With everything that is happening in the world right now, many kids and adults find themselves feeling anxious and worrying more than usual. One way to help your kids work through these feelings is with books. Here are some great books for kids who worry or have anxiety.
You can click on any of the covers below to learn more about each book or find all of these Books for Kids Who Worry or Have Anxiety on my Amazon page.
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BOOKS FOR KIDS WHO WORRY OR HAVE ANXIETY
A Little Spot of Anxiety
by Diane Alber
Anxiety comes from feelings of being worried, scared, or anxious. When these feelings are in small amounts that’s okay because they are there to help protect us, but when they get TOO BIG, they become overwhelming and need to be managed. When a child experiences anxiety it can prevent them from doing what he/she wants and and/or needs to do, which can make anxiety a disability. This story addresses how anxiety can affect all ages and how it can show up in all different situations. The Gray SPOT in the story creates a visual representation of Anxiety so that a child can see when it’s gets too big, and how to shrink it back to a Green PEACEFUL SPOT.
Ruby Finds a Worry
by Tom Percival
Meet Ruby–a happy, curious, imaginative 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 . . .
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 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
by Julia Cook
Wilma Jean worries about everything – she worries about missing the bus, doing a math problem wrong, having friends to play with, and getting carrots in her school lunch! Wilma Jean’s teacher helps her figure out what worries she can control and those that she can’t and what to do about both types of worries.
Don’t Feed the WorryBug
by Andi Green
Say hello to Wince, one of the biggest worriers you will every meet. From cookies to homework to the weather, Wince worries about everything. And when Wince starts to worry, his WorryBug appears. At first the WorryBug is small and non-threatening, but the more Wince Worries the more his WorryBug grows. Don’t Feed The WorryBug is great story to start the conversation on worry and anxiety. We all worry, it happens, but the key is to not let those worries (aka the WorryBug) grow to the point that it ruins your day.
Anxious Ninja
by Mary Nhin
Life is hard! And it’s even harder for children who are just trying to figure things out. Anxious Ninja experiences difficult emotions that paralyzes him until his friend gives him tips on how to handle his anxiety.
Help Your Dragon Deal with Anxiety
by Steve Herman
Having a pet dragon is very fun! He can sit, roll over, and play…He can candle a birthday cake, lit a campfire, or so many other cool things…But what if your dragon is constantly worrying about so many things? What if he’s worried about his math test even though he has studied very hard? Or so nervous about his upcoming book report in front of the class? What if he gets so anxious when he has to go get a shot from the doctor office? So anxious that he has a meltdown? What if your dragon is always asking about “What If”? What should you do? You teach him how to deal with his anxiety! How? Get this book and learn how!
Black Dog
by Levi Pinfold
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.
The Worry Box
by Suzanne Chiew
Murray Bear is supposed to go to the waterfall with his sister, Molly, to meet a friend, but Murray is worried. “What if it’s too LOUD?” he cries “Or what if I get swept away!” So Molly tells him about her special worry box. “When I’m worried about something,” she says, “I write it down, then put it inside.” She offers to help make one for Murray, and he takes it on their journey-but will it really help?
When Worry Takes Hold
by Liz Haske
One night just before the lights went out, Worry snuck into Maya’s mind. Worry grew bigger and bigger until there was no space left for anything else. Just darkness and fear. Join Maya as she finds Courage, through the form of a calming breath, and learns how to break free from Worry’s hold.
Me and My Fear
by Francesca Sanna
When a young immigrant girl has to travel to a new country and start at a new school, she is accompanied by her Fear who tells her to be alone and afraid, growing bigger and bigger every day with questions like “how can you hope to make new friends if you don’t understand their language?” But this little girl is stronger than her Fear.
Pilar’s Worries
by Victoria M. Sanchez
Pilar loves to dance. She pliés while brushing her teeth.She leaps when hurrying to ballet class. But when tryouts for her favorite ballet are held, Pilar is anxious. Auditioning makes her whole body feel scared. But by using some of the coping techniques she’s learned and focusing on her love for ballet, she is able to persevere.
The Worrywarts
by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Wombat asks Weasel and Woodchuck if they want to wander the world with her, but they are overwhelmed with worries. What if they walk into a swarm of waiting wasps? Or what if the weather worsens? What if they’re walloped by warthogs? What then…?
The Huge Bag of Worries
by Virginia Ironside
Wherever Jenny goes, her worries follow her – in a big blue bag. They are with her all the time – at school, at home, when she is watching TV and even in the bathroom! Jenny decides they have to go, but who will help her get rid of them?
Worry Says What?
by Allison Edwards
“Worry’s songs tie my tummy up in knots,
and the things he says make my heart beat very fast.
Sometimes he speaks in a whisper, and other times
his voice gets so loud I can’t hear anything else.”
This book helps children (and adults) flip their thinking when anxious thoughts begin and turn them into powerful reminders of all they are capable of accomplishing.
Do you have a favorite book for kids who worry or have anxiety? I’d love to check it out!
You can find more of my favorite books to share with kids here.
Stay Safe and Enjoy Some Reading Time!
I love the books.