This post contains affiliate links – thank you for your support
Anxiety affects all of us in different ways, kids may struggle with worries big and small – but as caregivers we know when the kids in our life are struggling more than usual. I collaborated with my friend Corrie of The Tiny Activist to make a list of our very favourite books on this topic, as well as some complimentary books about neurodiversity and depression to cover all of those brain bases.
Anxiety & Worry Books for Kids
“Timmy loves to perform, but only when there isn’t an audience! When Timmy feels most nervous, their shy inner lion roars all their confidence away. This gorgeous, uplifting picture book…”
“Cora is constantly worrying about everything. Because of this, the Whatifs love her. They sneak up to her and give her all kinds of doubts: big or small, silly or frightening, likely or impossible. As she prepares for…”
“When Olivia starts to feel overwhelmed by her big feelings, she sprouts vines. They are thorny and twisty and make it impossible for Olivia to do the things she loves to do… Someone who sees past the prickly and the pokey to the upset little girl and helps Olivia learn to manage…”
“Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia’s dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that…”
“It is David’s first day at his brand-new school. He doesn’t know anyone. At recess, he stands alone and watches the other children enjoying their activities on the playground…”
“…Children are introduced to different kinds of bees, “how not to get stung,” and how the things we fear are often things we don’t fully understand.”
“…a wonder-filled exploration of a child’s imagination, thoughtfully weaving in a gentle suggestion of how to explore that bountiful inner world and let it help them shine with courage in the real one.”
“…he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out…”
“This delicate picture book about a quiet little octopus that keeps to himself in a school of lively fish explores the topic of shyness and friendship…”
“Brock is worried. Way past worried, with his heart thumping and his mind racing. Today is his friend Juan’s superhero party and he’s going all by himself. What if nobody plays with him? What if everyone laughs at him?”
“A little girl starts her day feeling gray and alone, with everyone around her oblivious to her mood. On her way home from school, she meets a small dog in need of help, and the interaction turns her world a little brighter
Small Knight and The Anxiety Monster
“When Small Knight feels pressure from their parents to be a perfect princess, an anxiety monster shows up. No one else can see the monster, so Small Knight and their best friend Tiny Bear, decide that it is up to them to save themselves. They set off on a magical quest, only to discover…”
“A child makes their way along the Arctic shoreline on a dark day. Everything around them seems as ugly as their mood, from the weather to the fish and mud. This is the place they come to whenever they feel ugly. But, as the child closes their eyes and listens, the sound of the waves reminds them…”
It’s OK: Being Kind to Yourself When Things Feel Hard
“This sweet book teaches children 3–7 the simple and profound power of self-compassion through simple affirmations that can be repeated when things are hard.”
“In this beautiful new edition of a timeless picture book classic, a child asks, Will it be okay? That bee sting, that thunderstorm, those powerful feelings, losing a loved one.”
“Sometimes the small disappointments and inconveniences in kids’ days can feel much bigger than they are. And when they start multiplying . . . oh, what a bad day it can become!”
“When one little girl sees litter in the streets, an animal without shelter, and the pain of a parent, the weight of the world feels like too much to bear. She feels everything so deeply, it makes her want to hide. One day, when the tenderness and…”
“A touching story about a little boy whose worry monster follows him everywhere he goes. It’s there when he gets dressed, when he wants to play with his toys, and even when his friends come over to visit. How can he escape his worries. This engaging story will help…”
“A little boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing learns that it’s okay to make mistakes in this charming and encouraging picture book…”
“Abigail has a dark cloud. It follows her everywhere. It can be a ball of worries, a swirl of fog or a long shadow. But it’s always with her, getting in the way of things. Her dark cloud makes the other children distant and messes with her grand jeté during ballet class…”
“After a clap of thunder, the lights in Max’s house go out. Max’s father lights a candle, and Max asks, “Dad, have you ever been afraid?” His father says everyone is afraid sometimes. Then he slowly and carefully begins to describe…And he reassures his young son that while our fears can stop us in our tracks, we must keep going.”
“When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he’d like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognize a father’s ability to reconnect a child with the world around him.”
“When the other kids mock her at recess, Nanette doesn’t listen. She’d rather focus on puddles, spider webs, and whatever she can create with her hands. One day a boy named Noah—who’d rather fly paper airplanes than listen to the lesson—starts sitting at Nanette’s table. At first, Noah finds Nanette confusing and a little frustrating. But her ideas look like so much fun… “
“Nicky is a shy girl who feels most at home in the safe space of her school library, but the library closes for a week and Nicky is forced to face her social anxiety. When she meets a group of unique, diverse, inspiring women at her mother’s diner—members of a women’s motorcycle club—Nicky realizes that being different doesn’t have to mean being alone, and that there’s a place for everyone.”
“…Sometimes, though, the Curiosities make Miro feel lost and alone: they shriek and roar, and are so bright and overwhelming that he feels invisible. But perhaps Miro isn’t as alone as he thinks… and maybe the Curiosities have chosen other people as well. This gentle, heart-touching story from…”
“Coen is having a sniffling, sighing, sobbing kind of day. His family thinks they know how to cheer him up. His dad wants to go outside and play, Mom tells her funniest joke, and his little sister shares her favorite teddy. Nothing helps. But one by one, they get quiet and begin to listen. After some time, space, and reassurance, Coen is able to show them what he needs.”
“After something bad happens, a boy feels sad and gray. Mom and Aunt Cheryl try to talk about it, but he feels like running away. So he picks up a shovel and starts digging a tunnel from his room, deep down and into the backyard. Out there, far from the lights of the house, it’s dark enough that he could disappear. But the quiet distance also gives him the space he needs to see his family’s love and start returning home…”
“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. A heart-warming…”
“Lily and her grandmother search for ten beautiful things as they take a long car ride to Iowa and Lily’s new home with Gran. At first, Lily sees nothing beautiful in the April slush and cloudy sky…A furious rainstorm mirrors Lily’s anxiety, but as it clears Lily discovers the tenth beautiful thing: Lily and Gran and their love for each other.”
Butterfly Wings: A Hopeful Story About Climate Anxiety
“An honest exploration of climate anxiety, for kids 8+ and the adults who love them. When ten-year-old Florent overhears his mothers discussing the possibility of having another baby—and expressing their reluctance due to fears about the planet—his mind races off into a spiral of fear and guilt. Is the planet suffering because there are too many children—children like him? Do his parents think they made a mistake by bringing him into the world?…”
Let us know your favourite books about Anxiety in the comments! We would love to find more books to help our fellow little anxious alligators to build resilience, coping strategies, and affirmation that they are definitely not alone.
Inclusive Story Time 