Picture books tagged with: anxiety

Medieval Mashup: Leigh’s Wheelie Adventures

In this charming picture book, a group of children (including Leigh, a wheelchair user) work together to support each other to make costumes for a school event. Leigh is struggling with feelings of self-consciousness and frustration, but he successfully overcomes this.

The Happiest Kid

A gentle, reassuring picture book that helps children to recognise and normalise sadness and talk about big feelings

Henrietta’s Thistleberry Boots

A picture book that acknowledges that a change in routine can be challenging for many children, while at the same time demonstrating that with patience and support, it is possible to get through difficult times. A useful springboard for a conversation about uncomfortable changes, the story promotes patience, resilience and courage to face the unknown or new.

The Invisible Boy

This beautiful book promotes inclusivity and empathy, encouraging children to 'leave no-one behind' in friendship groups and to consider other people's feelings.

Mum’s Jumper

A thoughtful, sensitive and realistic portrayal of the thoughts and feelings of a young girl following the death of her mother.

Squishy Sand

This engaging picture book features Leigh, a disabled child who uses a wheelchair. It highlights some of the everyday obstacles that wheelchair users have to cope with. A great choice for any child, reinforcing the importance of empathy, resilience, teamwork, kindness and creative thinking.

Me and My Fear

A beautifully imagined exploration of fear and how it can change a child's behaviour and perception of the world around them. An excellent springboard for a discussion about emotions, empathy, talking through your worries with others and coping with change.

Coronavirus: A Book for Children about Covid-19

A comprehensive, child-friendly free e-book that is a great way to answer a child's questions or address their concerns on any aspect of the Coronavirus crisis.

Impossible!

Perfect to share with children who hide their fears and worries behind "I CAN'T" or "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE', this charming picture book may encourage more of a growth mindset, help to overcome a challenge, or motivate a child to take the first step on the road to a new adventure or experience.

A Planet Full of Plastic: and how you can help

Explaining in a simple and non-threatening way why plastic can be a big problem for the environment and encouraging children to take steps to improve things.

The Day War Came

A haunting, emotional story of a young refugee, this picture book could be a springboard for a conversation about kindness and tolerance. Encourages empathy.

Ruby’s Worry

'A reassuring and sensitive book - the perfect springboard for talking to children about sharing their hidden worries no matter how big or small they may be'

The Garden of Hope

A poignant yet positive story about a grieving daughter and father and how tending a garden together helps them to begin the healing process and find hope for the future.

What’s worrying you?

A great picture book to help children explore their worries. While it is normal to feel anxious now and then, when anxiety escalates and can't be controlled, sitting down with your child and reading this book together should help.

Almost Anything

Encourages young children to believe in themselves and to persevere. Promotes resilience and higher self-esteem.

The Red Tree

A sensitive and honest insight into feeling lost, confused and alone, with an uplifting reminder that things will be okay. Hope is always there, waiting to be found.

The Journey

This powerful story about a family's forced migration to a new country gives children the chance to empathise with people in difficult circumstances. It promotes greater understanding and respect for those with different origins and cultures. Children who are refugees themselves may recognise something of their own story here.

Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers!

Explains Asperger's syndrome in a simple, gentle and positive way to very young children.

The Koala Who Could

An entertaining story that encourages children to try something new. Perfect for children who find change difficult.

Perfectly Norman

"Find the courage to be yourself"

A Safe Place for Rufus

This book would be a good choice for children who have experienced trauma in their lives which has left them feeling anxious in new situations. Also relevant for children who are struggling with transitions such as moving house, changing school or moving from one family to another.

What Happened to Daddy’s Body?

This is a frank and lovingly written book, explaining clearly what happens to someone’s body when they die. It provides young children with a means to understand what happens after death, whilst reassuring them with the message that life goes on for those left behind.

Mummy’s Lump

Providing a reassuring and realistic account which may dispel some of the fears young children have about cancer, the treatments which are given for it and how it affects family life.

Tappity-Tap What was That?

The book conveys the message that facing our fears means they are often not so scary.

