The best Worry, Anxiety and Mindfulness picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Calming stories for worried kids, with breathing, mindfulness, and ways to feel brave.
58 books · 28 with a read aloud on our channel
Henry gets so mad when Ella won't share, and Grandpa and some animal friends teach him belly breathing and counting to ten. Calm down tools kids actually use.
Sarah Jane Hartwell doesn't want to go to her new school, and the twist ending reveals exactly who she is. A clever first day classic that kids love to reread.
A dance recital goes wrong and she keeps going anyway. Great for kids nervous about performing.
Ruby's small worry grows bigger every day she ignores it, until she finally talks about it. A wonderful way to show anxious kids that sharing a worry makes it shrink.
Jasper's favorite carrots seem to be following him. Spooky fun that's just scary enough.
Anxious Camila dreads a class trip to the aquarium, until she helps a scared classmate and finds her own courage. A gentle story for worried kids.
Beatrice has never made a mistake, until she does in front of everyone. A classic for perfectionists, and it's really funny.
Simple rhyming text walks kids through breathing exercises for when they feel scared, sad, or mad. An easy, practical book to keep handy for calm down moments.
A perfect egg learns he doesn't have to be perfect all the time. So good for little ones who are hard on themselves.
Little Bear worries about school, soccer, and monsters under the bed until Mama Bear helps him share his worries. A gentle book with practical tools for anxious little ones.
The Pigeon doesn't want to go to school, and kids get to reassure him. Perfect for first day jitters.
Jabari is sure he's ready to jump off the high diving board, until he gets to the top. A warm story about fear, patience, and a dad who knows just what to say.
The Good Egg gets nervous before the talent show and finds his own way to shine. An easy reader that new readers love.
Pilar loves to dance, but ballet tryouts fill her whole body with worry. A warm, encouraging story for kids who feel anxious before a performance or big moment.
Penelope Rex is nervous about the talent show. Funny and sweet for kids with stage fright.
Cora's worries, the Whatifs, follow her everywhere, especially before her big piano recital. A clever book that helps anxious kids turn scary what ifs into hopeful ones.
Turns anger into a little red spot kids can actually picture, then gives them real ways to shrink it. Great words to borrow in the middle of a meltdown.
After his fall, Humpty Dumpty is too scared to climb, until he finds the courage to face his fear. A powerful story about bouncing back.
For the kid who says I can't. It shows how confidence grows a little at a time when you keep trying.
A girl learns to notice a troubling thought, treat it kindly, and let it go so she can choose more hopeful ones. A simple, calming introduction to mindfulness.
An easy first look at mindfulness, with calming tricks kids can use anywhere. Our go to before bed or after a big day.
Todd Parr's bright, silly art offers kids simple ways to handle worries. A reassuring pick for anxious little ones.
The crayons get ready for school, with nerves and all. Perfect for the first week of school.
Shy Nicky feels at home in her school library, so when it closes for a week, she has to find her place somewhere new. Sweet for introverts and book lovers.
Ella gets picked for a solo and her excitement turns into nerves. She learns breathing and positive thinking tricks and sings anyway. Perfect before any big performance.
A storm scares the animals, and Little Blue Truck keeps them safe. A cozy bedtime read.
Shows worry as a spot that grows when you feed it and shrinks when you breathe and talk it out. A gentle way to open the door to talking about worries.
Ethan's monster takes a night off, and none of the substitutes are scary enough. A hilarious bedtime read that takes the fear out of monsters.
Chester Raccoon is nervous about starting school, so his mother gives him a kiss in his palm to carry with him. The classic comfort read for first days and separation worries.
Wemberly worries about everything, especially starting school, until she meets another worrier named Jewel. A sweet, reassuring pick for anxious kids before the first day.
Two friends who are both secretly scared. A funny way to talk about fear and bravery.
Splat tries to be scary for Halloween and ends up scaring everyone by accident. Funny and not too spooky.
Chicken warns you not to read this book because it's way too scary. Spoiler: it isn't. Silly, interactive Halloween fun.
Halloween fun with a spot of positive thinking mixed in. Great for kids who get a little spooked this time of year.
Dylan takes his purple monster truck on a new adventure every day, and kids learn sign language words along the way. A great first ASL book.
A funny look at moving and how some things, like you, stay the same. Perfect for a kid facing a move.
Ernestine has lessons every day of the week and no time to just play. A great reminder for busy families to leave room for fun.
Twinkle faces his own silly fears to help a friend who lost confidence. A gentle story about bravery and friendship.
A boy scared of thunder floats up to the clouds and finds the noise is an angry dinosaur mom whose pie got ruined. A silly, clever book for kids afraid of storms.
Winston the bunny loses the blanket his mom gave him before she died, and his friends help him search. A tender book that shows love and memories stay with us.
Peanut is too excited to sleep, so a friendly whale takes her on a calming trip to the Sleepy Sea. A lovely way to teach belly breathing at bedtime.
Samsoon and her best friend Mimi share happy days with Grandma, until Samsoon has to say goodbye. A tender, gentle way to talk with kids about loss.
Chester loves his first sleepover until bedtime, when he can't sleep and misses home. A reassuring story for kids nervous about nights away, with home always waiting.
Mrs. Raccoon teaches Chester that bravery means doing something even when you're scared, with three simple steps and a Kissing Hand. A gentle, practical guide to courage.
Squirrel guards a growing flower so fiercely that Bird has to teach him how to let it bloom. A sweet spring story about patience and learning when to step back.
Squirrel panics when a leaf goes missing and sets out with Bird to catch the thief. A funny, gentle story about autumn and the worry change can bring.
Little SPOT shares simple calming strategies kids can use when feelings get big. A go to book for building a calm down routine.
Little SPOT helps kids wind down and get ready for a restful night. A calming choice for bedtime routines and kids who fight sleep.
Little SPOT helps kids find bravery when they feel scared or unsure. A gentle confidence booster for trying new things.
Little SPOT helps kids see how worry can grow and gives them ways to shrink it back down. Reassuring and practical for anxious kids.
Little SPOT shows kids how simple hand motions and movements can calm big feelings like anger. Practical self regulation tools kids can use anywhere.
Worry SPOT shows a child that one worry can be helpful, but worrying over and over gets you nowhere. A humorous, helpful book for kids stuck in worry loops.
Fearless Sheila Rae takes a new way home and gets lost, and her timid little sister Louise turns out to be the brave one. A sweet story about courage and sisters.
Squirrel loves his first snow, but when it vanishes he suspects a snow thief. A cozy, funny winter story that helps kids understand seasonal change and calm their worries.
Splat is a bundle of nerves about his first day at Cat School, but it turns out better than he imagined. A funny, comforting read for kids starting school.
Squirrel notices the nights getting darker and is sure a sun thief is to blame. A charming summer adventure that explains changing day length and eases anxious little minds.
Tiny and Pointy plan a backyard campout, but without nightlights the dark feels scary, so Tiny hatches a plan. A sweet, gentle story about facing fears together.
Five toys sit on a windowsill, each waiting for something different, the moon, the rain, the wind, the snow. This quiet Caldecott Honor book is a lovely lesson in patience.