A fictional character can feel something a child is not yet ready to describe directly. Talking about the character creates enough distance to make the emotion safe and understandable.
Name, notice and choose
A good story shows that feelings carry information while actions remain a choice. The hero may be angry or frightened and still ask for help, wait, apologise or try again.
Personal stories need care
Keep the tone warm and avoid turning a child’s real difficulty into a lecture. Read together, listen to the child’s interpretation and allow the ending to open a conversation rather than close it.