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I'm Not Mad! — A story about anger and big feelings

Ages 4-8 Anger Management Picture Book Home / Therapy / School
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I'm Not Mad! — A story about anger and big feelings

Ages 4-8 Anger Management Picture Book Home / Therapy / School

I'm Not Mad! follows Sam's journey of discovering that feelings aren't always what they seem, and that understanding your emotions is the first step to managing them.

A story that teaches kids 6 real ways to handle anger.

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Built for your needs:

  • For Parents A gentle way to open up conversations about anger at home.
  • For Teachers A classroom read-aloud that teaches 6 real anger management skills.
  • For Therapists Six anger management skills introduced through a story kids relate to.
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  • Free delivery on all US & Canada orders
  • Developed by psychologists

"Every parent and teacher has heard a child insist they're not mad when they clearly are. We wrote this story for exactly that moment."

— Dr. Anton & Dr. Rebecca, ThinkPsych founders

How to use

  • At Home
  • In Therapy
  • In the Classroom

Read "I'm Not Mad" together at bedtime or any time your child seems to be struggling to name what they're feeling.

Let the story do the work first, then ask simple questions about how Sam felt. Many families keep it on rotation as children grow.

Use "I'm Not Mad" in CBT and play therapy to help kids identify their feelings and practice the 6 anger management skills the story teaches. Sam's experience gives children a relatable way to connect those skills to their own lives.

Works well as a springboard for discussion, art-based follow-up activities, or connecting the story to the child's own recent experiences with anger.

Read "I'm Not Mad" aloud to open an SEL unit on emotions or anchor a discussion about how we understand what we're feeling.

Works for PreK through early elementary. The accessible language and relatable story connect easily to students' everyday experiences.

FAQ

What age is this book for?

"I'm Not Mad" is designed for children ages 4 to 8. It works as a read-aloud for younger children and as an independent read for early elementary kids. The story is accessible enough for young children while still containing meaningful emotional content for older readers.

What is the story about?

"I'm Not Mad" follows Sam, a child who insists they are not mad while clearly experiencing a big feeling. Through the story, Sam learns to identify what anger feels like, understand why it comes up, and find healthy ways to manage it. The book models the emotional identification and regulation process in a relatable, age-appropriate way.

How is it used in therapy?

Therapists use "I'm Not Mad" in CBT and play therapy to help young clients identify their feelings and practice anger management skills. Reading Sam's story together gives children a relatable, non-threatening way to explore their own anger and learn the 6 skills the book models. It works well for in-session work or as a take-home activity for parents to continue at home.

Is this part of a series?

"I'm Not Mad" is the first book in the "I'm Not..." series from ThinkPsych. Additional titles following Sam and other characters through different emotional experiences are in development.

What coping skills does the book teach?

The 6 anger management skills are woven throughout Sam's story and then summarized at the back of the book: Dragon Breaths, Squeeze a Stress Ball, Take a Walk, Drink Cold Water, Cool Angry Thoughts, and Hug Something or Someone. Each one is simple enough for young children to learn and try on their own.

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Additional Product Details

Children discover what anger feels like in their body - racing heart, hot face, tight muscles. Sam's relatable journey helps kids identify their own anger signals before emotions become overwhelming.
From dragon breaths to stress balls, each strategy is evidence-based and kid-tested. These practical tools give children concrete ways to calm down when they're feeling angry or overwhelmed.
Created by licensed psychologists using evidence-based techniques proven to help children develop emotional intelligence. These research-backed tools help manage anger and build lifelong coping skills.

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