Let’s start with a question.
Have you ever burst into tears reading a picture book to your class? Like, full-blown ugly crying while reading There Was a Hole to a group of second graders who are now emotionally wrecked… and strangely into quilting?
Just me?
Ok. Cool.
Cool…
(Definitely not crying here. Nope. Not me. You’re crying.)
Seriously though, here’s the thing—emotional learning with picture books is real. And powerful. When students connect emotionally to what they’re reading, they remember more, write better, and express themselves with stunning creativity. That’s why when Lisa Rogers joined me on the Picture This podcast, she dropped a game-changing idea:
🧠 Teach kids to mine their own memories to fuel their creative work.
Turns out, it’s not just beautiful—it’s brilliant.
TL;DR: Emotional Learning with Picture Books
The Big Idea: Use picture books to help kids tap into their own memories and emotions, then turn those feelings into creative work like art, writing, and music.
Why It Works: When students connect emotionally to what they’re reading, they remember more and express themselves better.
How to Do It:
- Read an emotionally rich picture book
- Ask kids to recall a meaningful memory or moment
- Have them explore it through their senses (What did it sound/smell/feel like?)
- Turn those memories into creative expression (art, poetry, soundscapes)
- Optional sharing time
Key Benefits:
- Builds empathy and self-awareness
- Improves writing and communication skills
- Works across all subjects (not just literacy)
- Meets SEL standards naturally
- Takes just 10-15 minutes to start
Bottom Line: Kids remember what they feel. Picture books + personal memories = powerful learning that helps students grow as both learners and humans.
Note: I’ve included an amazon affiliate link for each book mentioned below, but I always recommend shopping at your local independent bookstore whenever possible.
💡 Why Emotional Learning with Picture Books Matters
Research shows students learn best when they’re emotionally engaged. That’s where picture books and social-emotional learning (SEL) come together in the best way possible.
They help students:
- Reflect on personal memories in a safe and structured way
- Build empathy by connecting their emotions to a story
- Channel those feelings into writing, art, music, and movement
- Deepen understanding through sensory exploration and storytelling
- Develop voice, confidence, and communication skills
And the best part? You don’t need a separate SEL block. You just need the right book—and the right activity.
🎨 Mining Memory: Turning Feelings Into Art, Writing, and Sound
Lisa shared how she uses her book Joan Mitchell Paints a Symphony to guide students into their emotional memories and bring them to life through creative expression.
This is more than “draw your vacation.” This is:
What color was the air when you felt brave for the first time?
Try This in Your Classroom:
🖼️ Step 1: Read Aloud
Read Joan Mitchell Paints a Symphony or a similar emotionally rich picture book.
🧠 Step 2: Prompt a Memory
Ask students to think of a meaningful moment or place.
Example prompts:
- “A time you felt proud”
- “A place that made you feel safe”
- “A moment you’ll never forget”
✍️ Step 3: Sensory Journaling
Have students write or draw:
- What did it sound like?
- What did it smell like?
- What did the air feel like?
🎨 Step 4: Translate to Creative Expression
Use those sensory memories to create:
- A painting that shows the mood
- A poem or spoken word piece
- A music soundscape using everyday classroom items
🚶♀️ Step 5: Optional Gallery Walk
Let students share what they created.
(Warning: may cause actual pride and quiet awe.)
This emotional learning with picture books lesson works great for all levels, especially K–5 and can scale up with reflection and complexity. Fifth graders will totally get it—and it’s highly likely their responses will surprise you.
🔊 Add in Sound: Turning Memories into Soundscapes
Inspired by Lisa’s book Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage, here’s how you can take the activity further:
- Talk about how everyday sounds carry emotion
- Create a “memory soundtrack” using claps, hums, desk taps, or tech tools
- Explore what fear, joy, or peace sounds like
Have students compose and perform short memory-based audio pieces. This builds auditory storytelling, emotional awareness, and even music fundamentals—without needing a music degree.
