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)

Just kitten around
Burgos, Hilda Eunice
Paper Book
In the Heights meets Front Desk in this heartwarming and funny illustrated story about the friendship between a bodega owner's anxious kid and her newly-adopted mischievous kitten. Everyone thinks Yesenia is calm, collected, and crushing it. But really, her...

Children's Fiction (Grades 3-5)

Maple's theory of fun
McMillan, Kate
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Emmie & Friends, this first book in a diary-style illustrated middle grade series follows an anxious, science-minded sixth grader determined to become fun and win back her friend. Sixth grade has been pretty disaster-free for aspiring...

Children's Fiction (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)

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...

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)

Olive Blackwood takes action!
Thomas, Sonja (Children's author)
Paper Book
An anxious aspiring filmmaker bands together with an unlikely friend group to protect their beloved state animal in this "stirring" (Booklist) contemporary middle grade novel perfect for fans of Jamie Sumner and Erin Entrada Kelly. Twelve-year-old Olive Blackwood's dream...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

How to talk to your succulent
Persico, Zoe
Paper Book
After the loss of her mother, Adara struggles to communicate with her family about her grief. When a sympathetic ear arises in an unlikely place, Adara can finally find her words -- but can she find the time to listen? A stunning graphic novel for middle-grade readers about family, friendship and...

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)

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...

Parenting Book (Age 4-8)


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