What Is My Body Saying? is a gentle, child-friendly picture book that helps children begin to understand the connection between feelings and body signals. Through simple language and engaging illustrations, it supports emotional awareness by showing how the body can communicate different needs, such as hunger, thirst, toileting, tiredness, illness, overwhelm, need for comfort, hyperactivity and need for movement, sensory overload, heat regulation and temperature and shut down.
Designed by an Occupational Therapist in training with neurodevelopment experience. For early years readers, parents, educators and professionals. This book introduces foundational concepts of emotional literacy, self-regulation, and body awareness in a clear and accessible way. It encourages children to notice physical sensations-such as a fast heartbeat, tight tummy, or warm, relaxed feelings-and begin naming what those sensations might mean.
With an accessible Body Map for exploring different areas and feelings within the body, identifying areas of signal and a visual aid for communicating need, feeling or desire. Ideal for parents, carers, educators, and professionals supporting emotional development, trauma-informed practice, and early communication skills. This book can be used in homes, nurseries, and therapeutic settings to support conversations about feelings and help children build a vocabulary for what they experience inside their bodies.
Keywords: emotional literacy for children, body awareness, feelings book for kids, early years emotions, self-regulation, trauma-informed parenting, mindfulness for children, preschool emotional development, occupational therapy resources, children's mental health, emotional vocabulary, nervous system awareness, social emotional learning, SEL for preschool, feelings and sensations, co-regulation, early childhood wellbeing