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Animals Feeling Like Us: Kids Book of Emotions and Feelings
What does it look like when you feel happy, frightened, silly, angry, brave, or calm? What do those feelings mean? Look and see!
Join the parade of emotions exhibited by a variety of fun and expressive animals, including a Happy Hippo, an Excited Elephant, and a Grumpy Goat, to mention just a few. Each animal cleverly portrays an emotion, and the playful rhymes support and explain each feeling. Each emotion is reinforced by a short and thoughtful description of how a child might feel if they were experiencing that emotion.
Join the parade of emotions exhibited by a variety of fun and expressive animals, including a Happy Hippo, an Excited Elephant, and a Grumpy Goat, to mention just a few. Each animal cleverly portrays an emotion, and the playful rhymes support and explain each feeling. Each emotion is reinforced by a short and thoughtful description of how a child might feel if they were experiencing that emotion.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
Kindle Edition
Published February 27, 2025
About the author
R.M. Smith
11 books37 followersR. M. Smith has a background in graphic design and illustration and enjoys creating kids' books. He is currently busy writing and illustrating his next book.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 16, 2025
Fun!!! And Very Sweet!!
Great lesson on emotions. The animals are adorable and who would not love a calm cheetah! Well done!!!👍 🎉
Great lesson on emotions. The animals are adorable and who would not love a calm cheetah! Well done!!!👍 🎉
March 18, 2025
In Animals Feeling Like Us by R.M. Smith, we are presented with different animals teaching us what certain emotions mean and look like. We are introduced to such animal characters as Happy Hippo, who loves smiling from ear to ear, and Silly Sloth, who loves to clown around and act kind of funny. We also meet Grumpy Goat, who isn’t happy about anything, and Confused Camel, who is so perplexed he isn’t sure what to do next. In total, there are thirteen lovable characters that readers can get to know through their different emotions they share with us.
This reviewer found this children’s book unique because Mr. Smith provided thirteen different characters and allowed each character to share different emotions through his written word. This teaches children not only about different emotions they might feel, but also how skillfully the animals go about teaching the child what each emotion meant. After each emotion is mentioned, the author defines what each feels like and gives an example of a situation that can cause that particular emotion to happen. He cleverly uses rhymes to enhance and explain each feeling, which in turn captivates his readers into wanting to turn the page to see what animal and feeling is on the next page.
The illustrations, also provided by the author, can be found on every page for readers to look at while reading along. Each one encompassed the full page and were done in muted tones that were pleasing to the eye. The illustrations perfectly matched the written word that was expressed.
R.M. Smith is a children’s author and illustrator of educational picture books. He has a background in graphic design and illustration. Combining both talents, he has been creating children’s books since 2008.
Quill says: Animals Feeling Like Us by R.M. Smith will not only teach children about different emotions and what they feel like, but will also entertain its readers with all the silly characters that can be found on each page.
This reviewer found this children’s book unique because Mr. Smith provided thirteen different characters and allowed each character to share different emotions through his written word. This teaches children not only about different emotions they might feel, but also how skillfully the animals go about teaching the child what each emotion meant. After each emotion is mentioned, the author defines what each feels like and gives an example of a situation that can cause that particular emotion to happen. He cleverly uses rhymes to enhance and explain each feeling, which in turn captivates his readers into wanting to turn the page to see what animal and feeling is on the next page.
The illustrations, also provided by the author, can be found on every page for readers to look at while reading along. Each one encompassed the full page and were done in muted tones that were pleasing to the eye. The illustrations perfectly matched the written word that was expressed.
R.M. Smith is a children’s author and illustrator of educational picture books. He has a background in graphic design and illustration. Combining both talents, he has been creating children’s books since 2008.
Quill says: Animals Feeling Like Us by R.M. Smith will not only teach children about different emotions and what they feel like, but will also entertain its readers with all the silly characters that can be found on each page.
March 6, 2025
Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to R. M. Smithn, BooksGoSocial, and Netgalley for the Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone with their eye on this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you decide whether you are interested or not. All opinions offered are my own.
