20+ books to help children who worry or suffer from anxiety

A child’s mental health is important and, like adults, they can have worry about things too. To help them understand and develop strategies, here are 20+ books to help children who worry or suffer from anxiety.

We know what it’s like to feel worried and children who are learning about the world and how they fit into it can easily become worried or stressed. My oldest daughter, Possum (aged 5 years) has had a new set of worries since starting school and sometimes it has been hard to comfort her in a way that I think helps. 

Picture story books for learning

I love using picture story books as a way of supporting children in their struggles. Messages within the pages of a book seem to resonate deeply and make a child feel less alone. With a focus on worry, I’ve found some really AMAZING picture story books, 20+ books to help children who worry or suffer from anxiety. I hope they help you and your child overcome any of their own worries. 

For your convenience I have added links so you may purchase the following titles. These are affiliate links, which mean I will make a small commission and likely to spend that on coffee. 

20+ books to help children who worry or suffer from anxiety

‘I have a Worry’, by Tanya Balcke

This book was recommended to me by a friend and when she described it to me I knew I had to have my own copy. ‘I have a Worry’ by Tanya Balcke is a story that helps children to learn strategies in managing any worries they might have. The language is perfect for children of all ages and it’s approach is gentle and clear. Highly recommend this book to everyone! 

‘Wilma Jean the Worry Machine’ by Julia Cook

This picture story book is light-hearted and fun. With humour it addresses the problem of anxiety in a way that relates to children of all ages. The aim of the book is to give children the tools needed to feel more in control of their anxiety. This book also offers creative strategies for parents and teachers to use that can lessen the severity of anxiety. 

‘What to do when you worry too much’ by Dawn Huebner

Written by child phychologist and author, Dawn Huebner, “What to Do When You Worry Too Much” is an self-help book that is interactive and designed to support 6-12 year olds and their parents through the behavioural techniques often used in the treatment of anxiety. This book is engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow and empowers children to work towards change.

‘Is a Worry Worrying You’ By Ferida Wolff

This is a fun book that addresses children’s worries with humour and imagination. It teaches kids the use of perspective and problem solving to help whatever worry is worrying them. This is a great one for children to have on the bookshelf. 

‘David and the Worry Beast’ by Anne Marie Guanci

Beautifully illustrated, this story shares the lessons on conquering fears, and not avoiding them. It centres around David who could not stop thinking about the basket he had missed at the end of the big game. The worry of him doing it again plagued him, as well as how his friends would react and that his parents would be disappointed in him. David was worried a lot. Finally David confided in his parents and school nurse and they give him support and techniques for controlling the “worry beast” within him.

‘Hey Warrior’ by Karen Young

This is a powerful little look that shares with children why anxiety feels the way it does and where the physical symptoms come from. It’s a great little book that can turn anxiety around and make them feel more empowered. 

‘The Worry Glasses’ by Donalisa Helsley

This book is ideal for children aged 3 – 9 years of age and it tells a story about MJ who worries about everything! She is a big worry wart, who later learns to take off her ‘Worry Glasses’ and build her confidence and take control of her anxiety. 

What do to when you’re scared and worried’ by James J. Crist

Children can have fears and worries just like adults can. From spiders to panic attacks. This is a book that children can turn to when they need support, reassurance and some ideas on how to manage those times they feel scared or worried about something.

‘Don’t Feel the Worry Bug’ by Andi Green

Winner of a Creative Child Book of the Year award, this story is about Wince, The Monster of Worry and his rival, The Worry Bug. Cleverly done, this whimsical adventure brings to life the emotion of fears and shares secrets to keeping worries from getting too large. 

‘Johathan James and the Whatif Monster’ by Michelle Nelson

Ideal for children 3 years and older, this book centres around the character Johathan James who, whenever he finds himself in a new situation, he hears his Whatif Monster asking all kind of questions. It stops him from trying anything new. What if it’s scary? What if they laugh? Finally, Jonathan James starts asking himself some new questions, like: What if they don’t? What then? 

‘When my Worries Get Too Big’ By Kari Dunn Buron

This book has great reviews on Amazon. It’s described to be engaging and easy to read and filled with opportunities for children to participate in developing their own self-calming strategies. Children who adopt the simple strategies in this book will find themselves relaxed and ready to focus on work or play!

‘Please Explain Anxiety to Me’ by Laurie E. Zelinger

Suited to older children, this book explains anxiety from the jargon of psychology into concrete experiences that children can actually really relate to. Children and their parents will have a better understanding of the biological and emotional components of anxiety that are responsible for the upsetting symptoms that children experience.

‘The Worry Monster’ by Caroline Uff

This is a sweet little book about a little girl who eats all of her Mums chocolate cake and blames the dog. This book may help children come to terms with childhood worries and encourage them to own up to their mistakes and be truthful.

‘Fabulous Faith in Meet My Worry Monster’ by Melissa Webster

Faith has a little worry monster, which she named Stan. He tries to keep her from having fun at school, but Faith soon realises she has a super power in her that can defeat Stan. This book is “A Mom’s Choice Awards® and won the Distinguished Recipient award which is a prestigious award known nationwide. 

‘The Huge Bag of Worries’ by Virginia Ironside

Poor Jenny. Wherever she goes her huge bag of worries go along with her. They even go with her to swimming and school! Jenny decides they will have to go. But who can help her? This is a fun book that pokes fun at worries and shares strategies for overcoming them. 

‘The Worrywarts’ by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Written by popular author Pamela Duncan Edwards, this is a book that is about a group of friends who worry – a lot! When they are asked to go on an adventure around the world they are consumed with the ‘what ifs’ and not sure if they should go. 

‘Don’t Panic Annika‘ by Juliet Claire Bell

Poor Annika, she always panics. She panics when her coat zip gets stuck on the way to a party. She panics when she can’t find her favourite toy at bedtime. Her parents and brother help her learn how to stay calm and work out different ways to solve the problem. 

‘Wemberly Worried’ by Kevin Henkes

Dear little Wemberly is worried about everything. She is worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes coming out of the family radiator. She’s worried morning, noon, and night. One of her biggest worries is her first day of school. Wemberly, however, realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!

‘100th Day Worries’ by Margery Cuyler

Jessica is feeling the pressure of bringing to school 100 items to school for an assignment. What can she bring. The time is ticking and she starts to worry. How will she cope under the pressure? 

Don’t think about purple elephants by Susan Whelan

This is a Whimsical and humorous book about a girl named Sophie. She  worries a lot about things at night time when everything is quiet and calm, not so much during the day. Her mum comes up with a clever idea to help her think about other ideas…it might include elephants. 

Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi

Jack really enjoys playing his trumpet and has looked forward to being involved in his first concert. One morning her finds he has Worry and it’s getting bigger and bigger. There seems no escaping his worry. This is a great book that really teaches children who are afraid of failing and how they can shrink their worry down to size. 

Hopefully you’ve been able to find some wonderful books that you feel will support your child and their worries. Be sure to seek extra support from an educator or health care professional if you feel your child is not improving in their mental health. 

Have you read any of these books? 

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. I will receive a very small fee for anything bought using the links in this post, which I’m likely to spend on coffee. 😉