Books can help children make sense of their emotions, build resilience, and feel understood. This World Book Day, we’re sharing some of our favourite reads to support children’s mental health. From stories that help young children manage big feelings to books offering practical advice for teenagers, these recommendations can spark important conversations at home and in schools. Take a look and see how they can help the children and young people you support.
Books for younger children
Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival – A beautifully illustrated book that helps children understand anxiety in a gentle, accessible way. It emphasises the importance of sharing worries with others.
My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain – A story about childhood anxiety and how to deal with big feelings that seem too big to handle alone.
When Sadness Comes to Call by Eva Eland – A lovely introduction to accepting and understanding sadness, making it a great conversation starter for emotions.
The Book of Big Feelings by Mrs Wordsmith – A lovely book with great visuals, perfect for exploring emotional literacy with younger children to help them identify and express a range of emotions, show empathy and understanding.
What to do when you worry too much by Dawn Huebners – An interactive guide with engaging exercises and step-by-step strategies that helps children manage anxiety using simple CBT (cognitive-behavioural techniques). It explains worry in a relatable way, comparing it to a growing tomato plant that thrives when given too much attention. Children learn to recognise anxious thoughts, challenge them, and take control of their worries.
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee – This book helps children and families understand that having strong emotions is okay, promoting empathy and acceptance, encouraging emotional understanding and resilience.
Books for older children and teenagers
For children in upper primary and secondary school, books can provide practical strategies alongside relatable experiences.
Here are some we regularly recommend:
Guts by Raina Telgemeier – An autobiographical graphic novel that explores her childhood experiences with anxiety.
Banish your Self Esteem Thief by Kate Collins-Donnelly – A CBT-based workbook designed to help young people build confidence and challenge negative thoughts. It introduces the idea of a “Self-Esteem Thief”, the unhelpful thoughts that chip away at self-worth and gives practical ways to stop them. Through simple activities, real-life stories, and mindfulness techniques, it helps readers understand and change negative thinking patterns. It can be used independently or with support, making it a great tool for mentoring and self-reflection.
Different, not less by Chloé Hayden – This book is a touching and funny personal account of someone living with autism and ADHD. Chloé shares her journey from feeling out of place, switching between schools to embracing her true self after her diagnoses. The book combines her story with practical advice on handling challenges like meltdowns and finding supportive communities.
You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed – A brilliant, confidence-boosting book that encourages young readers to develop resilience and a growth mindset.
The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens by Lisa M. Schab – A hands-on guide using CBT techniques to help young people reframe negative thoughts and build self-worth.
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll – Written by a neurodivergent author, this powerful story is about an autistic girl who fights for a memorial to women persecuted as witches. The story explores anxiety, sensory overload, and the emotional impact of feeling excluded or misunderstood. It also highlights the importance of self-acceptance, resilience, and advocating for yourself and others.
All the Things That Could Go Wrong by Stewart Foster – A graphic novel that explores anxiety, friendship, and overcoming fears in a relatable way, making it a great read for children who feel overwhelmed by worries.
Mind your Head by Juno Dawson – A frank and factual guide addressing various mental health issues faced by young people, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and self-harm. The book includes testimonials and coping strategies and encourages young people to seek help early and engages them in understanding mental health on their terms.
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy – The book explore themes of friendship, vulnerability, and the importance of emotional wellbeing. It provides gentle insights into life’s challenges and the power of love and support.
How parents, carers and professionals can use these books
Books can help children understand and manage their feelings, but they are most effective when used as part of everyday conversations. Pairing stories with meaningful discussions and activities makes them a powerful tool for supporting children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Here are some ways to make the most of these books:
01. Conversation starters
Use these prompts before, during, or after reading to encourage meaningful discussions. Even older children benefit from shared reading and discussion.
For younger children:
- Can you show me with your face how the character is feeling?
- What would you say to the character if they were feeling sad?
- Have you ever felt like the character in this book? What happened?
- What do you think will happen next?
For older children and teenagers:
- Why do you think the character made that choice? What else could they have done?
- What would you do in that situation?
- How do you think the character felt at the start of the book compared to the end?
- If you could give one piece of advice to the character, what would it be?
02. Simple activities linked to key themes in the books
Hands-on activities can reinforce the messages and themes presented in the books and can be powerful tools for emotional development, providing children with the skills to navigate their feelings and relationships effectively.
Here are some suggestions:
- Emotion charades: Children act out different emotions, and others guess the feeling. This activity enhances emotional recognition and empathy.
- Feelings art: After reading a story, encourage children to draw scenes that depict the characters’ emotions or their own feelings related to the story.
- Role-play: Re-enact situations from the books to practice problem-solving and coping strategies in a safe environment. Encourage children to take turns playing different roles to see things from various perspectives and discuss how different reactions could change the story.
- Emotion diaries: Ask children to write a diary entry as if they were the main character, describing what they learned or how they felt during the story. “Today, I felt…” or “I learned that…”. Encourage children to continue this by keeping a diary where they to write down or draw how they felt, what happened that day, and how they responded. Encourage reflection by asking: “What could I do next time I feel this way?”
- Empathy mapping: After reading a story, ask the child to draw the main character and write words around them, mapping what the character thinks, feels, says and does at various points in the story. They can then describe how they felt and compare the perspectives, promoting emotional intelligence.
- Mindfulness story walks: Encourage children to take a story-themed mindfulness walk, noticing sights, sounds, and feelings that relate to the book’s theme. Use prompts like: “How does nature reflect the character’s emotions?”
- Create a ‘comfort book’: Encourage children to create their own ‘comfort book’ by drawing or writing about things that make them feel safe and happy when they are upset. Link this to stories they’ve read by asking what made the characters feel better.
- Letters to a character: Children write a letter to a story character, offering advice, asking questions, or sharing a personal connection to the story. This activity enhances empathy and reflective thinking.
- The story jar: Write different books or emotions on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Let the child pick a slip and find a book related to that emotion to read and discuss.
- Coping strategies: After reading a book about resilience or problem-solving, discuss real-life situations where similar challenges might happen. Teach relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, using examples from the story.
This World Book Day, let’s celebrate stories, not just as entertainment, but as a way to understand ourselves and others. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or professional working with children, these books can spark important conversations, helping children to navigate their emotions and mental health and provide comfort when it’s needed most.
Do you have a favourite book that supports children’s mental wellbeing? We’d love to hear your recommendations – let us know on our social media channels!
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