Inside Out Inspired Reads: Book Recommendations for Emotional Well-Being for All Ages

Emotions play a crucial role in our daily lives, shaping our experiences and interactions. Movies’Upside down“Movies 1 and 2 perfectly illustrate this phenomenon by bringing to life emotions such as joy, sadness, fear, anger and disgust. Inspired by these films, Penguin India share a list of book recommendations which are aimed at both children and adults, with the aim of improving their emotional health and well-being. These books look at various emotions, offering ideas and coping strategies for different age groups. Whether you’re a parent looking to help your child manage their feelings or an adult seeking deeper emotional understanding, these books can provide valuable tools and comforting stories. So, check out this list of book recommendations for children and adults, based on the emotions explored in “Inside Out” 1 and 2.

1. Joy
‘Guess how much I love you’

Sam McBratney’s timeless story, beautifully illustrated with Anita Jeram’s soft watercolours, has captured the hearts of children and adults alike. How much does the little brown hare love his daddy? Sam McBratney’s ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ is a tale about the bonds of love between parents and children. It is a beautiful exposition of how we perceive love and its magnitude. This love seems limitless and we struggle to express it. An enlarged hardback edition of this much-loved classic that children will simply cherish.
2. Fear
“The Prisoner of Bhopal”: Ages 9 and up

Amil has always dreamed of working in the modern, space-age pesticide factory in Bhopal, India, where he lives. Instead, on his tenth birthday, he is taken from his family and taken to work for Mr. Kumar and his cruel son, Jalesh, in their dilapidated printing press. There, hidden in a trunk, he finds a secret diary from World War I. As its pages come to life, they reveal not only why Amil is there, but also that he and the diary’s author—his great-grandfather, Sanjiv—share a magical gift: they can read the wind. Its purpose remains a mystery until, one terrible night, the pesticide factory releases toxic gas into the air above Bhopal…
3. Sadness
“Counting by 7s” – Ages 10 and up

In the vein of “Out of My Mind,” “Wonder,” and “Mockingbird,” this is a deeply moving young adult novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius obsessed with nature and diagnosing illnesses who finds comfort in counting by sevens. It’s never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t stopped her from living a quietly happy life… until now. Suddenly, Willow’s world changes tragically when both her parents die in a car accident, leaving her alone in a bewildering world. The triumph of this book is that it’s not a tragedy. This extraordinarily strange, yet extraordinarily endearing girl manages to overcome her grief. Her journey to find a fascinating and utterly believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.
4. Anger
“Grumpy Monkey”

Meet Jim Panzee. He’s in a BAD mood. Nothing’s going right! Nothing’s going right, and Jim doesn’t know why… His friends can’t figure it out – HOW can he be in such a bad mood when the weather is so nice!? They have plenty of suggestions to make him feel better. But Jim can’t take all the advice… and has a little meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy? This modern classic is the perfect reminder that “grumpy monkey” days never last long.
5. Desire
“The Wonderful Things You Will Be”

In this timeless poem about growing up, Emily Windfield Martin explores everything you can choose to be, from brave and bold to creative and wise. Filled with beautiful, original illustrations and clever rhymes read aloud, adults will love reading this book to their children of any age while lovingly considering all the possibilities that await them. Its enduring message of love and acceptance as children grow and change is both universal and poignant and should be shared again and again.
6. Embarras
“The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks”

Not only is she about to start high school with no friends or glamorous curly hair, but she just discovered that she’s too flat to wear a BRA! She might as well give up now and hibernate with her hamsters Sir Barnaby Squeakington and Fuzzball the Third. Lottie navigates the dangers of growing up in this incredibly funny new illustrated series for tweens, filled with friendship, embarrassing moments, and, of course, KitKat Chunkys.
The first book in the hilarious new children’s series from the bestselling creator of Hurrah For Gin. Perfect for fans of Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Dork Diaries.
7. Boredom
“The most brazen murder”

When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong start their own secret detective agency at Deepdean Girls’ School, they struggle to find truly exciting mysteries to investigate. (Unless you count the case of Lavinia’s missing tie. Which it doesn’t.) Then Hazel discovers the science teacher, Miss Bell, lying dead in the gymnasium.
8. Anxiety
“Lightning Girl’s Miscalculations” for ages 10 and up

Lightning gave her a superpower…but even a super genius can’t solve the middle school problem. This smart, funny novel is perfect for fans of The Fourteenth Goldfish, Rain Reign, and Counting by Sevens. Lucy Callahan’s life changed forever when she was struck by lightning. She doesn’t remember it, but the lightning bolt gave her genius-level math skills, and she’s been homeschooled ever since. Now, at 12, she’s technically ready for college. Now she has one more test to pass: middle school! Lucy’s grandmother insists: go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Do 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook!). Lucy doesn’t know what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can learn in 5th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where no one can mock her rigid routines or her overpowered brain. Lucy’s life equation has already been solved. Or has there been a miscalculation? A celebration of friendship, Stacy McAnulty’s smart, thoughtful debut novel for young readers reminds us all to step out of our comfort zones and embrace what makes us different.