Inti Books
Big Feelings, Tiny Friends book cover
Early Learning & Preschool3-6 Years

Big Feelings, Tiny Friends

by M. A. FerSanta

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A Gentle Parenting Favorite. Perfect for Preschoolers.

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Quick Brief

Gentle Parenting
  • 5 gentle social-emotional (SEL) stories
  • Actionable 'TIP pages' for emotional regulation
  • Tools for sharing, saying sorry, and waiting
  • Beautifully illustrated for ages 3 to 6
Emotional Tools
  • Perfect for bedtime and calm-down corners
  • Teaches empathy, patience, and confidence
  • Highly recommended by preschool teachers
  • A must-have for gentle parenting toolkits
Specs
M. A. FerSanta
3-6 Years
Early Learning & Preschool
From $5.99

About This Book

Big feelings are normal—but sometimes, tiny tools are exactly what we need to help. Meet Dr. White Whiskers, a warm and funny little 'feelings doctor' who helps preschoolers handle everyday moments with calm, courage, and kindness—one tiny step at a time.

Big Feelings, Tiny Friends is a value-packed story collection featuring 5 social-emotional (SEL) read-aloud stories. It is expertly crafted to teach children aged 3 to 6 what to do when their emotions feel much bigger than they are. From sharing without tears and learning to say sorry, to finding the bravery needed for the first day of preschool, these gentle stories address real childhood milestones.

The magic happens after the story ends. After each tale, you will find Dr. White Whiskers' TIP page—a quick, kid-friendly practice combining a 'tiny breath', 'tiny words', and a 'tiny step' that your child can actually remember and use in the real world.

Perfect for bedtime, morning routines, calm-down corners, and parents who love practical coping skills. Scroll up and grab your copy to start practicing big feelings in tiny steps today.

Turn Big Meltdowns Into Tiny, Manageable Steps

Big feelings are completely normal, but they can be overwhelming for little hearts. Meet Dr. White Whiskers, the warm and funny 'feelings doctor' who helps preschoolers navigate tantrums, anxiety, and frustration using gentle, actionable Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) tools.

Turn Big Meltdowns Into Tiny, Manageable Steps

Five Stories. Five Real Challenges.

Sharing Without Tears

Sharing Without Tears

Navigate the tricky waters of taking turns. 'The Mine Star Stamp' story teaches children how to share joyfully, reducing sibling conflicts and playdate meltdowns.

The Power of an Apology

The Power of an Apology

Mistakes happen! 'The Sorry Scoop' helps toddlers understand empathy, showing them how to make things right after an 'oops' moment without feeling ashamed.

Bravery in New Places

Bravery in New Places

Ease first-day jitters. Perfect for kids starting preschool or kindergarten, this story builds the courage needed to face new environments with confidence.

Built for Real Parenting Moments

Perfect for Calm-Down Corners

Perfect for Calm-Down Corners

Transform time-outs into 'time-ins'. The interactive 'TIP Pages' provide physical grounding exercises (Tiny Breath + Tiny Words + Tiny Step) to regulate the nervous system.

Peaceful Bedtime Routines

Peaceful Bedtime Routines

End the day with connection. These 5 gentle stories help children process their daily emotions, easing bedtime anxiety and promoting a restful, safe night of sleep.

A Gentle Parenting Toolkit

A Gentle Parenting Toolkit

More than just a picture book. It is a practical resource for parents, therapists, and educators looking for respectful, connection-based coping skills for 3 to 6-year-olds.

A Must-Have for Every Toddler's Bookshelf

Equip your child with the emotional resilience they need for life. Whether you are building a classroom library, looking for a meaningful gift, or seeking practical tools for gentle parenting, Dr. White Whiskers is ready to help. Add 'Big Feelings, Tiny Friends' to your cart today and start practicing big feelings in tiny steps.

A Must-Have for Every Toddler's Bookshelf
Verified Reader Reviews

What Parents & Educators Are Saying

4.9142 Global Reader Ratings

Join thousands of parents building emotional resilience with Dr. White Whiskers. Follow @IntiBooks

1 day ago

A lifesaver for toddler tantrums

My 3-year-old has been having major meltdowns over sharing lately. I was worried this might be too wordy for him, but we read 'The Mine Star Stamp' story from this book, and it actually clicked! He absolutely loves Dr. White Whiskers. The only thing is I wish it came in a board book format because my younger one keeps trying to rip the pages, but the content itself is a lifesaver for toddler tantrums.

