Helping children grow emotionally—one feeling at a time.
The Emotion Investigators
A Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Children's Picture Book Series
The Emotion Mystery Files is a vibrantly illustrated picture book series written by a psychiatrist to help children explore one big feeling at a time.
Each story follows siblings Tessa and Josh as they face everyday challenges—birthday meltdowns, sibling squabbles, shyness, anxiety, and more. Each book in the series focuses on a different emotion.
With the gentle guidance of their older sister Mia, they become “The Emotion Investigators,” solving social mysteries by first decoding the clues in their own emotions.
This series helps children:
Understand the healthy purpose behind each emotion
Recognize what feelings look like in the body and mind
Respond in ways that build connection, confidence, and resilience
Whether used at home, in therapy, or in classrooms, these stories offer a safe and playful way to build emotional intelligence — one case at a time.
Perfect for ages 4–8.
Written and illustrated by psychiatrist Cynthia Spellman MD
Anger and The Birthday Battle
In this first case from The Emotion Mystery Files, a sibling conflict turns into an emotional puzzle. With the help of their big sister Mia, Tessa and Josh learn that anger has a healthy purpose—and that solving it starts with understanding it.
Written and illustrated by a psychiatrist, this beautifully illustrated SEL story helps children recognize emotions, calm their bodies, and respond with empathy.
Perfect for ages 4–8, this book gently teaches kids to navigate big feelings using curiosity, not shame.
Let the Emotion Explorers guide your child toward emotional resilience—one feeling at a time.