Facing fears is something that we all struggle with. So how can we help kids to face theirs? This list of children’s books about fear and anxiety are the perfect way to open conversations about fear, and offer suggestions to help kids face their fears.

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Everything Will Be OK

Written by Anna Dewdney and illustrated by Judy Schachner

This beautiful book from the author of the Llama Llama series, follows a little bunny as he makes his way through a difficult day. Nothing seems to be going his way, and he struggles with worries both big and small. The rhyming text touches on all kinds of daily disappointments and fears that kids will recognize, from getting the wrong sandwich to missing family members. But through it all, the repeating refrain “Everything will be ok” reminds the reader that there is always a light, and that tomorrow is a new day.

I’m Not Scared, YOU’RE Scared!

Written by Seth Meyers and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr.

In this funny story, Bear is scared of just about everything, while his friend Rabbit isn’t scared of anything. When Rabbit convinces Bear to face his fears on an adventure, things don’t go as planned, and Bear must soon find his bravery in order to help his friend. Kids will love the repeated defensive refrain from Bear, “I’m not scared, you’re scared!”, and the cute illustrations that highlight the big emotions of the bear. This is a great celebration of bravery, friendship, and facing fears.

Related Post: Children’s Books about Bravery

A Case of the Zaps

Written by Alex Boniello and April Lavalle and illustrated by James Kwan

This creative story follows a young robot named Pi who is suffering from a case of the Zaps after learning about an upcoming field trip. They try their best to get them under control, but soon realize that they are getting worse, and they need help. After talking to their parents, Pi learns the importance of coping mechanisms and asking for help when it’s needed. This is a great introduction to anxiety and mental health for kids, who will love the little robot and the Robot Earth setting.

This Will Pass

Written by J. Donnini and illustrated by Luke Scriven

Crue is a little boy who loves visits from his Great-Uncle Ollie. But when Ollie tells him they will be sailing together to the island of Mashore, Crue starts to worry about what can go wrong. When they face a scary storm, Ollie teaches Crue how he copes with storms and scary situations on the sea with deep breathing and a soothing song. When it is Crue’s time to sail on his own, he uses the tricks he has learned from his uncle. This is a great way to talk to kids about anxiety and facing fears, and the back of the book includes tips for parents to help their kids.

Related Post: How to Talk to Kids about Fear

Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster

Written and illustrated by Manka Kasha

Small Knight is noble and brave, but when it comes to telling their parents that they don’t want to be a perfect princess, they get a little less brave. As their worry grows, it soon takes form as a shadowy anxiety monster. So Small Knight and their friend Tiny Bear go on a quest to find the answers on how to defeat this new monster. The illustrations are a great representation of anxieties and worries and how they can follow us and grow until we are forced to face them.

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Worry Whale

Written by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna

Join the popular Pout-Pout Fish as he tries to help his friend Willa the Whale face her fears about a party they are invited to. As Mr. Fish teaches Willa how to quiet the voice of worry in her head, he also teaches the reader important coping strategies. The rhyming text and brightly colored cartoon illustrations make this a great read aloud for young kids.

Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective

Written by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett and illustrated by Marissa Valdez

It’s the first day of school, and Hattie Harmony the Worry Detective is ready with her tools to help her friends handle their worries. As her friends approach her with their fears, she uses her trusty toolkit to help them take their mind off things. But when she gets scared herself, can she find the right tools to cope with her worries? This book is full of tricks and tools to help kids conquer their worries, told through an adorable story and cute cartoon illustrations. Kids will love the animal characters, and adults will love the way real coping mechanisms are weaved throughout the story, and revisited in a note at the end of the book.

Related Post: Picture Books that Teach Kids to Keep Trying

Pig and Horse and the Something Scary

Written by Zoey Abbott

Pig is struggling with something she can’t seem to shake. She goes to visit her friend Horse who tries to take her mind off of it with all their favorite things. When that doesn’t work, Horse decides that they should invite whatever it is to tea. As they sit down to a tea party, Pig opens up about what is bothering her, helping her to get her emotions under control. This is a great story for teaching little ones that opening up about what is bothering them is a great way to get their fears under control.

Cookie

Written by Isabelle Duff and Susannah Crispe

This story about childhood depression follows a young girl who struggles with her bad days. When those bad days hit, the only thing that makes her smile is her puppy Cookie. The story is told from the perspective of Cookie the dog, celebrating the love they have for one another and how their relationship helps her through her struggles. Kids will appreciate the cute writing style coming from Cookie’s perspective, while adults will appreciate the way the story touches on difficult issues in a gentle way.

Mindi and the Goose No One Else Could See

Written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Linda Olafsdottir

In this story, a young girl named Mindi is afraid of a big goose that no one else can see. Her parents try everything they can think of to help her get over her fear, but nothing seems to work. So they eventually turn to Mindi’s father’s friend Austen for help. When he offers to trade her a little goat for her big goose, she takes him up on the offer. This book explores childhood fears and anxiety, and how others can help us face our fears.

I Am Courage

Written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

This addition to the I Am series reminds kids that they are capable of facing hurdles and conquering anything they set their mind to. The powerful text tells the reader that when their mind tells them they can’t do something, that they can be resilient and tell their mind that they can. The book shares all kinds of ways that kids can be resilient and courageous, whether they are facing their own fears or helping others face theirs. The back of the book includes an author’s note and examples of yoga poses that kids can try.

Ruby Finds a Worry

Written by Tom Percival

This story is part of the Big Bright Feelings series of books, which introduce kids to big emotions through creative stories. In this book, Ruby is harboring a worry, and the more she struggles with it, the bigger it gets. But when she meets a young boy, she learns that everyone struggles with worries, and that talking about it can help shrink those worries. The illustrations are a great representation of the way worries can grow and grow to eventually overwhelm a person’s entire life.

What are your favorite children’s books about fear & anxiety? Share them in the comments below!

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