The Wild Within: Emotions

The Wild Within: Emotions

The Wild Within: Emotions invites children on a heartwarming journey through the world of feelings — where every emotion has a purpose, a need, and a place.

When Hudson has a big, overwhelming day, his teacher reminds him that there’s a whole world of feelings living inside of him. That night, he dreams of meeting the animals who represent each one — like Ellie the Elephant, who shows him what sadness needs, Benny the Bear, who helps him understand anger, and Grace the Giraffe, who reminds him what calm feels like.

Through gentle rhyme and vivid illustrations, this story helps children learn the first and most important step of emotional growth — recognizing and naming their feelings. Each page opens the door for meaningful conversations between parents, teachers, and children about what emotions are and why they matter.

Created by pediatric occupational therapist Hannah Pfeifer, The Wild Within: Emotions blends storytelling, neuroscience, and child development to make emotional learning engaging and accessible for all ages.

Perfect for parents, educators, and therapists, this book is an essential starting point for emotional literacy — helping children see that emotions aren’t something to control, but something to understand.

And this is just the beginning. Each upcoming book in The Wild Within series will take children deeper into individual emotions — exploring how to recognize, regulate, and respond to feelings like anger, sadness, anxiety, calm, bravery, and love in empowering, story-based ways.

At its heart, The Wild Within reminds every child that inside their wild world of emotions lives the wisdom, strength, and connection to truly know themselves.