Bella and Bird Explore Sadness
Bella and Bird Explore Anger
(the first book of the series)
The Bella and Bird books were created by an expert in human behavior to help children ages 5–10 develop emotional literacy and boost emotional intelligence.
Each book highlights a core emotion and offers accessible, research-based strategies that empower kids to handle their feelings with confidence.
Shop Coming Soon…
Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers
The Children’s Book Series That Teaches Emotional Intelligence
Bella and Bird Explore Anger
When Henry storms into the pasture, Bella, the wise horse, and her wisecracking sidekick, Bird, step in to help. Together, the friends set out to explore why Henry is angry and offer better ways to cope.
By the time Henry leaves the pasture, he’s gained new insights, is in better control of his feelings, and has tools to take along with him.
Bella and Bird Explore Anger helps children understand and manage their anger, making it a valuable resource for open and honest conversations about this challenging emotion.
Available for purchase Summer 2025!
Coming Next in the Series
Fun Stuff
Let’s have fun! If you’re looking for boredom free activities, you’ve come to the right place!
Scroll down for a treasure trove of fantastic, fun, and free activities all inspired by Deana Plaskon’s tales and amazing adventures with Bella and Bird!
for Grown-Ups
Looking for ways to bring Bella and Bird’s adventures into your home, classroom, therapy practice, library, and beyond? Download these fun activities and curriculum-based teaching tools that enrich the learning process of emotional intelligence and social-emotional learning.
Learn the Story Behind Bella and Bird the Emotion Explorers
Meet Bella—my wise and gentle partner.
In the United States, she’s known as a Gypsy Vanner, but in the United Kingdom, where her breed originated, she’s called a Romani Cob or Irish Cob.
Wanting to create a strong and perfect family horse, Bella’s breed was selectively chosen by the Romani gypsies. It’s these qualities that make Bella suited as an equine partner in my equine psychotherapy practice and one of the main characters in my book series.
Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach that involves a licensed therapist, an equine specialist, and horses. Clients work on the ground—no riding is involved. This unique form of therapy encourages individuals to share their stories in nature, using the natural environment as part of the healing process. Sometimes, nature itself shifts the plan, offering unexpected challenges or insights that help guide growth in new and meaningful ways.
That’s exactly what happened with Bella and me. We were living in Southwest Florida when Hurricane Ian devastated our community. It was a catastrophic experience, and like so many people, I was overwhelmed with emotions. Even with tools to process and manage my feelings, I couldn’t stop thinking about Bella—and about the countless children and adults who might not have those tools.
That’s when an idea was sparked: “What if I could share Bella’s strength and story through a children’s book to help others navigate big emotions?”
I began writing. What started as a single story inspired by Bella’s resilience during the hurricane—and her many life experiences—quickly grew into something more: a book series, with each book focused on a single emotion and told through the eyes of a relatable child. Bella became the steady guide, the heart of the series, helping children understand and manage their emotions and feelings. And soon after, Bird joined in—a lighthearted, loyal companion to make emotional learning even more engaging.