Children's Book Suggestions | Mental Health Awareness Month

A few of our favorite books about mental health published in 2024 and 2025. For more book ideas, search the library catalog for a specific topic such as anxiety, depression, etc.

Updated January 30, 2026
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Nellie's Big Splash
Doerrfeld, Cori
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Rabbit Listened, an unforgettable story of being brave and jumping into new experiences When Nellie the sea turtle hatched, she was on a beach surrounded by lots of her brothers and sisters. Soon all the other...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

What's scarier than thunder?
Falcone, Ben
Paper Book
For fans of I'm Not Scared, You're Scared, comes a hilarious picture book about using humor to combat fear, from actor and director Ben Falcone. It's time for bed, but Claire can't fall asleep. There's a storm outside, and the thunder is so loud and scary! Good thing her...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Bear feels sad
Wilson, Karma
Paper Book
Bear has the lonely day blues waiting for his friends to have free time in this new picture book in the bestselling series. Bear feels sad. All his friends are off being busy and he's by himself. He can't think of anything to do to cheer himself up. Even building a fort is no fun...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Bulldozer's big rescue
Broach, Elise
Paper Book
From the award-winning team who created Masterpiece comes a charming chapter book about a young bulldozer who is nervous about making friends and starting school. ★ "Broach and Murphy rev up for a promising new series.... ...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

Invisible Isabel
Pla, Sally J.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Sally J. Pla comes an illustrated middle grade novel about introverted Isabel Beane, who learns to speak up to quiet her worries. This thoughtful, earnest story is perfect for fans of Elana K. Arnold and Leslie Connor. Isabel Beane is a shy girl who lives in a...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Millie of the manor
Evans, Karina
Ebook

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Good boy
Hirsch, Andy
Paper Book
"Hilarious and heartfelt." --Megan Wagner Lloyd, author of Allergic Charlie is an anxious kid. Ralph is an unpredictable rescue dog. Do they have what it takes to win on the agility course? Charlie's life is a series of obstacles, not least of which...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Popcorn
Harrell, Rob
Paper Book
Winner of The Schneider Family Book Award The beloved author of Wink is back with a hilarious and moving story about coping with anxiety on a day when everything is going wrong Andrew's just trying to make it through Picture Day, which is easier said...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Dinner at the Brake Fast
Lute, Renee Beauregard
Paper Book
Dinner at the Brake Fast is a hilarious and heartfelt story about road-trip mishaps, a murderous rooster, facing down anxieties, and unexpected friendship that is a must-pick for readers who loved The Science of Unbreakable Things and The First Rule of Punk. Tacoma Jones loves working at...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

The reel wish
Méndez, Yamile Saied
Paper Book
After a panic attack prevents Florencia from performing as Clara in The Nutcracker and her best friend takes the lead, a new dance style helps her face her anxiety as well as a troubled friendship. Ballet is Florencia del Lago's entire world. After years of hard work, she is...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

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,...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Puzzled : a memoir of growing up with OCD
Cooke, Pan
Paper Book
Growing up with undiagnosed OCD sure isn't easy, and here Pan Cooke shares his own experiences with that condition in a graphic-novel memoir that is as funny as it is powerfully candid and openhearted. Pan Cooke is ten years old when anxious thoughts begin to take over his brain...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

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's...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Timid : a graphic novel
Todd, Jonathan (Graphic novelist)
Paper Book
A semiautobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about frenemies, fitting in, and finding your voice.Cecil Hall and his family have just moved from Florida to Massachusetts, near Boston. Cecil is anxious about making friends because he doesn't know where he'll fit in. His older sister, Leah,...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (Grades 5-7)

Missing Momma
Bingham, Winsome
Paper Book
A tender picture book about a veteran's PTSD and a family's love for each other--on good days and hard days--from award-winning creators Winsome Bingham and Rahele Jomepour Bell Momma wears combat boots, a camouflage jacket, and a U.S. ARMY tag on her chest. She is a fighter...

Parenting Book (Age 4-8)

My thoughts have wings
Smith, Maggie
Paper Book
Maggie Smith, bestselling author of the viral poem "Good Bones" and the memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, delivers a lyrical and reassuring picture book perfect for calming active minds at bedtime (or anytime). A Today Show Spring Pick! At bedtime, when lights go out.....

Parenting Book (Age 4-8)


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