What if a children’s picture book could do more than be a fun, entertaining read? What if it could actually help kids understand and process their most difficult emotions?
Bella and Bird Explore Anger, releasing August 19, is not your typical bedtime read. The first in the new Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series by educator and licensed clinical therapist Dr. Deana Plaskon, it’s a therapeutic picture book designed for children ages 5–10 (and the adults who care for them).
Through the calming presence of Bella, a real-life therapy horse, and the clever commentary of Bird, her barn swallow sidekick, this new resource invites children into a story where big feelings are met with curiosity, not shame. When a boy named Henry storms into Bella’s pasture, the unlikely animal duo helps him understand why he’s so angry and how to handle it in a healthy way.
A resource for parents, educators, school counselors, child therapists, and others who work with children, Bella and Bird Explore Anger blends engaged storytelling that kids relate to with emotional intelligence tools grounded in science and therapeutic best practices.
Dr. Plaskon, who holds a PhD in education, specailizing in human behavior, brings decades of experience to a series that gives children and their caregivers a practical, empowering way to name, navigate, and grow through hard emotions.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Why did you write this book?
From a heartbreaking and catastrophic event came a spark of hope and determination. Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series was born out of Hurricane Ian and the devastation experienced by Bella, my therapy horse. Just three short weeks prior to the hurricane, I adopted Bella who traveled across the country from Southern California to Southwest Florida. Surviving the hurricane (her pasture-mate didn’t make it), Bella’s courage and resilience inspired me to create the series and help children (and adults) nurture emotional intelligence and emotional literacy…one story at a time.
My first book, Bella and Bird Explore Anger, launches August 19th, 2025. This book is about a boy named Henry who is feeling angry. “Can’t you tell?” said Henry. “This is my angry face!” When he storms into the pasture, Bella, the wise horse, and her wisecracking sidekick, Bird, step in to help. Together, the friends set out to explore why Henry is angry and offer better ways to cope.
Why is it important for kids to have age-appropriate literature that can tackle big feelings?
Children need to learn skills and have tools to help them understand and manage emotions and feelings early in life. These skills and tools are vital to their emotional intelligence and emotional literacy growth. Having age-appropriate literature ensures children are engaged and learning while providing them with life-long skills. My series doesn’t only introduce children to emotions and feelings – but goes deeper by giving them (and the adults that love them) research back age-appropriate therapeutic tools in a fun, relatable book series. This enables them to learn how to how open-honest conversations early in life. That’s important because all roads lead to effective communication – and equipping children early ensures their toolbox is filled with skills and tools for when emotions and feelings arise – and they will.
How can parents and caregivers help children learn to manage and express emotions in a healthy way?
There are many ways to help children learn and manage to express emotions and feelings in healthy ways. The first is to ensure parents and caregivers are managing their own emotions and feelings effectively. Let’s face it. Many adults are not given the skills to nurture their emotional growth. Instead, many are taught to either sweep emotions and feelings under the rug, or to coddle every single emotion and feeling. The truth is, we all need a balance between the two.
Not every emotion or feeling must be acknowledged by others, nor must every emotion and feeling be swept under the rug. Having a balanced understanding and the tools to help manage and shape a child’s emotional intelligence and literacy will help them grow into healthy adults.
How can parents and caregivers help? My books not only give children important coping skills and tools but the adults that love them, too. My books are a tool, in and of themselves, with at least three age-appropriate therapeutic tools inside each book. Reading these books together enables children and adults to learn and grow their emotional intelligence and emotional literacy side by side.
What do you have planned next for the series?
I am excited to share that the second book of four in the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series is in illustration and will launch January 2026. This book is entitled Bella and Bird Explore Sadness and highlights the story of Molly, an eight-year-old who is experiencing the difficult emotion of sadness. Bella, the wise horse, and her wisecracking sidekick, Bird, step in to help Molly understand this complex emotion. By the time Molly leaves the pasture, she’s feeling better and equipped with tools to help her in the future.
A sneak peek at Bella and Bird Explore Sadness: “That’s me,” sighed Molly. “The clouds are my big sadness. They follow me around.” Sadness can feel big, but you don’t have to face it alone. Be on the lookout for Bella and Bird Explore Sadness launching soon!
The third book in the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series is written and in queue for illustration. This book is entitled Bella and Bird Explore Happiness. Happiness, a positive emotion, feels good so why and what can we teach children about it? Oh, just want and see what Bella and Bird have in store in this uplifting and heartfelt story! This book will launch in Spring 2026.
The fourth book in the Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers series is also written and will be ready for illustration in Spring 2026. This book is entitled Bella and Bird Explore Fear. This book explores the common emotion of fear. A unique emotion that serves to protect and keep us safe but can also “trick” us into believing things that aren’t true. This book will launch in Summer 2026.
Not only do I have the books launching but also curriculum that accompanies each book in the series. Each book will have homeschool, common core, and non-common core curriculum.
And be on the lookout for Bella and Bird plushies!
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