Big Wave Coming

A playful beach bedtime story where a giant wave mirrors big feelings. Perfect for learning calm breathing and emotional regulation.
Bedtime stories Big Wave Coming short stories for kids about tantrums and big feelings cover

Big Wave Coming

After fish and chips at the beach, Manu gets upset about more sunscreen, and his feelings grow like a giant wave. In this playful bedtime story for kids, he imagines many ways to face the wave, from breathing calmly to turning it into laughter. A gentle story for ages 2–7 about big emotions and finding calm again.

This story has been written and illustrated by real humans.

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Vocabulary

Persisted
Kept trying, even when someone said no.
Enormous
Very, very big.
Whitewash
The foamy white water left after a wave crashes.
Calming breaths
Slow, deep breaths that help your body relax.
Whisk
To move something quickly and lightly.
Volcano
A mountain that can burst out hot lava.

Context

Big Wave Coming is a social-emotional learning story set at the beach. The big wave works as a metaphor for overwhelming feelings, especially anger and frustration. Through imaginative possibilities, the story invites children to explore different ways of responding to big emotions, including breathing, play, humour, and imagination.

The repeated structure supports early literacy and prediction skills for young readers. The beach setting uses sensory language to ground the emotional metaphor in something concrete and familiar. The learning takeaway is that feelings rise and fall like waves, and with support and strategies, calm returns.

Discussion questions

Spark a conversation with your child and connect the story to real-life lessons.

Feelings

  • How did Manu feel when Mummy tried to put on more sunscreen?
  • What does the big wave remind you of when you feel very upset?
  • How did Manu feel after the wave passed? What changed?

Tantrums

  • Why do you think the wave is described as enormous and angry?
  • What are some ways kids sometimes act when their feelings feel like a big wave?
  • What helped Manu move through his big wave instead of running away from it?

Calm

  • Which idea did you like best for calming the wave?
  • Why do you think taking big, deep breaths helped Manu?
  • Can you think of a time when you felt calm again after being upset?

Family

  • How did Mum and Dad respond when the big wave was coming?
  • Why is it helpful to have grown-ups nearby when feelings feel big?
  • What do you think Mum and Dad meant when they asked, “Do you feel better now?”

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ISBN: 979-8296347152

FAQs about ‘Big Wave Coming’

What is ‘Big Wave Coming’ about?

Big Wave Coming is a bedtime story for kids about a little boy named Manu who feels overwhelmed at the beach. A giant wave becomes a playful metaphor for his big feelings. Through imagination and calming strategies, Manu learns that waves, and emotions, always pass.

What does the big wave represent?

The big wave represents anger or frustration, especially the kind children feel when they are told no. It shows how emotions can feel huge and out of control. The story helps children see that those feelings can be managed safely.

Is this story good for toddlers?

Yes. This short bedtime story works well for ages 2–7. The language is simple, rhythmic, and imaginative, making it ideal for read-aloud moments and early readers.

How does the story teach calming skills?

The book introduces deep breathing, imagination, humour, and play as tools for managing strong emotions. One key moment shows Manu taking big, deep breaths until he feels bigger than the wave.

Can this story help with tantrums?

Yes. The wave mirrors the feeling of a tantrum, but in a safe and creative way. Children can recognise their own big waves and learn healthy ways to ride them out.

What makes this story educational?

Beyond being a gentle beach adventure, it teaches emotional regulation and resilience. It also supports vocabulary development and early comprehension through repetition.

How can parents use this story at bedtime?

Parents can pause and ask children what they would do if a big wave was coming. You can practise calming breaths together before sleep. It is a lovely way to connect imagination with real-life coping tools.

Is Big Wave Coming a moral story?

Yes, gently. It shows that emotions are natural and temporary, and that calm returns after the storm. The lesson is embedded in play rather than direct instruction.

Where can I find similar stories?

You can explore more calming and social-emotional stories in the Storyberries bedtime collection. Many stories focus on feelings, family, and everyday childhood experiences.

Who created Big Wave Coming?

Big Wave Coming was written by Jade Maitre and illustrated by Daria Busko. Together they bring the beach setting and emotional metaphor to life with warmth and imagination.

Credits

This story was brought to life by these awesome real humans!

  • Written by: Jade Maitre
  • Illustrated by: Daria Busko
  • Music video from “Malt Shop Bop” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Impending Boom” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Boogie Party” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Ripples” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Surf Shimmy” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/


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