With Sad Seals, Silly Goats, Happy Hippos, Confused Camels and many more, this book picks an animal and uses alliteration to assign the animal a feeling or emotion. Every other page introduces the emotion and asks the child to make the face that would represnt that feeling. The following page provides a rhyme about the animal and emotion before explaining it in clearer, direct language.
The illustrations are overly simple. The text, particularly the line, 'can you make a [insert emotion] face?' invites the child to join in the reading because of the repetitive format.
I'm not sure I would have assigned the same animals the emotions they were given but I could see why the author did it from this perspetive.
The interactive element of the book that invites the child to role play might be a fun thing for parent and child to mirror and laugh about together. It's one of those boos where I'm not sure whether it would have a place in my home, but would be at home in an established learning environment such as a school, nursery, library, etc.
With Sad Seals, Silly Goats, Happy Hippos, Confused Camels and many more, this book picks an animal and uses alliteration to assign the animal a feeling or emotion. Every other page introduces the emotion and asks the child to make the face that would represnt that feeling. The following page provides a rhyme about the animal and emotion before explaining it in clearer, direct language.
The illustrations are overly simple. The text, particularly the line, 'can you make a [insert emotion] face?' invites the child to join in the reading because of the repetitive format.
I'm not sure I would have assigned the same animals the emotions they were given but I could see why the author did it from this perspetive.
The interactive element of the book that invites the child to role play might be a fun thing for parent and child to mirror and laugh about together. It's one of those boos where I'm not sure whether it would have a place in my home, but would be at home in an established learning environment such as a school, nursery, library, etc.
March 6, 2025
Animals with emotions, we're promised – and animals with emotions we get – all thirteen of them. They have a couple of pages each, and we see them with their specific moods – surprise, delirious happiness, sadness, the grumps. We also get a short snippet of verse about the critter and the situation it's in, an invite to copy the beast facially, and – more importantly – a key little paragraph where we get synonyms to help us understand the emotion, and perhaps something about what comes after it. So anxiety perhaps ought to lead to calmness and relaxation, anger might mean it's bed-time, and sadness generally can be shrugged off before too long.
I liked those bits the best, for the way they gave us a heads-up to the future of our emotion, whether it be thought to be good or bad. The issue here is that with the "can you do…?" line and the poetry, all the entries are rather on the busy side, and the simplicity and clarity this young audience would need is lost somewhat. Still, the variety of moods and animals here is fine, the artwork is pretty decent, and while this might not be the perfect helping guide, it's not going to hurt anybody at all. A flawed four stars, then, which – yup, makes me a surprised sheep, much like the one here.
I liked those bits the best, for the way they gave us a heads-up to the future of our emotion, whether it be thought to be good or bad. The issue here is that with the "can you do…?" line and the poetry, all the entries are rather on the busy side, and the simplicity and clarity this young audience would need is lost somewhat. Still, the variety of moods and animals here is fine, the artwork is pretty decent, and while this might not be the perfect helping guide, it's not going to hurt anybody at all. A flawed four stars, then, which – yup, makes me a surprised sheep, much like the one here.
February 9, 2025
What does it look like when you feel happy, frightened, silly, angry, or other thing? What do those feelings mean? Look and see!
The illustrations by the author are imaginative, delightfully colorful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 4 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library! Pub Date Feb 27, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on PDF from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
#AnimalFeelingLikeUs by R.M.Smith @rmsmiauthor #NetGalley @booksgosocialgroup #feeling #childrensbookillustration #childrensbook #picturebooks #kidlitart #kidlit #digitalart #drawingsforkids #makingpeoplehappy #Illustrated #NetGalley #goodreads #bookbub #librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble #waterstones ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #childrensbookcouncil #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #emotions #feelings #feelingsbooksforkids #kidsbookstagram #picturebook #childrensliterature #kidsreads #readaloud #education
The illustrations by the author are imaginative, delightfully colorful, and FUN!
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 4 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library! Pub Date Feb 27, 2025
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on PDF from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.
