The Monster in Me

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with explosive anger or feels like a monster because of impulses they cannot yet control. This story follows Natalie, a girl who feels like there is a literal monster inside her that takes over when she is frustrated. It beautifully addresses the shame and guilt that follow a meltdown, providing a safe space to discuss internal emotional regulation. At its core, the book is about self-acceptance and learning that big feelings do not make you a bad person. It is highly appropriate for the middle-grade years when social pressures and changing hormones can make emotional outbursts feel particularly scary. Parents will appreciate how it moves beyond just identifying feelings to showing the hard work of managing them within a family and school context.