Pop Feels Sad

What if sadness isn't about feeling heavy... but about learning how to rise again?

Meet Pop, a bright blue oval who loves to float and play. But when he tries to join in with the Blocks, things don't go as planned. Pop wobbles, slips, and rolls away - and suddenly he feels different, left out, and very, very sad.

As the heavy feeling grows, Pop starts to lose his air and becomes flat and stuck on the ground.

With a little help and a simple, playful technique called the Balloon Breath, Pop discovers that sadness isn't forever. By filling his body with air, he begins to feel light, strong, and like himself again.

Pop Feels Sad is a gentle Social Emotional Learning story that helps children understand low, heavy feelings while teaching them a safe, body-based way to feel better.

As children follow Pop's journey, they also naturally absorb early learning concepts including shapes, colours, movement, and counting - thoughtfully woven into the story so development happens without pressure.

• feel left out or different
• struggle with low mood or confidence
• need support expressing sadness
• find it hard to bounce back after setbacks
• benefit from simple calming tools

• recognise what sadness feels like in their body
• learn a gentle breathing strategy
• understand that feelings change and pass
• build resilience and emotional confidence
• feel safe with big emotions without shame

Inside the book and via QR code you'll find breathing practice pages, printable resources, classroom-friendly tools, and a helpful parent & teacher guide designed to extend learning beyond the final page.

Ideal for home, preschool, classroom, and SEN environments.

Part of The Shape Squad Series - stories created to build emotional skills for life while gently supporting early childhood development.