Mia and the Missing Colours (Hardcover)

This book found us at exactly the right moment in our lives. Reading it with my 5-year-old daughter turned into so much more than just a bedtime story—it became a meaningful experience we shared together.

About halfway through, I watched everything click for her. She suddenly looked up and said, “Oooohhhh… it’s not just colours! It’s feelings!” That moment alone made this book so special.

For the next two weeks, we read it every single night. Each time, it opened up beautiful conversations about emotions, and how feelings aren’t always simple or just one thing. One of the biggest breakthroughs for her was understanding that anger doesn’t always have to feel explosive or scary—sometimes it can feel like courage, strength, or standing up for yourself. She was also deeply comforted by the idea that nervousness and excitement can feel almost identical in our bodies, and that what she was feeling actually made sense.

As a parent of a deeply feeling child who sometimes struggles to make sense of big, complex emotions, this book has been incredibly valuable. It gave my daughter language, understanding, and reassurance—and it gave us a new way to connect with each other.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to any parent raising a sensitive, thoughtful, emotionally deep child. It’s been truly special in our home.

Such a beautiful book. It’s opened up conversations about feelings that we didn’t quite have the words for before. My child now talks about their “colours” when something feels off, which has been really special to see.

Such a gentle and meaningful story. My son asked to read it again straight away and later started talking about his “blue feelings” after a hard day at school. That’s never happened before.

Mia and the Missing Colours provides a wonderfully gentle space for children to learn and explore their emotions. It support children to recognise that each emotion is welcome and plays an important role in their lives. The resources at the end of the book provide guidance for how parents can continue this discussion beyond story time.

This thoughtfully written book invites children to explore and understand their emotions through a gentle and engaging story. By showing the value of all feelings, it supports healthy emotional development and emotional literacy. Written by a psychologist and mother, the book blends clinical expertise with real-life insight, making it a meaningful resource for families, educators and clinicians alike.

As an OT, I found this to be a fun and engaging story that gently explores emotions in a way that is both accessible and meaningful for children.
The idea of searching for the missing colours is a beautiful way to normalise the full range of feelings, highlighting how life can feel dull or limited when emotions are avoided or pushed away. It reinforces that all feelings have an important place.
I also really appreciated the activities included, which support emotional awareness and development in a playful, child-friendly way.