📝 Performance, Poetry, and the Power of Revision
Lisa also encourages students to:
- Perform pages from books aloud with emotion and purpose
- Revise their writing by swapping verbs (“ran” becomes “plunged” or “hurled”)
- Use poetry to reframe facts—like writing a free verse about a historical moment or science concept
Books like 16 Words or Watercress become launchpads for:
- Visualizing
- Rewriting
- Personalizing writing
All of which help kids feel ownership over their voice and ideas.
📚 Picture Book Pairings for Emotional Learning
Below are a few excellent titles to pair with these memory and SEL activities. I always recommend shopping at your local independent bookstore, but if that’s not an option you can support this blog by using the affiliate links below:
- A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson and illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey (2022) – Understanding moods and introversion
- My Thoughts Have Wings by Maggie Smith and illustrated by Leanne Hatch (2024) – Visualizing imagination and fears
- The Leaf Detective by Heather Lang and illustrated by Jana Christy (2021) – Connecting to the environment through emotion
- Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (2020) – Cultural pride and identity
- I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azúa Kramer and illustrated by Magdalena Mora (2021) – Exploring unspoken feelings and empathy
These titles are rich with emotional depth, accessible across grades, and packed with conversation starters.
📥 Grab the Free Emotional Memory Activity Resource Guide
Want all of these ideas (and a few extras) in one clean, printable format you can actually hand to a sub or drop into your lesson planner?
👉 [Download the Emotional Memory Activity Guide here]
It includes:
✅ Book pairings
✅ Step-by-step instructions
✅ Detailed Leveling Instructions
✅ Differentiation Strategies
✅ Common Core Standards Alignment
✅ Soundscape extension activity
❓ FAQ: Emotional Learning with Picture Books
How do I introduce emotional memory activities to younger students?
Use clear, simple language. Instead of asking “What emotion did you feel?”, try “How did your tummy feel?” or “What color would that moment be?” Younger students respond well to sensory and visual cues. Anchor abstract emotions in the five senses.
How do I make space for deeper emotions in a busy classroom?
Start with something simple, like 10–15 minutes of journaling or drawing warmups. These short bursts give kids an outlet without taking up an entire period. Add optional share-outs for students who want to reflect out loud. You’ll build a culture of empathy and self-awareness over time.
What if a student writes or draws something emotionally heavy?
It’s important to acknowledge it without pushing. Respond with, “That’s a powerful memory—thank you for sharing.” If it raises concern, follow your school’s SEL or counseling protocol. This type of work can deepen trust and open doors to supportive conversations. It’s never too soon or too late to teach empathy.
Can emotional learning with picture books be done outside of art or literacy time?
Yes! Try it in social studies (personal moments tied to place, time or event), science (how weather feels emotionally, or how proving or disproving a hypothesis might feel), or even math (what frustration or triumph feels like). Emotional learning supports all subjects when used intentionally.
How does emotional learning with picture books tie into SEL standards?
These activities build:
• Self-awareness: Identifying emotions and triggers
• Self-expression: Communicating feelings through art or writing
• Social awareness: Listening and learning from peers’ emotional experiences
They align beautifully with CASEL’s core SEL competencies and Common Core writing standards.
❤️ Final Thoughts: Why Emotional Learning Belongs in Every Classroom
Kids remember what they feel. And when you use picture books to explore memory, emotion, and expression, you’re doing more than teaching—you’re helping students grow as humans.
So go ahead. Read the tearjerker. Break out the paints. Let them feel proud of their memories—and of the art, poetry, and ideas those memories inspire.
🟢 Want more ideas like emotional learning with picture books?
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✨ Bring This Experience to Your School
Want a school visit that brings this kind of emotional engagement, creative expression, and wild energy to life?
[Book an author visit with Adam Lehrhaupt, that’s me] – I’ll bring the stories. You bring the students. And maybe some tissues.
