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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What If Marty Doesn't Like My Party?
Arthur, Katie
Henry's big sister helps to turn his worries around with brighter what-ifs in this loving sibling story Henry's birthday party is approaching, and the most exciting part is that Marty, the coolest kid in Henry's class, is coming! Everybody wants Marty at their party. But as Henry lies...

Picture Book (Age 4-8)

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)

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)

This cookie will change your life
Ellis, Ann Dee
Paper Book
Do you love cookies? Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? This novel is for you. It's the summer after sixth grade when a group of classmates turn up at the library at the same time. They know each other, but they're not friends. The truth is, they each spend a lot...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

Millie of the manor
Evans, Karina
Clue meets The Baby-Sitters Club in this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Kayla Miller and Terri Libenson. Amy has always loved a good mystery. So when her classmate Reagan invites her to a murder-mystery-themed birthday party, she ...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Good boy
Hirsch, Andy
Paper Book
"Hilarious and heartfelt." --Megan Wagner Lloyd, author of Allergic Good Boy is a graphic novel about a boy named Charlie and his rescue dog, Ralph. Together, they take on agility course training--but do they have what it takes to compete? Charlie's...

Children's Graphic Novel (Grades 3-5)

Ain't it funny
Gurevich, Margaret
Paper Book
For fans of Stand Up, Yumi Chung! and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes an honest and heartfelt novel about a girl who's determined not to let her growing anxiety and OCD hold her back from using stand-up comedy to bring her parents back together. ...

Young Teen Fiction (Grades 5-7)

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...

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)

Asking for a friend
Riley, Ronnie
Paper Book
Eden Jones has exactly three friends. And they're all fake. From a web of lies and anxiety to true friendship and queer joy; this is the wonderful second book from the author of the Indies Introduce and Indie Next List pick, Jude Saves the World. Why go through...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (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)

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)

Sink or swim
Durfey-Lavoie, Lee
Paper Book
Summer is here! School's out, the pool is open, and new adventures with friends await! But what happens when twelve year old Ty's anxiety has other plans? From the world of Just Roll With It comes a boy-centric graphic novel about accepting yourself even when it's a little scary.<...

Young Teen Graphic Novel (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
Todd, Jonathan
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)

The magical science of feelingsTrain Your Amazing Brain to Quiet Anger, Soothe Sadness, Calm Worry, and Share Joy
Daily, Jen
Paper Book
Clinical social worker Jen Daily helps kids understand the science behind feelings, taking them on a lively tour of the brain to see where anger, anxiety, sadness, and joy start, and offering activities for calming emotions.  Where do feelings come from?...

Parenting Book (Age 4-8)

Mama moon : a story about love and mental health
Grigni, Noah
Paper Book
Deeply felt and beautifully told, Mama Moon is the story of a child who muses that their mother is like the moon--ever changing, sometimes blue, sometimes bright. Mama loves warm summers, and eating cherries while stargazing with Baba and...

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)

Worries big and small : a child's guide to talking about feelings
Wilson, Hannah (Editor)
Paper Book
A reassuring book to help children build coping skills and resilience, Worries Big and Small is packed with short questions and answers about potential worries, giving kids practical strategies for dealing with tricky situations. With topics including school, visiting friends, performing, and going...

Parenting Book (Age 4-8)


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