Anxiety in children is a growing concern, but fortunately, there are numerous resources available to help kids manage their worries effectively. As an educator and researcher, I understand the profound impact that well-crafted books can have on young minds. These books don’t just tell stories; they provide practical tools and insights to help children understand and navigate their anxieties.
In this post, we’ve curated a list of the best anxiety books for kids, each offering unique approaches to help young readers cope with stress and develop emotional resilience. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or caregiver, these selections are invaluable in supporting children’s mental health and well-being.
Anxiety Books for Kids
Here are our top picks for anxiety books for kids:
1. What to Do When You Worry Too Much, by Dawn Huebner
This interactive self-help book employs humor and metaphor to provide an educational yet engaging guide for kids who find their worries growing out of control. Through a combination of drawing and writing exercises, the book offers straightforward, actionable steps to help kids manage their anxiety. Authored by a psychologist, it also comes with a note to parents that underscores its scientific credibility.
2. Don’t Feed The WorryBug, by Andi Green
This is another fantastic read that goes deep into understanding worry and anxiety. Wince, the central character, is quite the worrier, and his feelings of anxiety are manifested through his nemesis, the WorryBug. Recognized by the Child Mind Institute, this book also focuses on self-regulation and courage. It’s a storytelling approach to a very serious issue, and it captures the imagination while educating young minds.
3. Help Your Dragon Deal With Anxiety, by Steve Herman
This whimsically illustrated book adds a touch of fantasy to a serious subject. By teaching your ‘pet dragon’ how to manage worries, the book essentially gives children a fun, relatable way to understand and confront their own anxieties. It takes everyday scenarios—like math tests or doctor visits—that can trigger anxiety and breaks down how to manage them. For kids, using a dragon as a metaphor makes the conversation around mental health less intimidating and more engaging.
4. Fear Not!: How to Face Your Fear and Anxiety Head-On, by Christina Furnival
Created by a licensed mental health therapist, “Fear Not!” provides a rhyming narrative that guides children through a three-step lesson to manage their fears and anxieties. This book doesn’t just offer a story; it gives children a game plan. The book educates children about how to ‘ride the wave’ of anxiety mindfully, effectively arming them with coping skills they can carry into adulthood. This book is a powerhouse of resources disguised as a child-friendly read.
5. When Harley Has Anxiety: A Fun CBT Skills Activity Book to Help Manage Worries and Fears, by Regine Galanti PhD
This isn’t just a book; it’s a hands-on toolkit. Crafted by an expert psychologist, it’s designed for kids ages 5 to 9 and blends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques with engaging activities. I love how it allows children to be proactive about their own mental health. Kids don’t just read about Harley; they’re empowered to practice and master the same skills to manage their anxiety. Activity books like this one give that extra nudge to kids to apply what they’ve learned, something that’s deeply rooted in effective teaching methods.
6. Everyone Feels Anxious Sometimes, by Dr. Daniela Owen
Dr. Owen is not only an experienced child psychologist but also an assistant professor at UC Berkeley—talk about credibility. This book is a beautiful blend of empathetic storytelling and science-backed coping mechanisms. It’s not just about calming anxiety; it’s about embracing emotional well-being. The book enables kids to pinpoint their anxieties, brainstorm solutions, and dwell in the present. The strategies stem from a place of researched psychological know-how, making it a trusted resource for parents and educators alike.
7. How To Tame My Anxiety Monster, by Melanie Hawkins
This one uses the metaphor of an “Anxiety Monster,” making the intangible aspects of anxiety more concrete for children. The back section even provides great conversational starters for parents, educators, and therapists. Books that come with ‘adult guides’ are golden in my opinion, as they bridge the child-adult understanding gap.
8. A Little SPOT of Anxiety: A Story About Calming Your Worries, by Diane Alber
Visual representation for abstract concepts can be a game-changer in education. This book does just that by portraying anxiety as a “Gray SPOT.” It’s not just a storybook; it’s also a coping manual that offers creative strategies for shrinking that Gray SPOT down to a “Green PEACEFUL SPOT.” Plus, it incorporates this awesome rhyme that could be a mantra for kids: “I can do this! I can be calm!” Rhymes have a way of sticking in your head, making it a clever tactic to reinforce a lesson.
