Quick answer
The Kids' Empathy Collection is a two-book set for children aged 5-12: What Are You Feeling? helps a child name their own emotions, and What Are They Feeling? helps them read and respond to other people's. Use one book at a time, read together, and pause on the questions rather than rushing to the end.
What Are They Feeling?
What exactly comes in the box?
You get two illustrated books in one collection. The first, What Are You Feeling?, is a warm guide that helps a child explore and name their own emotions. The second, What Are They Feeling?, teaches children how to understand and respond to what someone else is feeling. Together they cover the two halves of emotional literacy: noticing your own state and noticing someone else's.
Which ages is it actually right for?
The publisher describes the collection for children aged 5-12. In practice, that is a wide band, so match the book to the child rather than the number. Younger children tend to enjoy the illustrations and simple feeling words; older children can handle the follow-up questions and the idea that two people can feel differently about the same event. If a child is at the younger end, read it with them. If they are at the older end, let them read alone and then talk about one page.
How do I use it without turning it into a lesson?
Keep sessions short and low-pressure. Pick one spread, read it, and ask one open question such as 'When did you feel like that this week?' Then stop. The goal is a habit of talking about feelings, not finishing the book. You can also use the books reactively: after a friendship disagreement or a hard day at school, open the relevant book and look at one page together rather than launching into a lecture.
Does it work for classrooms or groups?
Yes, the format suits small groups because each page gives you a shared reference point. In a classroom or after-school setting, read a page aloud and let children offer examples. The collection is not a curriculum with lesson plans, so treat it as a discussion starter you can repeat, not a scripted programme.
Empathy collection FAQ
Do I need to read both books in order?
No. Start with What Are You Feeling? if the child struggles to name their own emotions, or What Are They Feeling? if the difficulty is reading other people. Match the first book to the current challenge.
How long should a session be?
Five to ten minutes is enough. One spread, one question, then stop while it is still enjoyable. Short and repeated beats long and formal.
What if my child gives one-word answers?
Answer the question yourself first, using a real example from your day. Modelling the language is often more effective than prompting. Go first, then invite them.
Product facts
- The Kids' Empathy Collection: The Kids' Empathy Collection is a two-book set for children aged 5-12: What Are You Feeling? and What Are They Feeling? One book builds self-awareness, the other builds awareness of others, so you can use them in sequence or separately depending on the situation.
