Book 2 · Planned — no release date yet
Anger, with Spike
Spike’s anger comes out fast — and he’s learning what to do next.
You can read Spike’s free mini-story now.
Picture books for ages 3–6
Big feelings are easier together.
Picture books, playful exercises, and words for parents — for fear, anger, sadness, and more.
Free printable PDF: 10 mini-stories + 10 coloring pages.
Book 1 · Coming December 1, 2026 · Paperback on Amazon.com
Just curious? Read Finley’s mini-story — no sign-up.
Sound familiar?
Sometimes the feeling arrives before the words.
Don’t turn off the light.
The hallway light has become a nightly negotiation, and “one more check” never ends.
See the story →He took it!
Someone grabs the shovel, and your child’s hand flies before any words come out.
See the story →Nothing.
You ask what’s wrong. The answer is “nothing,” but the drooping shoulders say something else.
See the story →Read it. Play it. Talk about it.
Every book has the same three parts.
The story
Read
A story where a friend feels it first.
Feelings are easier to talk about when they belong to a story character first.
Kids Zone
Play
Games and drawing pages at the back of the book.
In Finley’s book, your child can draw a silly worry-monster or play shadow detective with a flashlight.
Parent Zone
Connect
Pages for grown-ups: what your child may be feeling and how to talk about it.
In Finley’s book: why fear pops up so often between three and six, and how to talk about it the way Hugo talks to Finley.
Same three parts in every book — a different friend, a different feeling.
One feeling at a time.
Each book takes one real moment — and brings new friends and places.
Book 1 · Coming December 1, 2026
Finley and the Shadow of Fear
A little seahorse faces a dark place — with a friend nearby. Perfect if bedtime has turned into a battle with the dark — or you’d like words for the nights when fear gets big.
- Story
- Kids Zone
- Parent Zone
Be the first to know when Finley’s book is available.
Book 3 · Planned — no release date yet
Sadness, with Luna
Luna feels things deeply and often keeps them inside.
You can read Luna’s free mini-story now.
Friends your child will ask for by name.
Hugo and his nine friends live in EmOcean, an ocean where every feeling has a place.
Free Starter Kit · Meet the Lovetopus Friends
Try it tonight — free.
Meet all ten friends through mini-stories and coloring pages, with one gentle question to ask after each. Print what you need — no screen needed. Finley’s paperback, the first Lovetopus book, is coming December 1, 2026.
Want to start small? Download Finley’s two pages (PDF) — no sign-up needed.
It started with “What happens next?”
When my daughter was little, our made-up bedtime stories always ended with the same question: “What happens next?” Talking about our characters’ feelings often felt easier than talking about our own. That’s where Lovetopus began: stories to enjoy together, with room for the conversations that follow.
— Tom Michalik, creator of Lovetopus and a dad
Questions parents ask
When is Book 1 out?
Finley and the Shadow of Fear is coming December 1, 2026. Get a note when it’s out.
Is Lovetopus only about fear?
No. Finley’s first book explores fear. Books about anger with Spike and sadness with Luna are planned next. Meet all ten friends in the free Starter Kit.
Is it based on research?
The activities in our books draw on approaches child-development researchers study — like naming feelings and facing fears one small step at a time. The research is about the approaches. Lovetopus itself hasn’t been studied. Our method & sources →
How much does it cost?
The price will be listed on Amazon at launch.
What ages is it for?
Children ages 3–6, reading with a grown-up.
Is this therapy?
No. Lovetopus books are for everyday big feelings and don’t replace professional care. If you’re worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
Does my child need a screen?
No. The story and book activities are made for reading and playing offline. The free Starter Kit is a PDF to download and print.
How is it different from other feelings books?
It’s a whole world, not a single lesson: friends your child gets to know across the series, the same three parts in every book — a story, a Kids Zone and a Parent Zone — and a map of feelings for the grown-ups, drawn from psychologist Robert Plutchik’s work.
Will it arrive in time for the holidays?
Delivery dates are set by Amazon — check the estimate at checkout.
Who’s behind Lovetopus?
Tom Michalik, a dad, created the stories. Illustrator Tomek Cygan designed every character. Meet the team.