? Packed with forty-eight pages of hilarious illustrations and deadpan wit, Unicorn (and Horse) is a funny yet endearing lesson on envy with one important truth: We are sometimes unicorns. We are sometimes horses. And happiness doesn’t always come from pink cupcakes for breakfast.
Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great by Bob Shea
Ever since Unicorn moved into the neighborhood, Goat has been feeling out of sorts. Goat thought his bike was cool—until he saw that Unicorn could fly to school! Goat made marshmallow squares that almost came out right, but Unicorn made it rain cupcakes! Unicorn is such a show-off, how can Goat compete? When Goat and Unicorn share a piece of pizza, Goat learns that being a unicorn might not be all it’s cracked up to be. And when Unicorn shows his admiration for Goat, it looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Way Past Jealous by Hallee Adelman, illustrated by Karen Wall
Yaz is jealous. Way past jealous. Yaz loves to draw, but no one ever notices her pictures. Everyone loves Debby’s drawings, and one even got put up on the classroom wall with a star on it. Now Yaz’s jealousy is making her think ugly things, and even act mean! How can she get past being jealous?