9. Sometimes I’m Anxious, by Poppy O’Neill
This book gets it right by targeting the 8-12 age group, a crucial time in a child’s life where habits and mindsets are formed. The character Fiz serves as a relatable guide, and what I find compelling is the interspersing of tips, inspirational quotes, and activities. This book seems to understand that educating children about mental health is not just about giving information but also about ongoing engagement and empowerment.
10. Anxiety Relief Workbook for Kids, by Agnes Selinger
I love the idea of a workbook that goes beyond mere information. The tactile experience of doing an activity can drive a lesson home. What’s more, the evidence-based approaches are vital. Agnes Selinger, a clinical psychologist, has designed this workbook to be scientifically sound while remaining accessible to children. I mean, making CBT, ACT, and mindfulness palatable to a child? That’s like the holy grail in child psychology!
11. Anxiety Relief for Kids, by Bridget Flynn Walker PhD
This is another gem in the list. The book does not just provide a one-size-fits-all approach; it offers tailored solutions depending on the specific symptoms and diagnoses. This is hugely important. It’s like having a mini-therapist on your bookshelf. The focus on CBT and exposure therapy is backed by extensive research, including meta-analyses that suggest CBT can be an effective treatment for childhood anxiety disorders.
12. CBT Workbook for Kids, by Heather Davidson Psy.D BCN
Heather Davidson brings in her expertise to create a guide that promises to help kids manage or change their anxious thoughts. I appreciate the format of this workbook: it first helps kids identify the root of their worries and then gives them tools to tackle them. I can’t stress enough how important this is.
13. Anxious Ninja, by Mary Ninja
The Ninja Life Hacks series is right up my alley when it comes to introducing life skills in an accessible, enjoyable manner. Using the character of Anxious Ninja, it externalizes the feeling, allowing kids to confront it without feeling overwhelmed. The age range is spot-on: young enough to establish foundational understandings but broad enough to benefit older kids too. Considering its target age, the series fits the school setting and could be a practical tool in school counseling.
14. Ruby Finds a Worry, by Tom Percival
Ruby’s journey is so vivid and real; kids can see their worries literally grow if they don’t address them. The Big Bright Feelings series tackles emotional intelligence in such a non-intimidating way, giving kids and adults a shared language to discuss these topics. The idea of sharing feelings as a way to shrink worries is a beautifully simple but effective message.
15. Breathe Like a Bear, by Kira Willey
This book stands out for its focus on mindfulness, an approach rooted in empirical studies like the ones published in the “Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology” showing the positive effects of mindfulness on child anxiety. Kira Willey’s book is more than a read; it’s a series of activities. It’s actionable, giving kids specific techniques to manage their feelings in real-world scenarios—whether in the car, at school, or during homework time.
16. Listening to My Body, by Gabi Garcia
The interactive nature of “Listening to My Body” is genius. Introducing kids to the connection between their emotional and physical sensations is a valuable life skill. It’s all about creating that “aha!” moment where the child understands that tuning into their body can actually help decode their emotions. This idea is backed up by various educational theories like Somatic Psychology, which focuses on the mind-body connection.
17. Wilma Jean the Worry Machine, by Julia Cook
What I appreciate about this book is its acknowledgment of anxiety as something that can be debilitating. It doesn’t trivialize the issue but rather gives kids coping mechanisms. The “worry hat” is a creative touch, teaching children to segregate worries they can control from those they can’t, a principle straight out of cognitive psychology.
18. Right Now I Am Fine, by Dr. Daniela Owen
The author’s expertise as a child psychologist shines through. “Right Now I Am Fine” equips kids with immediate, actionable coping skills. That’s priceless. It’s worth noting that Dr. Daniela Owen’s involvement lends the book a level of credibility that aligns well with evidence-based approaches in psychology.
Final thoughts
Addressing anxiety in children is a critical step toward fostering their overall emotional health and resilience. The books we’ve highlighted provide a mix of engaging narratives, practical activities, and evidence-based strategies that can help children manage their worries. From interactive workbooks to empathetic storytelling, these resources offer a comprehensive toolkit for parents, educators, and caregivers.