The Way I Feel – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Way I Feel

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2021

82%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

The feelings flashcard book every preschool teacher owns—simple, effective, and genuinely helpful for teaching kids to name their emotions.

The Way I Feel

book

2021

82%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

The feelings flashcard book every preschool teacher owns—simple, effective, and genuinely helpful for teaching kids to name their emotions.

4.8

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Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the book equivalent of a really good flashcard set—not flashy, not particularly creative, but incredibly functional. If you're dealing with a kid who melts down and can't articulate why, or you just want to build emotional literacy early, The Way I Feel delivers.

It won't win awards for storytelling (because there isn't one), but it does exactly what it promises: pairs simple, relatable verses with expressive illustrations that help kids connect words to feelings. Teachers and therapists recommend it constantly, and the 4.8 Amazon rating suggests parents find it genuinely useful.

The catch? It's didactic. This is a teaching tool dressed up as a picture book, which means some kids will find it a bit boring compared to stories with characters and plots. Use it as a springboard for conversation, not a standalone entertainment experience, and you'll get your money's worth.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 2-7, especially during the emotional rollercoaster of toddlerhood and early elementary years. Older kids will age out as they develop more sophisticated emotional vocabulary, but it's a solid foundational resource while it lasts.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models emotional intelligence and validation beautifully. The core message—that all feelings are valid and deserve names—is exactly what kids need to hear. No chaos, no shame, just straightforward emotional literacy in a calm, affirming tone.

Imaginative

Strong, expressive illustrations paired with simple verses create visual interest, but this is fundamentally a didactic book—it teaches vocabulary and concepts rather than inviting open-ended exploration or storytelling. It's more educational tool than imaginative journey.

Safe

As safe as books get. Zero concerning content, no surprises, no trauma. It's literally about naming feelings in a gentle, age-appropriate way. The only reason it's not 100 is that some kids might find certain emotion illustrations (like 'frustrated' or 'angry') slightly intense, but that's the point.

Enriching

Genuinely useful for building emotional vocabulary and social-emotional learning. Recommended by mental health professionals for good reason—it gives kids the language to identify and communicate their internal experiences, which is foundational for empathy and self-regulation. Not wildly entertaining as a standalone read, but highly functional.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Gives toddlers and preschoolers concrete vocabulary for abstract feelings—'silly,' 'frustrated,' 'excited,' 'lonely'—with bold illustrations that match
Recommended by therapists and educators for social-emotional learning; over 2 million copies in circulation for a reason
Opens natural conversations about what's happening in your kid's day without making it feel like an interrogation
Short enough to hold a squirmy 3-year-old's attention but substantive enough to revisit as kids grow
Amazon rating of 4.8/5 reflects its utility—parents actually use this one

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What to Watch For

This is not a plot-driven story—it's more of a picture dictionary of emotions, so don't expect narrative arc or characters kids will obsess over
Some kids might find it a bit dry compared to more imaginative picture books; it's a tool first, entertainment second
Best used as a conversation starter rather than a bedtime read—you'll want to pause and talk through each feeling

Conversation Starters

"Which feeling on this page have you felt today?"
"When was the last time you felt silly? What made you feel that way?"
"Is it okay to feel frustrated sometimes? What can we do when we feel like that?"
"Do you think grown-ups feel these same feelings too?"

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