10 Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
10+ Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Anxiety isn’t just something adults face—preschoolers can experience it, too. Whether it’s worrying about starting school, meeting new friends, or navigating big feelings they can’t yet put into words, kids with anxiety often struggle quietly. Understanding what anxiety is and giving children the tools to name and manage their emotions early on can make all the difference. One of the most kid friendly ways to start these conversations is through children’s books.
That’s why I’ve put together this roundup of books about anxiety for preschoolers. These picture books are written in ways that help young readers talk about her feelings, recognize their emotions, and discover strategies to understand and manage them. Some are playful, some are reassuring, and all of them can help children cope when the world feels overwhelming.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Before we dive into the list, let’s take a closer look at what anxiety can look like in preschoolers. Identifying these signs can help you decide whether to introduce them to books about anxiety. These resources also complement other strategies you can use to support your child’s mental health, from routines to play to professional guidance.
What Does Anxiety Look Like in Preschoolers?
Anxiety in preschoolers can show up in ways that don’t always look like worry in adults. Here are some common signs:
Clinginess: Wanting to stay close to a parent or caregiver and resisting separation.
Physical complaints: Frequent stomachaches, headaches, or other unexplained discomforts.
Sleep struggles: Trouble falling asleep, frequent nightmares, or waking in the night.
Avoidance: Refusing to go to school, birthday parties, or other social events.
Behavioral changes: Irritability, crying easily, or frustration during transitions.
Recognizing these behaviors is the first step in helping children cope.
How to Help A Preschooler With Anxiety
Note: I am not an expert. Please consult a doctor and/or therapist for professional help.
Establish Predictable Routines
Preschoolers thrive when they know what to expect. Creating a consistent morning, mealtime, and bedtime routine can reduce uncertainty and calm anxious feelings.
Encourage Open Conversations
Give your child space to talk about her feelings, even if she can’t quite find the right words. Use gentle prompts like, “I noticed you seemed worried today—do you want to tell me about it?”
Practice Calming Techniques
Simple breathing exercises, stretches, or even blowing bubbles can give kids a tangible way to calm down in the moment. These techniques also introduce early cognitive behavioral skills.
Use Storytelling and Play
Play allows children to process big emotions. Dolls, stuffed animals, or drawing can be tools to re-enact their worries in a safe way.
Read Books About Anxiety
Children’s books are one of the most powerful tools for helping young readers learn about emotions. Picture books make abstract feelings concrete and offer strategies for how to understand and manage them.
Anxiety Books For Preschoolers
Here are 10 excellent picture books that can help kids with anxiety feel seen and supported.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
In this beautifully illustrated story, Ruby discovers a worry that follows her around everywhere she goes. Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival introduces children to the idea that worries grow if you keep them inside, but shrink when you talk about them. A perfect book to help children cope by opening up.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
This classic story follows Wemberly, a little mouse who worries about everything—from big events like the first day of school and meets new friends, to small things like spilling juice. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes reassures preschoolers that they’re not alone in their fears.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook
This playful story introduces Wilma Jean, who worries about everything. Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook not only validates a child’s feelings but also gives parents and teachers practical tools for guiding kids through their worries.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
What to Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner
Written by clinical psychologist Dawn Huebner, this kid friendly guide uses illustrations and step-by-step exercises to teach children simple ways to tackle anxiety. It’s rooted in cognitive behavioral techniques and is highly recommended by therapists.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Don’t Feed the WorryBug by Andi Green
In this book from the WorryWoo series, a little monster learns that feeding worries only makes them bigger. This is an excellent story to help children understand and manage repetitive anxious thoughts.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Is a Worry Worrying You? by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz
With silly scenarios and gentle reassurance, this book shows preschoolers that worries don’t have to take over their lives. It helps children cope by showing them that problems can have solutions.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
When My Worries Get Too Big! by Kari Dunn Buron
This interactive book helps children identify what it feels like when worries overwhelm them and offers practical strategies for calming down. Especially good for children who benefit from visual supports.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Though not strictly about anxiety, this comforting story reassures children that they’re always connected to loved ones by an invisible string, even when apart. A beautiful choice for separation anxiety.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
A Little Spot of Anxiety by Diane Alber
Diane Alber’s colorful series is beloved by parents and teachers. This book breaks down anxiety into a manageable “spot,” showing kids how to shrink it with coping tools.
Books About Anxiety For Preschoolers
Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel prefers staying in his safe tree, but when he finally ventures out, he learns that the unknown can be fun. This humorous take helps young readers see anxiety in a lighter way.
Why Books About Anxiety Matter
By introducing children’s books that normalize worry, we give our preschoolers the chance to:
See their own experiences reflected in picture books.
Learn practical strategies for calming down.
Develop early emotional intelligence and resilience.
Reading also opens the door to creating family rituals, like a bedtime story, that can ease transitions and reduce stress. If you’re looking for more ways to inspire your child’s reading habits, check out my post on reading challenges for kids.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s Ruby Finds a Worry, Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes, or Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook, each of these books offers more than just a story—it offers reassurance, guidance, and the reminder that your preschooler isn’t alone in their feelings. With the right children’s books, routines, and support, you can help your child not only face their anxiety but thrive in spite of it.
Remember, every book offers an opportunity to start a conversation about emotions. And sometimes, that’s all a child needs to begin to heal and grow.