#AnimalFeelingLikeUs by R.M.Smith @rmsmiauthor #NetGalley @booksgosocialgroup #feeling #childrensbookillustration #childrensbook #picturebooks #kidlitart #kidlit #digitalart #drawingsforkids #makingpeoplehappy #Illustrated #NetGalley #goodreads #bookbub #librarythingofficial #barnesandnoble #waterstones ***** Review #booksamillion #bookshop_org #bookshop_org_uk #childrensbookcouncil #childrensbooks #kidsbooks #emotions #feelings #feelingsbooksforkids #kidsbookstagram #picturebook #childrensliterature #kidsreads #readaloud #education
February 10, 2025
This was a really cute book teaching little ones about feelings. I don't remember how I learnt what feelings were when I was younger but I know they're not talked about enough and sometimes young children might not know how to express their feelings. Using a variety of animals this book shows how you might express certain emotions facially and explains what it feels like and examples of when you might feel that way, encouraging the children to think of a time they might have felt like that so they can earn to put a word to the feeling. I think it's an excellent way to get kids talking about their feelings. The funny examples of the animals in those scenarios will be great to keep the kids engaged (like a surprised sheep at a surprise birthday party and an excited elephant buying new shoes). The illustrations too, not to busy crowding the pages but with full page colour illustrations on nice colourful patterned backgrounds with a lovely style, will keep the kids interested too. Definitely a great one to read with young kids.
March 8, 2025
ANIMALS FEELING LIKE US is a simple yet playful and educational picture book.
The title is a small verbal and visual tool for teaching young readers social and emotional skills.
The author/illustrator applies humour in his minimalistic approach of showing emotional states and ways to understand and regulate them.
The emphasis on the important words in the narrative identifies feelings and emotions, and the blurbs related to them educate readers to help manage them and grow emotionally.
Although a handful of strong emotions are shown, their number is enough to help children increase their emotional competence and foster their social intelligence.
The rhymes in the story add fun to the reading process and assist kids in developing language skills and comprehension.
The simple yet professionally executed visuals are an excellent map of the book.
The title is a small verbal and visual tool for teaching young readers social and emotional skills.
The author/illustrator applies humour in his minimalistic approach of showing emotional states and ways to understand and regulate them.
The emphasis on the important words in the narrative identifies feelings and emotions, and the blurbs related to them educate readers to help manage them and grow emotionally.
Although a handful of strong emotions are shown, their number is enough to help children increase their emotional competence and foster their social intelligence.
The rhymes in the story add fun to the reading process and assist kids in developing language skills and comprehension.
The simple yet professionally executed visuals are an excellent map of the book.
March 1, 2026
This was a cute interactive book about feelings for younger children, I liked the overview under the illustrations of the feelings too - that was a nice touch. The illustrations were good, not the greatest I have seen as some were a bit simple for me but they did work with the book. The book was easy to read, understand and follow but there were a few words that I thought may be a little advanced like serene, perplexed, vexed, baffled, bewildered, irked, irate and golly. The feelings in the book include happy, frightened, silly, angry, surprised, grumpy, sad, excited, calm, anxious, love, confused and brave. It is 3.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads and Amazon - highly recommended!
March 10, 2025
Animals Feeling Like Us is a playfully illustrated book that introduces a variety of different emotions to young children. Using animals to represent each state of being, the happy hippo, the grumpy goat, and so on, their facial expression are explained, and kids are invited to try them out. I like that this book elaborates on how each emotion can feel, and a little about what to expect. In some instances suggestions are offered about what to do if you are feeling a particular way. This is a great way to get kids talking about their feelings.
April 9, 2025
Just finished 'Animals Feeling Like Us,' and while the Happy Hippo was indeed... happy, my personal spirit animal is definitely The GRUMPY Goat. This dude didn't just appear; he 'appeared in a huff'! Apparently, the goat wasn't thrilled about stuff, which, let's be honest, is a very relatable mood. Five stars for accurately capturing my general life outlook through a disgruntled farm animal. Highly recommend for anyone who's ever felt like their default setting is 'mildly annoyed goat.