Bella and Monty: A Hairy Scary Night

May comfort a child who is anxious about the dark, spiders, ghosts or monsters, and make them realise they are not alone.

The Monster Who Ate Darkness

This book elegantly 'neutralises' fear of monsters by portraying a non-threatening (and ultimately caring) one. It also provides a fun and poetic explanation to why darkness is so necessary at night time.

The Great Big Book of Feelings

A child struggling with negative emotions may find great comfort in this sympathetic, entertaining and reassuring book which explores many different feelings: happy, sad, excited, bored, interested, angry, upset, calm, silly, lonely, scared, safe, embarrassed, shy, confident, worried, jealous and satisfied.

Billy Monster’s Daymare

Exploring common night time fears about monsters under the bed, in cupboards or lurking in shadows. This book may help to explain to a child in a humorous way that lots of people feel the same way. The humour lies in the fact that this book is about a monster having a 'daymare' about a child!

Halibut Jackson

Reassuring anxious or shy children that others experience similar emotions. Providing a positive role model who learns to accept his shyness.

Little By Little

Showing how, step by small step, confidence can build when learning something new. It may also appeal to a child who is learning how to swim, or is frightened of the water.

No Matter What

May provide reassurance for an insecure or anxious child that their parents' love for them is unconditional and constant, despite the circumstances. It sensitively reinforces the message that love carries on, even after someone dies.

The Bedtime Book

Written by sleep expert Mandy Gurney, this book combines a gentle lullaby-like story with practical advice to help parents settle their children down to sleep.

The Worry Monster

This book may help children come to terms with childhood worries and encourage them to admit mistakes and tell the truth.

What Makes Me Happy?

May help a child to identify emotions they are experiencing and encourage them to discuss any they feel uncomfortable with. Reassures children that it is normal to experience a wide range of emotions.

The Happy Book

A great starting point for talking about both positive and negative feelings with very young children. This book may gently encourage co-operation and good behaviour.

Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept

This is a skilfully written and beautifully illustrated book which covers the subject of keeping young children safe from sexual abuse. Written as a tool to help parents, caregivers and teachers broach the subject in a non-threatening way, it sensitively weaves the important facts into a story that young children will find accessible.

Critters Cry Too

This clever and sensitively written and illustrated book should be a great comfort for children who are dealing with parents or other loved ones battling a drug addiction.

Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket

Young children who have a comfort blanket or other special toy may identify with this story.

I Talk Like A River

A moving book about how it feels to have a stutter and have difficulty expressing yourself.

Brody The Lion: The Shopping Flip

Teaching positive behaviour strategies to children experiencing big emotions, this fun picture book is particularly helpful for children with autism or sensory processing disorders.

What Color Is Today?

A child may feel reassured after reading this book that it is normal to experience a huge array of emotions during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Peek A Boo Faces!

A simple, free e-book that is aimed at very young children who may find people wearing face masks worrying or frightening.

My Hero Is You

This free e-book contains lots of information for children to help them cope with anxieties surrounding Coronavirus.

Happy: A Children’s Book of Mindfulness

A comforting book which introduces mindfulness practice in a accessible way.

The Lion Inside

A delightful story showing that everyone feels scared sometimes. Great for encouraging children to find their own voice.

The Mermaid Who Couldn’t

Many children struggle with self-esteem, like Mariana The Mermaid. Through Mariana's journey to happiness, a child who is struggling to feel good about themselves will see that, over time, and with friends, good things can happen.

Under the Love Umbrella

A book to comfort 'anyone who has ever felt lonely, lost or alone'. Useful for children who are experiencing separation anxiety or loneliness, it sends the comforting message that wherever you are, you are loved.

Ice in the Jungle

Ice the little polar bear cub suddenly has to move from her North Pole home to a new life in the jungle when her mother gets a new job. Ice is understandably upset, and finds the new place very unfamiliar. She misses her friends. But with time, and through the kindness of others, she settles in to her new life just fine.

Worried (Dealing with Feeling…)

Helps to identify what worries are and provides tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them.

Supposing…

In this comforting story a little monster is helped to overcome a scary dream by imagining the many happy things he and his mother can do together.