Anxiety and worry can creep up on your kids when you least suspect it. Luckily there’s a solid stable of books that parents can turn to as they help their little one's better cope. Books for kids with anxiety are valuable tools when you need to talk your children through their big feelings.
While it is entirely natural for children to feel anxious in new and unfamiliar environments from time to time, some children have anxiety levels that are much more debilitating. Children can experience anxiety ranging from mild apprehension through to full-blown panic. These books aim to comfort, support, and engage anxious children.
Most People
Michael Leannah wrote Most People as an antidote to the scary words and images kids hear and see every day. Jennifer Morris’s emotive, diverting characters provide the perfect complement to Leannah’s words, leading us through the crowded streets of an urban day in the company of two pairs of siblings (one of color). We see what they see: the hulking dude with tattoos and chains assisting an elderly lady onto the bus; the Goth teenager with piercings and purple Mohawk returning a lost wallet to its owner; and the myriad interactions of daily existence, most of them well intended. Most People is a courageous, constructive response to the dystopian world of the news media.
Come With Me
by Holly M. McGhee
When the news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, a girl asks her papa what she can do to make the world a better place. “Come with me,” he says. Hand-in-hand, they walk to the subway, tipping their hats to those they meet. The next day, the girl asks her mama what she can do—her mama says, “Come with me,” and together they set out for the grocery, because one person doesn’t represent an entire race or the people of a land. After dinner that night, the little girl asks if she can do something of her own—walk the dog . . . and her parents let her go. “Come with me,” the girl tells the boy across the hall. Walking together, one step at a time, the girl and the boy begin to see that as small and insignificant as their part may seem, it matters to the world.
The don't worry book
by Todd Parr.
Todd Parr brings his trademark bright colors and bold lines to his new book about things that might make kids worry--from loud news, to loud neighbors, or a big day at school. With his signature humor and instantly recognizable style, Todd speaks out to kids who are feeling the weight of their world, offering solutions and comfort, as well as giggles.
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by clinical psychologist Dawn Huebner, Ph.D.
Wemberly Worried
by Kevin Henkes
Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. "Worry, worry, worry," her family said. "Too much worry."
And Wemberly worried about one thing most of all: her first day of school. But when it's time to go back to school and she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine Julia Cook
This fun and humorous book addresses the problem of anxiety in a way that relates to children of all ages. It offers creative strategies for parents and teachers to use that can lessen the severity of anxiety. The goal of the book is to give children the tools needed to feel more in control of their anxiety. For those worries that are not in anyone's control (i.e. the weather) a worry hat is introduced. A fun read for Wilmas of all ages!
Is a Worry Worrying You?
By Frida Wollf
Adults think of childhood as a carefree time, but the truth is that children worry, and worry a lot, especially in our highly pressurized era. This book addresses children's worries with humor and imagination, as hilarious scenarios teach kids the use of perspective and the art of creative problem-solving.
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
by Mark Pett
Beatrice Bottomwell has NEVER (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes!
One day, the inevitable happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone!
But in the end, readers (and perfectionists) will realize that life is more fun when you enjoy everything—even the mistakes.
Listening with My Heart
by Gabi Garcia
When Esperanza finds a heart shaped rock, she sees it as a reminder to spread kindness and love in the world. But when the school play doesn’t go the way she’d hoped, will she remember to show it to herself?
Listening with my heart reminds us of the importance of being friends to ourselves. It also touches on the universal themes of friendship, empathy and kindness. Includes mindfulness and self-compassion activities.
Ruby Finds a Worry
by Tom Percival
Meet Ruby -- a happy, curious, imaginative young girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It's not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger . . . and a little bigger . . . . Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about.
But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers that everyone has worries, and not only that, there's a great way to get rid of them too . . . she just has to share her feelings.
Black Dog
by Levi Pinfold
An enormous black dog and a very tiny little girl star in this offbeat tale about confronting one’s fears.
When a huge black dog appears outside the Hope family home, each member of the household sees it and hides. Only Small, the youngest Hope, has the courage to face the black dog, who might not be as frightening as everyone else thinks.
Fraidyzoo
by Thyra Heder
Today is the perfect day for the zoo! But Little T is afraid to go. The only trouble is, she can’t remember what scared her at the zoo the last time. To help her remember, her mom, dad, and sister come up with an ingeniously creative solution: in a flurry of bubble wrap, umbrellas, water bottles, salad tongs, a mop, a vacuum cleaner, and much, much more, her family brings to life an astounding parade of zoo animals—in alphabetical order! Can you guess which animals the family is acting out? And can Little T stop feeling like such a “fraidyzoo”?
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