Bumper & McDog: Picture Books That Support Emotional Growth Before Kindergarten
Bumper & McDog is a picture-book series for ages 3–5 that helps young children practice emotional and social skills through familiar, everyday situations at home and school.
Designed for parents, teachers, librarians, and caregivers, the stories offer gentle opportunities for children to explore feelings, cooperation, self-expression, and confidence in ways that feel natural and approachable.
What the Series Does
The Bumper & McDog books are designed to support early emotional development by giving children space to:
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Notice and name feelings
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Work through small challenges
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Practice cooperation and problem-solving
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Express themselves and build confidence
Rather than teaching lessons directly, the stories create moments children can relate to, reflect on, and revisit as they grow.
SEL & Kindergarten Readiness
Social-emotional skills are an important part of kindergarten readiness. The Bumper & McDog series supports emotional foundations that later become skills such as focus, resilience, flexibility, and collaboration.
The books are intentionally simple and story-driven, making them easy to use as conversation starters or quiet reflection moments in classrooms, libraries, or at home.
Children are invited to practice skills like:
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Managing big feelings
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Trying again after mistakes
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Working with others
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Communicating needs and ideas
The Books
The series includes several standalone picture books, each focused on a relatable early-childhood experience.
Each book can be read on its own and revisited as children encounter similar situations in real life.
Grow Brave With Practice
Building confidence through preparation, patience, and trying again.
Be Yourself!
Express Yourself!
Encouraging self-expression, confidence, and acceptance.
Team Up for
the Science Fair
Practicing collaboration, problem-solving, and working through frustration.
Fun, Friends, and
the First Day of School
Exploring new environments, friendships, and emotions around starting school.
Free Resource for Parents & Educators
To support conversations beyond the books, a free printable set of Bumper & McDog’s Peaceful Posters is available for parents and educators.
The Peaceful Posters are simple, kid-friendly visuals designed to help children pause, name feelings, and talk through emotions. They can be used as a calm or peace-corner tool, a discussion prompt, or a gentle emotional check-in, either independently or alongside the books.
Who This Is For
This series may be helpful for:
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Parents of children ages 3–5
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Pre-K and kindergarten teachers
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Librarians and early-learning specialists
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Caregivers supporting social-emotional growth
A Note on Sharing
This page is shared as a resource for those supporting young children’s emotional development. If it is useful for your community, you are welcome to explore and share.
Rich Mueller
Green Pudding Press
greenpudding.com
About Green Pudding Press
Green Pudding Press creates stories and tools designed to support early learning, emotional growth, and kindergarten readiness. Our resources are developed with educators in mind and are intended to fit naturally into classrooms and libraries. Learn More About Green Pudding Press
© 2026 Green Pudding Press. All rights reserved. This guide may be printed and shared for educational use.