Children's Books About... Feeling Afraid or Anxious

These books are on the shelves of the Dorothy Henry Branch in Vernon, NJ. It will be updated as frequently as possible to ensure that the titles offered are either still on the shelves, or in some cases, up to date.

Updated February 24, 2025
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Way past worried /
Adelman, Hallee,
Paper Book
Sometimes being worried can keep you from having fun. 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...
The Great Zapfino
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
From two bestselling and beloved creators comes a sweet and inspiring picture book about a runaway circus performer who learns to face his fears and follow his heart. When The Great Zapfino climbs to the top of the circus platform, all eyes are on him, waiting for his incredible...
A polar bear in the snow
Barnett, Mac
Paper Book
A majestic polar bear heads out on a mysterious walk in a dazzling, playful collaboration from an exciting pair of picture-book creators. Follow a magnificent polar bear through a fantastic world of snow and shockingly blue sea. Over the ice, through the water, past Arctic...
Just like Millie
Castillo, Lauren
Ramona the brave
Cleary, Beverly.
Paper Book
Newbery Medal-winning author Beverly Cleary lovingly chronicles the ups and downs of elementary school woes. This is perfect for fans of Clementine.  For a girl as enthusiastic about life as Ramona, starting the first grade should be easy! But with a teacher who doesn't understand her...
The worry monster :
Cook-Cottone, Catherine P.,
Paper Book
Give kids tools to calm their inner worry monster with this interactive, vibrantly illustrated book! Tried-and-true methods from a child pscyhologist will have little ones mindfully breathing, practicing gratitude, and gracefully surfing their worry waves. "We all have a worry...
Lawrence & Sophia /
Cronin, Doreen.
Paper Book
By the author of Click, Clack, Moo and the illustrator of The Lost House, here is an utterly endearing story about venturing out of your comfort zone and overcoming anxiety to help a friend. Lawrence stays close to home because "out there" is too big and loud....
Llama Llama misses Mama /
Dewdney, Anna.
Paper Book
Strange new teacher. Strange new toys. Lots of kids and lots of noise! What would Llama like to do? Llama Llama feels so new . . . It's Llama Llama's first day of preschool! And Llama Llama's mama makes sure he's ready. They meet the teachers. See the...
Francine Poulet meets the ghost raccoon /
DiCamillo, Kate
Paper Book
Deckawoo Drive's intrepid animal control officer meets her match--or does she? A funny, heartfelt, and fast-paced romp from Kate DiCamillo. Francine Poulet is the greatest animal control officer in Gizzford County. She hails from a long line of animal control officers. She's...
Franklin Endicott and the third key
DiCamillo, Kate
Paper Book
The latest tale from Deckawoo Drive--and New York Times best-selling creators Kate DiCamillo and Chris Van Dusen--is a balm for young worrywarts facing the unknown. Welcome back to Deckawoo Drive for a sixth endearing installment in the companion series to Kate DiCamillo's...
Mrs. Barr has gone too far!
Gutman, Dan
Paper Book
With more than 30 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! In this ninth book in the My Weirder-est School arc, A.J. and his friends learn some new, exciting facts about geography from a world traveler. No need to pack your bags for this trip! After noticing...
Don't worry, little crab
Haughton, Chris
Paper Book
From the multi award-winning picture book maker of A Bit Lost, Oh No, George!, Shh! We Have a Plan and Goodnight Everyone comes a bold new picture book about building up the courage to try something new. In the rockpool above the sea, live two crabs: Big Crab and Little Crab. Today, they're going...
Shona finds her voice
Kessler, Liz
Paper Book
With her best friend's help, can mermaid Shona get up the nerve to share her singing talents at school? A new reader for younger fans based on the New York Times best-selling Emily Windsnap novels. Emily Windsnap's best friend, Shona Silkfin, is a mermaid who loves to sing...
The skull :
Klassen, Jon
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! A Kirkus Book Prize Finalist! A New York Times Best Children's Chapter Book the Year A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of the Year Caldecott Medalist and New York Times best-selling author...
The haunting /
Lasky, Kathryn
Paper Book
Newbery Honor-winning Kathryn Lasky, author of the bestselling Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Bears of Ice series, delivers a sweeping middle grade animal adventure with loyal beavers, a cultured swan, and ominous lynxes around every turn--a captivating story about heroism, loyalty, and the courage to...
Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Look, Lenore.
Ebook
The first book in a hilarious chapter book series that tackles anxiety in a fun, kid-friendly way. Perfect for both beginning and reluctant readers, and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid! A humorous and touching series about facing your fears and embracing new experiences--with a...
Karen's school picture
Martin, Ann M.,
Paper Book
Another graphic novel in this fun series spin-off of The Baby-sitters Club, featuring Kristy's little stepsister! Karen has to get glasses! She doesn't want them, especially because school pictures are going to be taken soon. But she picks out some pretty pink ones and thinks she looks...
Stacey's mistake
Martin, Ann M.,
Paper Book
A Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by National Book Award longlister and Eisner-nominated cartoonist Ellen T. Crenshaw! Stacey is so excited! Her friends from The Baby-sitters Club are coming to New York City for a long weekend. It's going to be perfect -- a party and a sleepover on...
Stink and the hairy, scary spider /
McDonald, Megan
Paper Book
Stink's spider phobia spurs his sister, Judy, and friend Webster to try some desensitization techniques--until a real-life encounter takes them by surprise--in a hilarious episode offering a bonus origami activity. Creepy! Crawly! Criminy! Everyone knows that Stink is...
I'm not scared, you're scared! /
Meyers, Seth,
Paper Book
From the incomparable host of "Late Night with Seth Meyers" comes a hilarious new picture book. When you're a bear who is easily scared, it's hard to have friends. Fortunately, Bear has one: Rabbit, who is very brave. One day, Rabbit urges Bear to face his fears and...
Camp prodigy
Palmer, Caroline
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson and Raina Telgemeier, this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel follows two nonbinary kids who navigate anxiety and identity while having fun and forming friendships at their summer orchestra camp. After attending an incredible concert,...
The Ickabog /
Rowling, J. K.
Paper Book
From J.K. Rowling, a warm, fast-paced, funny fairy tale of a fearsome monster, thrilling adventure, and hope against all odds. Once upon a time there was a tiny kingdom called Cornucopia, as rich in happiness as it was in gold, and famous for its food. From the delicate cream cheeses of Kurdsburg...
Flying lessons /
Runton, Andy.
Paper Book
Facing fears can be scary... Owly and Wormy love making new friends, and when they spot an unfamiliar animal flying through the trees, they can't wait to meet her! Unfortunately, Shadow the flying squirrel doesn't want to be friends with Owly because she's afraid of him. Wormy tries to...
Owly :
Runton, Andy.
Paper Book
Owly, the little owl with a heart of gold, returns for another forest adventure in this Eisner-winning series about friendship! For Owly and Wormy, nothing beats the power of friendship! But fear can be a powerful force, too. There's a new visitor to the forest, an opossum who's misunderstood...
Salat In Secret
Thompkins-Bigelow, Jamilah.
Paper Book
Scaredy Squirrel at night
Watt, Mélanie
Ebook
Scaredy Squirrel
Watt, Mélanie
Ebook
Love waves /
Wells, Rosemary
Paper Book
How to comfort a young child who misses a special person when he or she is away? A treasured picturebook creator has the perfect solution. Love Waves are what we send to our loved ones until we can be together again. Invisible and strong, they can fly across town or around the...
The pigeon has to go to school! /
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Mo Willems, #1 New York Times best-selling creator and three-time Caldecott Honoree, presents everyone's favorite Pigeon trying to escape . . . SCHOOL.   Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn't like it? What if the...
Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the whole world /
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
A TERRIFICALLY TERRIFYING TALE! Sam is afraid of anything and everything-except for his friend Leonardo, the terrible monster. Kerry is afraid of everything and anything-except for her friend Frankenthaler, the other monster. ...
What about worms!? /
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor award winner! From #1 New York Times best-selling author Ryan T. Higgins comes the next addition to the Elephant & Piggie Like Reading series, perfect bedtime, classrooms, readalouds, and any time you'd like a good laugh. Tiger is...
The year we learned to fly /
Woodson, Jacqueline
Paper Book
Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López's highly anticipated companion to their #1 New York Times bestseller The Day You Begin illuminates the power in each of us to face challenges with confidence. On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their...

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