Grumpy Duck: A Rhyming Story About Moody Days, Big Feelings, and Emotional Regulation

Some days just feel off, even when nothing is wrong.

From The Be and Breathe sixbook series of mindfulness picture books for ages 0–9, Grumpy Duck gives little ones, and the grown-ups who love them, a gentle, story-driven tool for moving through big, unexplained moods.

When Duck wakes up in a bad mood he can't explain, everything feels harder than it should. When asked to identify his emotion, he quacks and quacks and QUACKS. But with a gentle pause, Duck begins to notice something new: his breath, the world around him, and the small, steady things he can be grateful for. The grass beneath his feet. The water beside him. The sky stretching wide above. Breath by breath, the heaviness softens and his day begins to shift.

Grumpy Duck helps children understand that not all grumpy feelings have clear reasons — and that's okay. Through simple, repeatable calming techniques like deep breathing, repeatable verses throughout the book that call to action "Take a breath and look around, there is goodness to be found", and gentle awareness, this story gives children and parents a way to move through unexplained moods with confidence and care. With soothing rhythm, relatable moments, and dreamy anime-influenced illustrations, little ones will learn that their feelings are always welcome — and that even grumpy days can gently turn around.

Perfect for:

• Toddlers, preschoolers, up through elementary school ages 0–9
• Calm-down corners, classrooms, and bedtime routines
• Birthday gifts, baby shower presents, stocking stuffers, and Mother's Day or Father's Day surprises
• Parents, grandparents, teachers, therapists, and counselors looking for emotional regulation tools
• Fans of mindfulness picture books, gentle parenting resources, and "big feelings" stories

Book details:

• Board book: 6" × 6"
• Paperback: 8.5" × 8.5" square format
• Rhyming, Read-Aloud
• Story in verse, anime-influenced illustrations

Big feelings, little breaths.