Toddler hitting/scratching/kicking

Jackson is going through a very long phase of hitting/scratching/kicking us. He does it when he's overexcited, overtired, overstimulated, not getting his own way etc.

We've been using time out but not seen much behaviour time. We've tried big growls, growling before and/or after time out, gentle explaining, lectures, loss of priveledges, loss of toys. The only thing we haven't done is smack back, but we don't really want to do that.

My primary question is - can anyone recommend any good kids books about not being violent? I am sure there must be books out there, so I'd like to have a go with these as Jackson loves books and story time so much.

Secondly, I know this is not uncommon, but do any of you have any other tips on how you stamped out this behaviour in your toddler? It is in particular getting my DH down and often results in us bickering because he's been snappy with me after.

I agree with Sheza, I think choose and approach and always do exactly the same thing, we currently have an issue with throwing things, and we are using the same approach each time, I won't say its all better, but we have seen an improvement.

We use a naughty step, he doesn't come off it and sits there until he is ready to say sorry, we then talk about what not to do and normally after he is much nicer, sometimes just mentioning the naughty step means he will stop straight away, sometimes he just needs to go as time away from us calms him down

Also treating his behaviour exactly the same way helped DH and me who were also arguing a fair bit about what to do.

Not sure about books, could be worth asking at the library, they are very helpful