Books to help children understand and cope with anxiety

This book encourages little children to begin managing their emotions, with flaps to lift, tabs to slide and a wheel to explore what a worry is, and how to stop it growing too big. There are lovely illustrations on each page, and parents and carers can explore with children what their worries might be. You can learn more about sharing feelings and concerns with I Like to be Kind and Sometimes I am Angry.

Positive affirmations aren't just for adults – they can be for kids too, and can help to create confidence and self worth in the very young. Brimful of positivity, I Love Me! was written by Marvyn Harrison (who founded Dope Black Dads), and contains joyous statements for each day of the week. There's an engaging routine to prepare little children for nursery and school, and a fold-out ending with tips for carers and parents.

It is time for show and tell, and Rory is anxious because he doesn't have anything special to share with his class. But then Rory meets a worry tiger, who teaches him how to breathe deep and smell the jungle, stretch up to the monkeys high in the trees, and listen attentively to the animals around him. This engaging story turns simple mindful actions into a wonderful tale for small kids, and is perfect to share and read aloud. 

Young Albert feels nervous when he goes to his swimming lesson, but with imagination he can choose to be a brave mountain explorer, a genius engineer, an Antarctic submariner or a smart professor. This laugh out loud story is full of exciting possibilities, and is all about the joys of choosing your own future.

Erika has an incredible secret – she belongs to the Dream Defenders, a secret organisation that dispels your worries as you sleep! An emergency call comes from the team, so she dives into dream world and meets Chanda . . . Chanda has problems with confidence and a scary Doubt is taking over her dream. Can the Dream Defenders step in and help Chanda believe in herself, and rid herself of doubts?