May 28, 2025
Animals Feeling Like Us by R.M. Smith is a delightful exploration of emotions through a parade of expressive animals. I especially enjoyed the clever use of alliteration—like “Happy Hippo” and “Grumpy Goat”—which adds a playful rhythm to each page. The rhyming text is engaging, and the simple explanations help young readers connect with each feeling in a meaningful way. A fun and thoughtful tool for emotional awareness.
February 17, 2025
R.M. Smith's wonderful illustrations go so well with the text of this book, talking about the different feelings we all experience! The expressions on each animal is so emotive and it invites the readers to try to replicate the same expression. It'd be a wonderful book to read with a child! The book also would a be a good introduction to colors with the appearance of each new animal and it's emotion. The rhymes are fun and brings a smile to your face when you read it out loud!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2025
I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.
What a wonderful way to talk and think about feelings for kids! The animals are all showing what their emotion looks like and the description of the emotions is a wonderful starting point to talk more about each one. An excellent book!
What a wonderful way to talk and think about feelings for kids! The animals are all showing what their emotion looks like and the description of the emotions is a wonderful starting point to talk more about each one. An excellent book!
March 2, 2025
Animals Feeling Like Us is a fun and playful way to show children that feelings are okay and how to deal with them. The illustrations are fun and inviting, and I just love the addition of rhymes! Smith does a super job of explaining feelings in a way children will understand and relate to. This would be a great addition to family and classroom bookshelves. Five Stars!
February 17, 2025
This is a beautiful book about feelings, making them understandable for kids. It's a great way to initiate a conversations with my kids about how they feel and why. Beautiful bright graphics.
Thanks to netgalley for this copy for review.
Thanks to netgalley for this copy for review.
February 22, 2025
I loved this book! My daughter loved the pictures and I loved the explanations about the feeling and how you make them on your face! Definitely a great book to teach young children about their feelings.
May 18, 2025
Perfect for Little Minds Learning Big Feelings!
My 5-year-old daughter loves this book! The animals are so fun and expressive, and the rhymes are catchy and easy for her to remember. It's helping her understand feelings in a way she can really relate to. Highly recommend for young kids!
My 5-year-old daughter loves this book! The animals are so fun and expressive, and the rhymes are catchy and easy for her to remember. It's helping her understand feelings in a way she can really relate to. Highly recommend for young kids!
May 29, 2025
I loved this book. Join these happy, grumpy, surprised and calm animals to explore your different feelings. The illustrations are incredible and the book is well done. The author kept the word count down and this makes it an excellent read aloud with preschoolers!
September 5, 2025
This is a really fun children's book with great illustrations. It looks at and explains different feelings to kids. Recommended for kids and their parents.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
November 6, 2025
This children's picture book is an excellent choice for teaching kids all about emotions and feelings!
They will learn words to match many types of feelings as they connect with the animal illustrations and make their own drawings. Highly recommended for four-to-six-year-olds.
They will learn words to match many types of feelings as they connect with the animal illustrations and make their own drawings. Highly recommended for four-to-six-year-olds.
February 26, 2025
I loved everything about this.
March 17, 2025
Very cute book that teaches about emotions
This is such a cute book! It teaches kids about emotions and how to read facial expressions. The illustrations are adorable.
This is such a cute book! It teaches kids about emotions and how to read facial expressions. The illustrations are adorable.
March 12, 2025
A super cute introduction to feelings! Animals Feeling Like Us helps the child learn and understand their complicated emotions by seeing them depicted on their favorite animals!
The importance of emotional intelligence cannot be stressed enough. This book is a great find for an introduction to emotions for toddlers. The use of alliterations and the illustration style were very fun.
I will be purchasing this on release day and recommending to all of my friends with small children.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial, R.M. Smith, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The importance of emotional intelligence cannot be stressed enough. This book is a great find for an introduction to emotions for toddlers. The use of alliterations and the illustration style were very fun.
I will be purchasing this on release day and recommending to all of my friends with small children.
Thank you to BooksGoSocial, R.M. Smith, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews