Story books are such a valuable tool in helping children explore different social emotional learning concepts.  They are my first port of call when I am thinking about how to introduce a concept and to generate a discussion. Story books offer a safe space for children to explore their emotions and fears, providing them with relatable characters and empowering storylines.

From tales of brave adventurers facing their fears to heartwarming stories of friendship and self-acceptance, these books are more than mere entertainment; they serve as companions on a child’s journey towards emotional well-being.

Journey with me in this blog post as I delve into the world of story books about anxiety and worry that inspire courage and help children cope with worry and anxiety.

17 Heartfelt Story Books about Anxiety and Worry

1. The Worrysaurus – Rachel Bright and Chris Chatterton

This is a really gentle book that is a perfect starting point for discussing how anxiety feels in our body. It’s perfect for our young learners as it introduces vocabulary around that fluttery feeling we get when we are anxious.Whether their worries are big or small the lovely rhyming and soothing tone will be helpful for our youngest learners. (Do check out Wobblysaurus is you need a book that focuses on feeling nervous rather than worried)

2. The Don’t Worry Book – Todd Parr

Using his signature colorful illustrations that your preschoolers will love, Todd Parr is here to help our preschoolers see that worries come and go and that they can take control of their worries. We all worry sometimes; maybe it’s because of the dark or someone is being mean or things we see on TV; but Parr gives our young learners helpful strategies they can try. Like imagining themselves to be a superhero or talking to a loved one .

3. Wemberly Worried – Kevin Henkes

Wemberly is a kid that worries about everything from spilling her juice to whether she’ll find a friend at school. In this story Wenberly’s teacher introduces her to another nervous students and together they learn that there is too much fun to be had at school with a new friend to be worried. Your young learners will be encouraged to see how Wemberly overcomes her fears and show them that they too can overcome them!

4. The Very Hungry Worry Monsters – Lara Eide

The bright and engaging illustrations are a perfect way to get your young students talking about worries. The different Worry Monsters eat your worries away and make them disappear.

5. How Big are Your Worries Little Bear? – Jayneen Sanders

Little bear worries a lot. He worries about everything! With the help of Mama Bear, Little Bear learns that everyday worries and fears can be overcome. Included are discussion questions and extra ideas to help children manage anxiety.

6. The Huge Bag of Worries – Virginia Ironside

This classic book about worries introduces us to Jenny and her big blue bag of worries that follows her. They are there when she goes swimming, watches TV and even when she goes to the bathroom! This book helps children identify their worried feelings and offers concrete strategies to help them manage them. By having a designated ‘worry time’, children are encouraged to let go of their worries for the rest of the day. 

7. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes – Todd Parr

Todd Parr just had a knack for reminding children to embrace differences, to be thankful, to try new things, to love each other and themselves. In this book, It’s Okay to Make Mistakes, he embraces life’s happy mistakes, mess-ups and accidents and shows how they can lead to self discovery. Parr’s signature illustrations encourage us to take chances, try new things and embrace life, mistakes and all.

8. Saturday is Swimming Day – Hyewon Yum 

This charming book about starting something new, tells the story of a little girl who gets stomach aches before her swimming lessons on Saturdays. Slowly and with support from her swimming instructor, she goes from sitting on the edge to moving into the water to practicing her kicks. As the weeks pass, her confidence grows until one Saturday comes around and she no longer has a stomach ache at all! Author-illustrator Hyewon Yum shows that sometimes a little bravery and a lot of patience are all you need to face your fear.

9. The Whatifs – Emily Kilgore & Zoe Persico

The Whatifs are sneaky little creatures that make Cora worry about every little thing. Like what if my crayon breaks or what if my dog runs away?

In this story, Cora is plagued with the Whatif worries when her best friend Stella reminds her that not all Whatifs are negative, and that she has the power to turn them around, even when she hits the wrong note. This picture book is a perfect way to reassure our young learners that they can thrive even when the Whatifs loom!

10. Brave Every Day – Patrice Barton

Camila just wants to hide. It’s what she does best when she worries. She worries a lot … the what ifs … I can’t and I’m scared!

When a class trip to the aquarium is organized, Camila worries pile up like never before, but when an anxious classmate asks for help Camila discovers she is stronger than she thinks.

From social-emotional learning expert Trudy Ludwig and award-winning picture book illustrator Patrice Barton (co-creators of The Invisible Boy) this story will encourage readers to face their own fears.

11. Wilma Jean the Worry Machines- Julia Cook & Anita Dufalla

Wilma Jean worries so much she wakes up feeling ill, with so many scenarios spitting out of her head! This book will help students with fears and anxieties know that they are not alone! Luckily for Wilma Jean, she shares her worries with the adults in her life who care for her and they provide her with some strategies she can use to manage those fears and anxieties. From dividing things into what she can and can’t control to picking a “worry hat” that she can take on and off as a reminder that she can leave her worries behind.

12. The Worry Box – Suzanne Chiew

This is a perfect book to help little ones dealing with anxiety or feeling nervous about something. Murray Bear has lots of worries and the whatifs take over sometimes! What is the waterfall is too loud? What if he’s not good at climbing? What if his friends laugh at him?

Murray’s sister Milly tells him all about making a Worry Box where he could keep all his worries. But will it help? You’re going to have to read it to find out 🙂

13. Me and My Fear by Frencesca Sanna

This empowering story is about a little girl who has a tiny friend called Fear that grows bigger when the little girl’s family move to a new country. With every uncertainty and confusion, Fear gets bigger and bigger and even tries to get her to change the way she views the world. Luckily, the little girl sees past Fear and finds a friend. By talking about her fear, she was able to see everyone has fear and that talking about it helps overcome them.

14. When Worry Takes Hold – Liz Haske & InSong Nam

Worry has a way of sneaking into Maya’s mind and grows bigger and bigger, shadowing everything she does.This metaphorical story about dealing with worry shows the reader how Maya learns belly breathing and discovers she can summon Courage, which helps her overcome her worries. 

15. After the Fall – Dan Santat

In this inventive nursery rhyme remix, we get to find out about Humpty Dumpty’s life after the fall. It speaks of Humptey’s fear of heights and how he overcomes his fear and the exhilaration that comes of mastering it. 

16. Hey Warrior – Karen Young

This book is geared towards 5 -12 year olds and explains what anxiety is, where it comes from, why it feels the way it does and where the physical symptoms come from. Being able to understand anxiety is a powerful step in empowering children!

17. Don’t Worry Little Crab – Chris Haughton

Very Big Crab and Little Crab live in a rock pool above the sea. Today they decide to go for a dip in the sea and Little Crab is excited but a little apprehensive about getting in. With the help of Very Big Crab, Little Crab takes his time to build the courage to try something new with the encouragement of Very Big Crab.

Conclusion: The lasting impact of story books about anxiety and worry on children’s emotional well-being

Storybooks have the power to shape children’s emotional well-being by providing them with relatable characters, empowering narratives, and valuable life lessons. 

By using story books effectively, we can create a supportive environment where children can explore their emotions, find the courage to overcome their anxieties, and develop resilience. The role of illustrations further enhances the storytelling experience, making it easier for children to connect with the characters and their emotions.

The power of reading storybooks is undeniable. By embracing this power, we can help our students find solace, gain courage, and learn valuable life lessons that will empower them.

Further Reading:

💖 Dealing with Anxiety & Worry: 15 Effective Ways to Help Preschoolers Thrive

💖 How to Build a Strong Emotional Foundation by Teaching Preschoolers Emotions

💖 50 Beautiful Social Emotional Development in Early Childhood Books