Difficult Topics for Kids: Anxiety and Mental Health

Sometimes we have to learn about difficult things like anxiety and mental health. This list of books can help us start the conversation.

Updated October 28, 2025
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Malik's number thoughts : a story about OCD
Rompella, Natalie
Paper Book
A determined boy learns to manage his OCD. Malik's obsessive-compulsive disorder means his brain wants him to do everything on the count of four. When he's invited to a mini golf birthday party, Malik is excited. But he worries about his Number Thoughts. If he has to take four tries...
Pocket full of sads
Davidson, Bradley Justin
Paper Book
A uniquely humorous approach to sadness, this picture book helps kids understand this big, heavy feeling while encouraging mindfulness and exploring what it means to be a good friend. Rabbit is SO excited to go fishing with Bear. But Bear's not feeling up to it. . . . He's...
Ruby finds a Worry
Percival, Tom
Paper Book
What do you do when a worry won't leave you alone? This beloved picture book from the Big Bright Feelings series is perfect for reassuring young readers in times of stress. Meet Ruby-a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry. It's...
The worry tiger
Page, Alexandra
Paper Book
A mindful, anti-anxiety storybook that weaves calming actions into a magical story, showing young children ways to soothe their worries. It's show-and-tell tomorrow and Rory is anxious - he doesn't have anything special to share with the class. But everything changes when Rory...
The worrying worries
Rooney, Rachel
Paper Book
After the fall : how Humpty Dumpty got back up again
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 UKLA BOOK AWARD After the fall, Humpty Dumpty is a broken egg. Life is tough: he's so afraid of heights, he can't even bear to climb onto his bed, or reach his favourite cereal on the top shelf at the supermarket. But one day, fuelled by his passion for bird...

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