This factual picture book explores worries in child-friendly language. Describing how worries make us feel, it touches upon potentially worrying scenarios such as moving house/school, seeing something disturbing on the TV/internet, bullying, serious illness in the family, exams and fear of spiders. Children are encouraged to notice when others are worried, too, and help them by talking it through. A glossary and further information links are provided, as well as instructions on how to make a ‘worry toolbox’. Pleasantly illustrated by Clare Elsom, this little book would be an ideal springboard for a conversation with young children about anxiety.
Worried (Dealing with Feeling…)
Helps to identify what worries are and provides tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them.
Author: Isabel Thomas
Illustrator: Clare Elsom
Publisher: Raintree
The messages we found in this book:
Acknowledgement:
- Worries are unpleasant. It can be difficult to stop thinking about ‘strong worries’. They can give you butterflies in your tummy or make you feel grumpy.
- It’s tempting to hide worries, but this can often make things worse.
- A change in your life can leave you feeling anxious.
Guidance:
- Occasional worries are part of life and everyone has them.
- Distraction may help to lessen anxious feelings (activity examples are given in the book)
- It’s good to talk to a trusted grown up if you’re worried about something.
- If it’s difficult to put a worry into words, you could try drawing it instead and showing it to an adult that you trust.
Hope & Inspiration:
- The book encourages children to help others by listening to their worries.