Mental Health Awareness Month: Fiction and Nonfiction Reads for Kids

Updated April 28, 2026
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Lewis and Clark Library Lewis and Clark Public Library
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Mental Health Awareness Month: Fiction and Nonfiction Reads for Kids

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All birds have anxiety
Hoopmann, Kathy
Ebook
Life as a bird can be stressful! From worrying about airplanes, windows, and getting enough worms to eat, it is clear that birds can be anxious beings. Through a light-touch, quizzical depiction of bird behaviour, All Birds Have Anxiety uses colourful images and astute explanations to explore...
Breakout
Wyman, Christina
"The next great middle grade author." --Colby Sharp, literacy advocate From the USA Today-bestselling author of Jawbreaker and Slouch, Breakout is a fresh and funny middle-grade novel about a girl with chronic acne figuring out how to feel good...
The care & keeping of you. 2, The #1 body book for older girls
Natterson, Cara
Paper Book
This thoughtful advice book will guide you through the next steps of growing up. With illustrations and expert contributors, this book covers new questions about periods, your growing body, peer pressure, personal care, and more! Written by Dr. Cara Natterson for girls 10 and up, The Care & Keeping...
Fifty-four things wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers
Carter, Caela
Ebook
From the critically acclaimed author of the ALA Notable and Charlotte Huck Honor Book Forever, or a Long, Long Time comes a moving own-voices story that shines a light on how one girl's learning differences are neither right nor wrong...just perfectly individual. For fans of Alyson Gerber,...
Giraffes can't dance
Andreae, Giles
Paper Book
Gerald the giraffe longs to dance but his knees seem to buckle whenever he tries to twirl. Will he learn to sway to his own sweet tune? Find out in this gentle ode to dancing to the beat of your own drum. Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who...
The girl who never made mistakes
Pett, Mark.
Ebook
Every student, teacher, and perfectionist needs to read this book about learning and growing from your mistakes! The perfect introduction to growth mindset, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is: A growth mindset book for kids A teacher must-have for classrooms An...
Growing Pangs
Ormsbee, Kathryn
Paper Book
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A PARENTS MAGAZINE BEST BOOK Inspired by a true story! Eleven-year old homeschooled Katie has always felt different . . . and now she can't stop worrying.  Introducing an irresistibly relatable graphic novel about friendship,...
A Guide to Grief
Imperi, Cole
Paper Book
This book is the wise and compassionate friend you need when you experience grief and loss. Everyone faces loss, and everyone grieves. But grief is as unique as a thumbprint - not everyone grieves the same losses or in the same way. This can feel lonely and isolating, especially when people don't...
Guts
Telgemeier, Raina
Paper Book
A true story from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts!Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina...
How to talk to your succulent
Persico, Zoe
Paper Book
Eleven-year-old Adara and her dad are moving from California to the cold and flat lands of Michigan . . . and it sucks. After Mom's recent passing, it seems way too soon. Talking to Dad has always been harder than with Mom, but now it's like walking on eggshells. And why did Dad bring so many of Mom...
Hummingbird's Big Trip
Karas, G Brian
Paper Book
This triumphant story about a nervous hummingbird who faces his fears of migrating will remind readers that even the biggest challenges can be overcome through perseverance, courage, and self-confidence. Hummingbirds love summertime, flying and having fun! But when the days get...
Judy Moody was in a mood. Not a good mood. A bad mood
McDonald, Megan
Paper Book
Any kid who's ever been in a bad mood will relate to the feisty, funny, ever-changing Judy Moody. To start, Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. Her new desk won't have an armadillo sticker with her name on it. Her new classroom will not have a porcupine named...
A kids book about anxiety
Szabo, Ross
Ebook
One of the titles in the best-selling A Kids Book About series that introduces important and relevant topics. An honest exploration of the symptoms of anxiety and what learning to manage it can look like. This is a book about anxiety. Having anxiety...
Louder than hunger
Schu, John
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book "Every so often a book comes along that is so brave and necessary, it extends a lifeline when it's needed most. This is one of those books." --Katherine Applegate, author of the Newbery Medal-winning,...
Meditate with me : a step-by-step mindfulness journey
Gates, Mariam
Paper Book
This accessible and fun guide to meditation and mindfulness is the perfect introduction for young children Meditation does a body good, and can even help kids as young as four or five. This practical guide is gentle, clear, and a pleasure to use. Kids will learn how to focus on their...
Mockingbird (Mok'ing-b© rd)
Erskine, Kathryn.
Paper Book
In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with...
Out of a Jar
Marcero, Deborah
Paper Book
This highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed and bestselling picture book In a Jar stars one little bunny dealing with some very big feelings. Llewellyn does not like to feel afraid or sad, angry, lonely, or embarrassed. And so he comes up with a brilliant...
Peaceful like a panda : 30 mindful moments for playtime, mealtime, bedtime-or anytime!
Willey, Kira
Ebook
From the author of BREATHE LIKE A BEAR comes a new collection of Mindful Moments! These easy-to-follow exercises help kids calmly and mindfully navigate their day, from sunrise to sunset. With sections dedicated to key activities in a child's routine--waking up, traveling,...
Rosetown
Rylant, Cynthia
Paper Book
From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant comes the charming story of nine-year-old Flora Smallwood and the eventful year she spends in the quiet community of Rosetown, Indiana. For nine-year-old Flora Smallwood, Rosetown, Indiana, is full of surprises, many of the best of which...
Someone's gonna end up crying
Knowles, Johanna
Paper Book
In this authentic and heartfelt middle-grade novel, Maple uses her artwork to help sort through sibling relationships, school drama, and her parents' increasingly fraught marriage. Ten-year-old Maple can't wait for summer: No more math! Adventures with her friends! Best of all,...
The summer of June
Sumner, Jamie
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Tune It Out and Roll with It comes a "needed, hopeful" (Booklist) middle grade book about a young girl who sets out to overcome her anxiety over the course of one life-changing summer. Twelve-year-old June Delancey is kicking...
Weirdo
Weaver, Tony, Jr
Paper Book
"A touching story of belonging." -- Publisher's Weekly, starred review"Honest, hopeful.." --Kirkus, starred review A Kirkus Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly<...
Wombat Waiting
Applegate, Katherine
Paper Book
An Indie Next pick! From the Newbery Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan and Odder comes a stunning middle grade standalone novel-in-verse about compassion, resilience, and surprising friendships, following a dog named...
The Worried Book
Pearlstein, Howard
Paper Book
A hilariously honest and heartwarming story about anxiety, self-doubt, and the power of positive thinking, The Worried Book shows young readers that it's OK to worry--what matters is how we respond. The Worried Book is having a bit of a meltdown. "Hi, I can't...
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