16 Helpful Picture Books For Kids Struggling With Anxiety & Depression
Mental health struggles aren’t just something that adults deal with. Yet, it can be hard to know exactly how to support kids when they feel overwhelmed by anxiety or sadness. Thankfully, there are many great picture books out there that can help normalize these experiences and give kids practical ways to cope with and manage their feelings.
Whether you’re a counselor, teacher, or parent, these 16 picture books will help you engage in meaningful discussion as you support kids with anxiety or depression.
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Books Focused On Sadness & Depression
What to do when you’re feeling blue by andi cann
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 1
Kappy loves being happy. She loves playing, giving hugs, and giving compliments. When she feels sad, she doesn’t know what to do. Thankfully, her dad gives her some great advice about how to cope with those feelings so she can feel better.
when sadness is at your door by eva eland
Recommended Grades: K-3
This book helps readers better understand what it’s like when feelings of sadness are ever-present. It helps kids realize that they aren’t alone in their feelings and gives them some practical ideas of ways that they can feel better.
danny and the blue cloud by james m. foley
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Danny was born with a blue cloud over his head. The cloud sometimes made him cry, want to stay in bed, and not enjoy doing fun things. One day, Barnaby the rabbit came by and told Danny that if he could change the way he thinks, he can change the way he feels. He helps Danny put this into practice and then gives him some “feel-good rules” that can help him manage his thoughts. Over time, Danny is able to use the rules to find joy, and his blue cloud gets lighter and lighter.
Lucy’s blue day by christopher duke
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Lucy has magical hair that changes color to match her mood. One day, she wakes up with blue hair, but isn’t sure why she feels so down. As she tries to figure out why she is having these feelings, she learns that all feelings are okay and that they aren’t permanent.
the princess and the fog by andrew lloyd jones
Recommended Grades: K to 5
The princess had a great life. But, when the “fog” came, she began to feel alone, sad, and tired. She lost interest in doing the things that she used to love. One day, a friend visited the princess and offered to talk (and listen!) to her. Eventually, other things like reaching her goals, taking magic potion, and learning from others helped the fog lift. In the end, the princess was able to find ways to cope with the feelings that the fog brought on, even if the fog didn’t go away completely.
It’s Ok by wendy o’leary
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
This book serves as a great reminder that we all have tough days and experience feelings like sadness, anger, and frustration. When those feelings come, we can choose to show love and kindness to ourselves and remember that we aren’t alone in how we feel.
a blue kind of day by rachel tomlinson
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
Coen was having a blue kind of day. His body felt prickly, tense, and heavy. His family members tried to encourage him, but he just wanted to stay in bed, wrapped in his blanket. Even though none of their ideas were helpful, they didn’t give up on Coen because they knew his feelings wouldn’t last forever. Instead, his family members stayed by him until his blue feelings started to go away.
a flicker of hope by julia cook
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
This story shows a candle who isn’t shining very brightly. The candle feels hopeless, defeated, and like they have a dark cloud around them. Thankfully, there is another candle friend that can help the candle feel encouraged, loved, and supported. This book shows that it’s okay to not be okay and that we can always reach out for help.
Books Focused on Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
worry says what by allison edwards
Recommended Grades: K to 3
In this story, a girl talks about something called Worry in her brain. Worry tells her things, sometimes so loudly that it makes it hard to hear anything else. She listens to Worry until she realizes that she’s done letting Worry boss her around. Instead of listening to Worry, she decides to start talking back to him and focusing on what is true.
big bear was not the same by Joanna Rowland
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Little Bear had so much fun with her friend Big Bear. One day, Big Bear was trapped in a big fire. After that, Big Bear was different. When he saw, heard, or smelled certain things, he would freeze, run, or yell. Big Bear told Little Bear that these things reminded him of the fire. Little Bear couldn’t change Big Bear’s experiences, but his presence helped Big Bear feel less alone.
i think i think a lot by jessica whipple
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
The girl in this story has a lot of thoughts. She worries and second-guesses things that it seems like her friends can do easily without thinking about it. This can make things difficult and less enjoyable for her, but she also sees the beauty in it - that it shows how much she cares!
the whatifs by emily kilgore
Recommended Grades: K to 3
The Whatifs follow Cora all day long, constantly bringing up the worst case scenario. There are so many and she can’t shake them off, especially when it comes to her piano recital. Then, her friend Stella encourages her to take her grim Whatifs and turn them into positive Whatifs, allowing her to focus on all of the positive things that might happen!
catching thoughts by bonnie clark
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
One day, an unwanted thought popped into a little girl’s head. At first, it wasn’t a big deal. Then, it became bigger and stronger and wouldn’t go away. One day, she found a positive thought. She learned that she could choose to keep the positive thoughts and that the more she had, the smaller the negative thought became. At the end of the story, the negative thought was still there, but the girl was able to control it, and it wasn’t all-consuming.
malik’s number thoughts by Natalie Rompelle
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
Malik’s number thoughts make him count everything he does. If his number thoughts don’t end in four, he feels worried and frustrated, and he has to start over. When he gets invited to a mini-golf party, he’s nervous that his number thoughts will keep him from having a fun time. When he shares his fears with his therapist, she gives him strategies that help him overcome his number thoughts and enjoy the party with his friends.
hey warrior by karen young
Recommended Grades: 2 to 5
This informational book is perfect for explaining what causes anxiety and what it feels like, in a way that kids will understand. Knowledge is power, and this book will definitely give your students the information they need to understand and manage their anxiety.
up and down the worry hill by aureen pinto wagner
Recommended Grades: 2 to 5
In the beginning of the book, the readers see Casey struggling with the compulsions and intrusive thoughts that often come with OCD. Eventually, his parents take him to see a therapist who helps him understand what’s happening in his brain when he’s having these thoughts and compulsions. She explains that she’ll use strategies like CBT and exposure therapy to help him get to a place where he no longer needs his rituals. She tells him that he’ll learn to conquer his fears one step, or hill, at a time. This book is on the longer side, but its clarity and thoroughness make it a very helpful tool!
Anxiety and depression can feel overwhelming, but they don’t have to be faced alone. My hope is that these 16 picture books will help kids feel seen, supported, and cared for.
