Child Therapist’s List of Best Kid’s Books for Worries

Maybe your child is afraid of the dark. Afraid of the potty. Afraid to make friends.

You try to talk to them, but the conversation isn’t going far. You are not alone.

Children don’t always like to talk about their worries. So how are you supposed to help. The answer – read them books on worries – and lots of them.

Even the most tight lipped child will read books on worries and learn something new.

Books for worries help kids:

See they are not alone
Normalizes their fears
Gives them ways to think about their problems
Offers solutions

Okay, you are on board – but what books should you read? The more specific and relevant to your child’s worries – the better.

You want the book to resonate with your child’s particular issues. If they have to try too hard to put themselves into the character’s shoes – it isn’t going to help.

Here is a list of books for worries on various topics that I find the most helpful. I have organized them into worry categories – so you can find the right book for your child’s specific concerns.

(These books are affil. links – but I would never recommend any books I wouldn’t use in my own child therapy practice).

Books on General Worries

If your child worries about anything and everything,  you need a general book that will discuss how your child can conquer their worries in life.

Here is the best book on that topic:

What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety is one of my all time favorite books. In my child therapy practice this is one of my top recommendations when I am seeing an anxious child.

This book offers a perfect analogy to help kids understand their worries. Huebner also helps build skills to defeat those worries.

The best part about this book is that it is interactive. Huebner’s book is both a story and an activity book. Children will have an opportunity to draw and write throughout the book.

Dawn Huebner created another book on anxiety and OCD, called Outsmarting Worry, for kids who are a bit older, between the ages of 9 and 13. This book is much more comprehensive.

Dawn Huebner is one of my favorite children’s authors. She tackles not only anxiety issues, but other common childhood struggles as well. To see a complete list of her amazing books visit Dawn Huebner’s Amazon Page.

Wilma Jean the Worry Machine is the story of a girl who worries all the time. Readers enter the world of Wilma Jean and her worries. I would only recommend reading this book to children who have worries related to school and peer fears.

This is a good book if your child has those worries and does not communicate them. This book focuses more on others solving the child’s worries rather than the child solving her own worries. That is appropriate in some scenarios, but not in many other worry related issues.

I love Wilma Jean the Worry Machine Activity and Idea Book that goes along the book. The activity and idea book has loads of exercises and activities to help anxious children. 

Julia Cook is another one of those special children’s authors at the very top of my list. She has a wealth of children’s books on every emotional issue. She has such a talent for breaking down children’s issues in a simplistic and helpful way!

If you haven’t checked out Julia Cook’s huge collection of wonderful books visit – Julia Cook’s Amazon Page.

For books addressing very specific worries – here is a list broken down by topic:

Worry Book Written By a Child with Anxiety

Worries About the Dark

Worries at Bedtime

Worries about Going Potty

Worries Around Making Friends

Worries Around Perfectionism

Worries About Going to School

Worries Around Health Issues

Worries Around Dogs

Worries Around Sensory Related Issues

Worries Related to OCD:

Children with worries do far better when their parents learn how to help them with their worries.

Here are some parenting resources to help you parent your anxious child more effectively.

The absolute best parenting book on anxiety for older children is:

If you liked this article, don’t keep it to yourself! Share with others.

***

Additional Support

A teen support book on anxiety that your kid will actually read:

If you are at a loss as to how to help your child manage anxiety, take the e-course Teach Your Kids to Crush Anxiety taught by a child therapist. Learn all the tools she teaches kids and teach them to your child. You don’t have to feel powerless.

Visit Anxious Toddlers’s profile on Pinterest.