Feelings of anxiety booklist for parents and young children

Our new booklist for young children covers what it means to have feelings of anxiety. Share these books with your child to explore positive ways of coping with these emotions. We have also included some helpful titles for parents to help with supporting children. 

Sharing stories is a great way to explore challenging issues with children. Using gentle, age-appropriate picture books can help start conversations, encourage questions, reassure children that others have faced the same problems or give them a preview to an upcoming situation they may be worried about. 

Share these books with your child also helps discuss any questions or concerns they may have.

Please come in and chat with library staff any time to find more information and resources on this, or any other tricky topic, you want to know more about. 

Highlights from our booklist

Jack loves playing the trumpet but the worry about his first concert keeps growing in Jack’s worry, and Alfie’s mum helps him find a special place where it’s okay to feel shy at The underwater fancy-dress parade.

Whimsy deals with her worries one at a time in Whimsy’s heavy things, while William Worrydactyl and Worries are like clouds show children that everyone has worries, whether big or small. 

But what if?: a book about feeling worried follows Daisy’s move to a new house and new school, and includes a wordless storyboard encouraging children to tell another story. 

Stories about worry and anxiety

• The underwater fancy-dress parade by Davina Bell
• Max and worry by Kitty Black 
• The worrysaurus by Rachel Bright
• I feel... anxious by DJ Corchin
• The worry box by Suzanne Chiew
• A perfect pig by Katrin Dreiling
• Go away, worry monster! by Brooke Graham 
• But what if?: a book about feeling worried by Sue Graves
• What to do when you worry too much by Dawn Huebner
• Worries are like clouds by Shona Innes
• Whimsy’s heavy things by Julie Kraulis
• How it feels to be a boat by James Kwan
• It's OK to feel the way you do: otherwise you wouldn't be you! by Josh Langley
• I'm not (very) afraid of being alone by Anna Milbourne
• Charlie Star by Terry Milne
• William Worrydactyl by Brian Moses
• Take a breath by Sujean Rim
• Jack’s worry by Sam Zuppardi

Stories about worry and anxiety for parents and carers

• You and your anxious child: free your child from fears and worries and create a joyful family life by Anne Marie Albano
• Worry-proofing your anxious child by Bev Aisbett
• How to help your child with worry and anxiety : activities and conversations for parents to help their 4-11-year-old by Lauren Callaghan
• The opposite of worry: the playful parenting approach to childhood anxieties and fears by Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D
• Your anxious child: how parents and teachers can relieve anxiety in children by John S. Dacey
• The parents' guide to managing anxiety in children with autism by Raelene Dundon
• When the world feels like a scary place : essential conversations for anxious parents and worried kids by Abigail Gewirtz
• Anxious kids by Michael Grose and Dr. Jodi Richardson
• Calming your anxious child : words to say and things to do by Kathleen Trainor

More recommended reading

To view booklists on a variety of subjects, visit our booklists page.

See our Literacy and reading resources for families page to find the best reading recommendations, literacy advice and programs for your child.