Kids

Children learn practical strategies for coping with worry and anxiety.

Gentle, supportive, and straightforward, Sometimes When I'm Worried describes a child's experience with worry and the many ways it can surface, as well as how her sister and their two dads help her cope with the feeling. "Sometimes when I'm worried, my tummy feels funny. I get hot and sweaty. My legs jiggle like jelly."

Along with the main character, young children learn ways to cope with worry, which can be a challenging emotion. "Daddy says, 'Sometimes when we're worried, it's hard to control our thoughts and feelings.' He says I might feel calmer if I find something I can control. He asks if I want to count to ten or do some belly breathing."

A special section for adults offers more information on how children of differing ages express worry and anxiety, and how to help children manage these feelings in healthy and empowering ways.

Sometimes When collection
With quiet, sensitive illustrations, the Sometimes When collection helps young children work through big feelings, such as sadness and anger. The stories are accessible to children and grounded in research from an author with over thirty years of experience as a clinical psychologist. A special section at the back of each book provides more information for adults and activities to help young children work through their feelings.

Being mindful means noticing the world around you. Learn with the Count and his Sesame Street friends how to slow down and breathe.

How do you practice mindfulness?

About the Sesame Street (R) Character Guides series:

Elmo, Abby, Big Bird, and their Sesame Street friends join this positive introduction to character traits and social and emotional wellness. Hands-on activities help kids model each topic, while simple text and a colorful design keep things engaging and fun.

For kids ages 2-6, a gentle and fun introduction to mindfulness and breath awareness.

When we are overcome with emotions, our breath--and a bit of imagination--can bring us back to a peaceful place. In I Am a Peaceful Goldfish, two children learn how to settle their difficult feelings with imaginative breathing techniques, pretending they are elephants, flowers, and even dragons!

I Am a Peaceful Goldfish teaches kids essential and easy-to-learn life skills:
 

• It's okay to feel overwhelmed or anxious!
• Feeling calm and in control are just a couple of easy breaths away
• How to self-regulate and relieve anxiety

A perfect book for readers of I Am Peace and I Am Yoga by Susan Verde.

Book #1 in the I Am Mindful series! This series on mindfulness for young children introduces playful and imaginative techniques designed for the entire family to navigate overwhelming emotions with ease and confidence. The simplicity of the stories and relatable characters allow children of all ages to connect with the everyday challenges they face. By consistently practicing the mindfulness methods depicted in these books, children can cultivate skills that are readily applicable in various real-life situations. These abilities serve as a sturdy foundation for resilience throughout their lives.

 

An honest exploration of the symptoms of anxiety and what learning to manage it can look like. 

This is a book about anxiety. Having anxiety doesn't just mean you feel nervous sometimes or need to calm down. It means having an uncontrollable feeling that gets in the way of what you normally do, or something new that you'd like to do. 

Covering themes of anxiety, fear, loneliness, and crying. This book for kids aged 5-9 explores the impact anxiety can have and the steps they can take to begin to manage any anxious feelings they might have. 

 

Summer is here! School’s out, the pool is open, and new adventures with friends await! But what happens when twelve year old Ty’s anxiety has other plans? From the world of Just Roll With It comes a boy-centric graphic novel about accepting yourself even when it’s a little scary.

Bouncing back from a broken arm should be no big deal—but when Ty spends a month off the swim team the thought of getting back in the water is suddenly not as fun as it used to be. 

After weeks of ignoring his friends, Ty isn't sure how to connect with them again in summer camp. They used to have swim team together but after so long without swimming he's out of shape and afraid of failing in front of them. With his friendships fracturing, will Ty be able to gain confidence in himself and fix everything before it's too late?

Starting middle school is hard enough when you don't know anyone; it's even harder when you're shy. A contemporary middle-grade graphic novel for fans of Guts and Real Friends about how dealing with anxiety and OCD can affect everyday life. 

As long as Maggie rolls the right number, nothing can go wrong...right?
 
Maggie just wants to get through her first year of middle school. But between finding the best after-school clubs, trying to make friends, and avoiding the rumored monster on school grounds, she’s having a tough time...so she might need a little help from her twenty-sided dice. But what happens if Maggie rolls the wrong number?
 
A touching middle-grade graphic novel that explores the complexity of anxiety, OCD, and learning to trust yourself and the world around you.
 
“A charming, compassionate story that’s sure to resonate with anyone who’s ever stayed up worrying.” —Gale Galligan, adaptor and illustrator of the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel series

When you're mad or worried or can't wake up in the morning, what can you do? Use the amazing superpower that you already have—breathing.

Our newest offering from the bestselling creators of Good Night Yoga teaches kids fun and easy breathing practices based on the proven methods of yoga and mindfulness meditation.

 

No one can figure out what Gwendolyn Rogers's problem is--not her mom, or her teachers, or any of the many therapists she's seen. But Gwendolyn knows she doesn't have just one thing wrong with her: she has fifty-four.

At least, according to a confidential school report (that she read because she is #16. Sneaky, not to mention #13. Impulsive). So Gwendolyn needs a plan, because if she doesn't get these fifty-four things under control, she's not going to be able to go to horse camp this summer with her half-brother, Tyler.

But Tyler can't help her because there's only one thing "wrong" with him: ADHD.

And her best friend Hettie can't help her because there's nothing wrong with Hettie. She's perfect.

So Gwendolyn is hopeless until she remembers the one thing that helped her mother when her own life was out of control. Or actually, the twelve things. Can these Twelve Steps that cured her mother somehow cure Gwendolyn too?

From rising star Tony Weaver, Jr. comes a middle-grade graphic novel memoir about an awkward preteen who loves all things geeky but struggles with mental health issues and self-doubt, perfect for fans of Jerry Craft's New Kid.

Eleven-year-old Tony Weaver, Jr. loves comic books, anime, and video games, and idolizes the heroic, larger-than-life characters he finds there. But his new classmates all think he’s a weirdo. Bullied by his peers, Tony struggles with the hurt of not being accepted and tries to conform to other people's expectations. After a traumatic event shakes him to his core, he embarks on a journey of self love that will require him to become the hero of his own story. 

Weirdo is a triumphant, witty, and comedic story for any kid who's ever felt awkward, left out, or like they don't belong. An adolescence survival guide that will give every reader the confidence to make it to the other side.
 

This funny and fabulous novel about a middle school diva's hunt for the spotlight speaks to the importance of friendship and family--even in the midst of fame. 

Lyric Whitney Houston Darby has always wanted to be famous, just like her superstar mom. So when the hottest music-competition TV show announces auditions in town, it's her chance to compete--and maybe even score a record deal.

There are just a couple of problems: First, the show requires industry experience. This means Lyric has to audition for her school's production of The Wiz...as if middle school musicals aren't totally beneath her. Second, she needs to mega-boost her platform on Instagram. Fast. This show is an influencers-only event!

Luckily she has her besties at her side! Or... does she? As Lyric starts to get everything she ever wanted, her BFFs are coping with their own challenges. Will Lyric be there to lift them up, or is she about to learn the real cost of being instafamous?

This bubbly story is as wise as it is witty, reminding readers of the importance of mental health, and that what you want isn't always what you need.