I am a children’s book creator and a parent. Raising an anxious child can be challenging. Events that many children find fun and exciting can be overwhelming and scary for your child. Seemingly small changes in their daily routine can throw some youngsters into a swirl of emotions that is upsetting to them and to those who love them. When I was searching for picture books to help the young worrier in my life, I looked for books that acknowledged their distressing feelings while giving them some strategies with which to cope with their overwhelming emotions. That premise became the theme of my Maud the Koala book series.
I wrote...
Much Too Much Birthday (Maud the Koala)
By
J.E. Morris
What is my book about?
Maud the Koala is excited. Today is her birthday and she is getting ready for her big party, after all, big birthdays are the best birthdays. Right? But Maud’s mother has some concerns when she discovers Maud invited 56 children to her backyard celebration. As the crowd builds, Maud starts feeling dizzy and slips behind a bush to find some peace and quiet. In the shrubbery, she finds Simon who is also overwhelmed by the hubbub. Slowly Maud and Simon reengage with the party at their own pace. Socially anxious children will relate to Maud and Simon as they realize big crowds aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Ruby Finds a Worry
By
Tom Percival
Why this book?
Ruby has a small worry, depicted as a small yellow blob, that follows her everywhere. When Ruby ignores her worry, it grows larger and crowds out her other thoughts. It isn’t until she faces her worry and talks about it with a friend that her worry starts to shrink and become manageable again. A simple to understand story that encourages children to face their troubling thoughts and to discuss their feelings.
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Lena's Shoes Are Nervous: A First-Day-Of-School Dilemma
By
Keith Calabrese,
Juana Medina
Why this book?
Lena isn’t worried about the first day of kindergarten - but her shoes are. In this clever story we see various parts of Lena’s wardrobe taking on various personalities, possibly mirroring parts of Lena’s own personality. Her outgoing blue dress is ready for a new adventure, her friendly headband wants everyone to work together, of course, her fearful footwear wants to stay home. But when Lena threatens to wear her slippers to school, will her shoes muster the courage to march forward? A creative and witty book about facing your fears.
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Jabari Jumps
By
Gaia Cornwall
Why this book?
Jabari has earned his swimming certificate, and now he is ready to jump off the diving board. Or is he? After letting the other kids go first and stopping to rest and stretch, Dad tells Jabari it’s ok to be scared. He tells him that sometimes that scary feeling can also feel “a little like a surprise” and Jabari likes surprises. I like how the author likens the negative feelings of worry and fear to the positive feelings of excitement and anticipation. Overall, a sweet father and son story about overcoming your anxieties.
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The Whatifs
By
Emily Kilgore,
Zoe Persico
Why this book?
Cora has a bad case of the whatifs, whimiscal bug-like creatures that follow her everywhere. They fill her head with worries like “what if the dog runs away?” or “what if I forget my homework?” The whatifs become almost unbearable as Cora prepares for her big piano recital. What if no one comes? What if she makes a mistake? But through the help of her friend, Cora learns there are also happy whatifs. A good introduction to replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
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Breathe Like a Bear
By
Kira Willey,
Anni Betts
Why this book?
While this book is a bit longer than a traditional picture book, the simple text and fun, colorful illustrations make it suitable to share with young children. Activities like “Hot Chocolate” and “Bear Breath” introduce simple breathing and stretching exercises. Pick a handful of favorites to practice when your child is feeling overwhelmed to help them find a sense of calm.
