Following the story of a pixie that can only say true things (unsurprisingly), this story looks at how anxiety-inducing, but ultimately necessary, it can be to face up to the truth. Matt Haig has written about depression, anxiety and other mental illness in his adult books, but The Truth Pixie translates these concepts into a fun, rhyming story that young readers can understand. The Lion Inside is the ideal book for children who are anxious about speaking up. The Lion Inside by Rachael BrightĪ great read for kids who feel a bit too small, this story about a brave mouse finding his voice is a fantastic way to approach the idea of courage taking different forms. This picture book is a great resource for when anxiety affects the whole family. In this book for parents of very anxious young children, the main character William deals with attachment disorder following traumatic experiences in his early life.

William Wobbly and the Very Bad Day by Sarah Naish It’s also a useful resource for any adults who want to find ways to support their anxious tween. Outsmarting Worry by Dawn HuebnerĪimed at ages 9–13, this manual for dealing with anxiety and worry is invaluable to any kid who often finds themself caught in an anxiety spiral. Written by an author who worked with kids who deal with mental illness, this teen novel takes a frank look at the effects of severe anxiety and OCD. Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourneįirst in a trilogy about three fantastic, feminist friends, Am I Normal Yet? follows Evie, a teenager attempting to live a “normal” life in the face of her ongoing struggle with OCD. To move forwards and thrive, Tiffany has to learn to manage the grief, stress and anxiety that she is experiencing. Tiffany is recovering from the death of her mother, and has to leave the town she’s lived in all her life to move in with her estranged father. One for older children, this story deals with grief, loss, and complex family relationships.

Young readers will learn that “What if?” doesn’t have to be a scary question.

Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster by Michelle Nelsonīy turning worries into a (quite cute and cuddly) creature, Michelle Nelson’s book helps children identify their worries as being just thoughts, rather than a reality. When My Worries Get Too Big by Kari Dunn BuronĪnother nonfiction book for young kids, this one focuses on relaxation techniques that children can learn so that episodes of anxiety or nervousness don’t derail their entire day.

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