Bibliotherapy Prescription: Picture Books for Anxiety

Anxiety is increasingly prevalent in young children, with about 9.4 percent of children having an anxiety diagnosis, according to the CDC. For young children, symptoms of anxiety might look like an increase in crying or tantrums, somatic symptoms, like an upset stomach or headache, difficulty sleeping, restlessness, irritability, or even school refusal. Childhood anxiety can be caused by anything from trauma to significant changes in the child’s life, like a big move to another state, bullying, or even genetics, biology, or family history.

Bibliotherapy can help children overcome anxiety by validating their feelings of worry and fear, normalizing the ways that anxiety functions through thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and modeling valuable skills for coping with anxiety in healthy ways (Montgomery P, Maunders K., 2015). Best of all, the characters in these stories will help your child to feel less alone in their struggle with anxiety.

Here are the top 10 picture books for young children struggling with anxiety.

1. It’s So Difficult by Raúl Nieto Guridi is a picture book that empathetically explores social anxiety and overstimulation. The story follows a child throughout the challenging routines of a single day, showing that even the smallest step forward can be an enormous triumph for children with anxiety. It’s a poignant look at the impact of anxiety and the courage it takes to navigate daily life.

2. My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain, winner of The Great British Baking Show and star of Nadiya's Time to Eat, is a sweet story about a boy who has a monster that follows him everywhere, sometimes becoming so big and angry that it overwhelms him. Offering a valuable metaphor for the often unpredictable symptoms of anxiety and panic, this book can spark a dialogue with your child about their own “worry monster.”

3. The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore is an excellent book that characterizes the anxious, catastrophizing ruminations that many children with anxiety experience but have difficulty expressing. The story unfolds as the main character gets a chance to re-frame her “what-ifs” into positive, helpful thoughts, an accessible example of cognitive restructuring (Curtiss, JE, et al., 2021).

4. This Will Pass by J. Donnini is a heartfelt story of a boy embarking upon a journey at sea with his beloved uncle. When storms come and the boy is afraid, his uncle teaches him a valuable mantra: “This will pass.” A powerful model of self-regulation and distress tolerance, this book will help your child feel strong to endure challenging moments in their life (Wright CD, et al, 2020).

5. Just a Thought by Jason Gruhl is an artfully-written book that encapsulates the principle of cognitive defusion, the ability to recognize and observe your thoughts at a distance, which has been shown to help reduce anxiety (Bennett MP, et al, 2021). By understanding that thoughts are not always facts, children can be empowered to take control of their cognitions, while letting go of thoughts that don’t serve them.

6. The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright is an adorable story about a little dinosaur who gets “butterflies” on his hike through the forest that cause him to spiral into panic. Modeling the use of positive coping strategies, like the dinosaur’s box of special things that make him feel happy, this story shows children how to work through moments of anxiety using helpful tools, including mindfulness which has been shown to reduce anxiety (Porter B, 2022).

7. A Friend for Yoga Bunny by Brian Russo offers children a sweet story about a bear who is nervous to be the center of attention, as well as practical yoga poses that they can do along with the characters as the story goes along. Teaching children the value of yoga and mindfulness for stress reduction, this book encourages children to embrace all of their emotions, even fear, and relax, knowing that feelings come and go.

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8. The Worry Balloon by Monica Mancillas is the story of a girl who begins to struggle with anxious thoughts and somatic symptoms. Using visualization, deep breathing, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, and exposure, she learns to stand up to her worries and take charge of her feelings, one moment at a time.

9. What Do You Say to a Dragon? by Lexi Young Peck is a great book for children who experience nightmares, a common symptom of anxiety in young children (Secrist, M. E., et al, 2018). For any child overcome with fear, this book can help them to get curious about their worries, and even muster up the courage to investigate what the worry is trying to tell them.

10. I’ll Always Come Back to You by Carmen Tafolla offers a sweet story for young children struggling with separation anxiety, one of the most common childhood anxiety disorders (Feriante J, et al., 2024). Reassuringly repeating the mantra, “I will always, always, always come back to you,” your child will likely revisit this book again and again as they work through their own separation fears.

Reading with your child is a great way to help them better manage their anxiety as you choose books that speak to their fears. If you’re concerned that your child might have an anxiety disorder, seek help from a professional for therapeutic support.