Amanda ClarkVerified
3 days ago

Fantastic SEL resource for classrooms

As a preschool teacher, I am always on the hunt for good Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) books. This one having 5 different stories in one is fantastic for my classroom. The 'TIP' page after each story is brilliant. We practice the 'Tiny breath, Tiny words, Tiny step' mantra during circle time now to help them calm down. Highly recommend for educators and parents alike.

Ms. Rachel (Pre-K Teacher)Verified
4 days ago

Distracted her from crying instantly

The 'bubble breath' trick for waiting actually worked in the grocery store line yesterday. I told my daughter to blow a slow bubble breath and count 1-2-3, just like the book says. It distracted her from crying instantly. I'm knocking off one star because the Amazon driver left the package in the rain and the bottom edge of the cover got a little warped, but the book is great.

ToddlerMom_NCVerified
1 week ago

Explains big feelings beautifully

Getting my son to apologize is like pulling teeth. We read 'The Sorry Scoop' and it really helped him understand why we say sorry without making him feel like a bad kid. M. A. FerSanta did a beautiful job explaining big feelings in a way tiny humans can actually grasp.

Sarah JenkinsVerified
About the Author
M. A. FerSanta

Meet the Author: M. A. FerSanta

M. A. FerSanta has loved making up stories for as long as she can remember. Even as a kid, her imagination turned animals and the outdoors into little adventures filled with wonder. Later came marriage, two children, and the most special part of the day: bedtime. In those quiet, lamp-lit moments, one family favorite was born—Dr. White Whiskers. Every night brought a brand-new story, and always a gentle, playful way to talk about big feelings and everyday kid challenges. With a degree in Literature and a passion for travel (she's visited more than 50 countries), M. A. FerSanta uses warmth and humor to help children understand big emotions through simple, familiar moments.

Follow M. A. FerSanta on Amazon for future releases →

Parents' FAQ

Parents' FAQ:
Navigating Big Emotions

Everything you need to know before you start cooking. Click any question to reveal the answer.

Social-Emotional Learning helps young children understand and manage their emotions, feel and show empathy for others, and establish positive relationships. For 3 to 6-year-olds, learning these skills early reduces tantrums and builds a foundation for lifelong emotional resilience.
Absolutely. The stories are written with a gentle, calming tone that is perfect for winding down at night. They help process the 'big feelings' of the day so your child can go to sleep feeling safe and understood.
Yes! One of the 5 stories specifically focuses on sharing and taking turns without tears. Dr. White Whiskers provides a practical, easy-to-remember tool that you can use with your child the next time a sharing conflict arises.
Definitely. Educators and child therapists love using this book in 'calm-down corners' or during circle time. The actionable 'TIP pages' at the end of each story give teachers a shared vocabulary to use with their students.
Not at all. The stories are designed as engaging read-alouds with simple, accessible language and vibrant illustrations that hold the attention of toddlers and preschoolers alike.
Unlike traditional storybooks, this collection provides an actionable 3-step framework (Tiny breath, Tiny words, Tiny step) called the TIP system. By practicing these physical and verbal cues during calm moments, your child learns how to self-regulate when a real tantrum or meltdown starts.
Yes. The hand-drawn watercolor and gouache illustrations are specifically designed to be soothing and grounding, avoiding the overstimulating bright digital colors found in many modern children's books. The stories use gentle, reassuring language ideal for highly sensitive children.
Absolutely! The story focusing on courage and trying new things is a perfect tool for easing separation anxiety. Reading it in the weeks leading up to the first day of preschool gives your child a relatable character to emulate when they feel scared in a new environment.
Yes, because the stories are interactive! Instead of just listening, children are encouraged to actively participate by practicing the 'bubble breaths' and 'tiny steps' alongside Dr. White Whiskers, which keeps energetic toddlers highly engaged during the read-aloud.
Many SEL books just identify emotions (e.g., 'this is sad, this is angry'). Dr. White Whiskers goes a step further by giving children real, practical coping mechanisms they can use immediately. It bridges the gap between understanding a feeling and actually managing it.

Ready to navigate big feelings together?

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