I wasn’t just writing about kids having experiences; I was writing about the feelings that live inside those experiences. Without even planning it, I was writing social-emotional books for children. If you are drawn to this kind of work—writing stories that speak to children’s hearts as well as their imaginations—here are five tips that I’ve found helpful for writing social-emotional picture books. The challenge of picture books is the limited text meant to show and not tell. End With Hope and ConnectionChildren’s stories need resolution, and in social-emotional books, that often means reassurance.