An Emotions Story to Read to a Child Who Holds Back Tears
My child who holds back even when they're sad
Some children hold back their tears even when they fall and get hurt, or when something upsetting happens. They push their sadness down, thinking "crying is for babies."
It may look grown-up at a glance, but the more they hold back, the heavier their heart becomes. Storing up feelings without expressing them only makes things harder. What your child needs is one line: "It's okay to cry."
Curious about the storybook about expressing feelings? Take a look at its lessons alongside the illustrations. Meet the key scenes of the story too. Read it together with your child and talk it over. From a storybook about expressing sadness to a story about a crying child and emotion coaching, we've gathered many stories around 27. It's Okay to Cry, I'll Hug You.
Expressing feelings is something to learn too
Sadness isn't a feeling to erase—it's a feeling to let flow in a healthy way. A child who cries their heart out and is comforted builds the strength to handle emotions on their own.
On the other hand, a child who often hears "don't cry" comes to feel ashamed of their own feelings. A child who learns early that "it's okay to cry when you're sad" grows into an adult who can express their heart honestly.
Hoya and Mom's warm embrace
In the storybook It's Okay to Cry, I'll Hug You, Hoya falls and gets hurt, and when their doll ends up in the water too, they hold back their tears. Just then, Mother Tiger meets their eyes and says, "It's okay to cry. You don't have to hold your tears back."
In Mom's wide-open arms, Hoya lets out all the tears they'd been holding in. After crying, their heart feels so much lighter, and when big brother Hori brings the doll back all cleaned up, Hoya breaks into a big smile again.
3 ways to handle sadness, learned with Tangobook
The heart of this story is three things that are easy for a child to remember. One, say "I'm sad"! Two, don't hold back—cry! Three, ask for a hug!
The Tangobook storybook repeats these ways like a refrain, helping your child recall them naturally in a sad moment. Through the story, your child comes to feel that crying isn't for babies—it's a way of caring for your heart.
Practicing expressing feelings together at home
After reading the book, when your child is sad, instead of "don't cry," say "you were really upset—it's okay to cry." One line that permits the feeling helps your child recover faster.
And offer a single hug over words. As experiences of crying their heart out and being held pile up, your child learns to express sadness in a healthy way instead of bottling it up.
After you cry, your heart feels lighter
Mom hugs Hoya and says, "When you cry until the sadness passes, your heart feels lighter." It's a warm ending that shows sadness is a precious feeling too, and that when you express it and are comforted, it becomes okay.
Hori's Everyday Storybooks hold safety, feelings, and habits warmly, at a child's eye level. Turn the first page together with your child on Tangobook now, with a 7-day free trial. Ad-free stories you can share with peace of mind are waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How should I respond when my child cries often?
A. Rather than telling them to stop, embrace their heart with "it's okay to cry." The reassurance that expressing feelings is allowed actually calms your child down faster.
Q. How does a storybook about expressing feelings help?
A. Watching the main character express their heart honestly, your child learns to share feelings in words too. A storybook about expressing feelings teaches that sadness is a precious feeling as well.
Q. What words are good to offer a crying child?
A. Recognize their heart first with "that must have been upsetting," and give them a firm hug. A child whose feelings are validated feels secure and comes to express their heart even better.
Great Classic Storybooks to Read Together
If you enjoyed this storybook, try reading these classic storybooks together too.
- 01. Eat a Rainbow, Get Rainbow Power!
- 02. Brush, Brush, Sparkle, Sparkle!
- 03. Bubble, Bubble, Squeaky Clean!
- 04. Pee in the Potty, Well Done!
Curious about 「27. It's Okay to Cry, I'll Hug You」?
Meet it for yourself on Tangobook, with beautiful illustrations and Korean and English audio.
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