Books That Can Help Children Manage Their Anxiety
Anxiety disorders in children are not uncommon; in fact, some studies indicate that as many as 1 in 8 children experience anxiety that impedes their social, personal and academic functioning.
Children with anxiety disorders will often try to avoid situations they perceive as threatening or in which they worry they might fail. Because of this, they are likely to miss out on important experiences, and may have hard time forming friendships, and suffer academically.
If your child is struggling with anxiety or stress, it is best to seek services early. You might also find the following children’s books, which address anxiety, stress, and accompanying emotions, may help them understand their anxiety and give them strategies for dealing with their day-to-day challenges.
Book suggestions
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook, a former school counselor and teacher. Wilma worries about everything. Her teacher helps her figure out which things she can control and which things she can’t, and provides her with some strategies for handling her feelings. Recommended for grades 2-5.
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What to Do Guides for Kids) by
David and the Worry Beast: Helping Children Cope with Anxietyby
“Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between.”
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes is good first-day-of-school book for children ages 4-8. Wemberly was very worried about her first day of school until she got there and met someone a lot like herself and came to realize that school was fun.
If you have concerns about your child, you can arrange a free 30-minute Care Consultation to explore options with an expert. We invite you to call or email our Care Managers at 650.688.3625 or to set up an initial Parent Consultation appointment.
Copyright © 2026, Cynthia Klein, All rights reserved. Please contact Cynthia to use any of her blog post.
About Cynthia Klein
Cynthia Klein’s mission is to contribute to World Peace and building healthy family relationships is the place to begin. As a parenting expert for over 30 years, parents have learned from Cynthia how to communicate more effectively as an ally rather than an adversary. Her unique Family Harmony System teaches parents of 5 and older how to have open dialogue, solve problems together, support one another, and build mutual respect. Cynthia is the author of Ally Parenting and the video-based self-paced program Win, Win, Win, Parenting. She has presented over 700 talks and coached hundreds of parents privately towards greater family connection and harmony. To learn more about her services of coaching and speaking, contact Cynthia Klein at , visit her website at bridges2understanding.com.
