10 Impactful Children’s Books About Mental Health
If there’s one thing that I’m quite passionate about, it’s that kids need to read children’s books about mental health! It’s not enough for us parents to learn about helping them cope with their emotions and issues, they need to learn how for themselves. And furthermore, they need to understand the struggles they’re facing in the first place.
I have a very personal example of this…
When I realized my oldest daughter had OCD, one of the first things I did was purchase a book about the condition for me and her to read together. And, not only did it really help her then, but it set her on a path to learn everything she could about her mental health struggles so she could manage them more efficiently throughout her life.
So today, I’ve put together a list of some basic kid’s books about mental health. It includes books on a variety of general topics that every child needs to learn about, such as managing emotions and navigating grief. But of course, if your child has specific struggles, you should look for books that target those as well!
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1. Me and My Feelings
First of all, we have Me and My Feelings: A Kids’ Guide To Understanding and Expressing Themselves. You can probably guess by the title what this book discusses, and I think it’s a topic that’s very important to cover with your child as early on as possible!
And this book is the perfect way to open that conversation! It talks about how to deal with, and talk about, all the emotions we can face on a day-to-day basis. And in addition to helpful tips, tricks, and habits to help your child build their coping skills; this book also includes quizzes and activities your child can complete to make it a more active experience.
2. Breathe Like A Bear
This next book, Breathe Like A Bear, contains thirty different mindfulness exercises that your little one can use to calm down in a variety of situations. Each exercise is presented in a straightforward way, with adorable illustrations displayed alongside them to help keep your child’s interest.
And I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you provide your child with tools like this. Because learning short and simple exercises like this will help them thrive throughout the rest of their lives!
Plus, the best part is, when children are able to learn these things while they’re young, it will allow these coping mechanisms to become second nature to them. So they don’t have to consciously remind themselves to perform these techniques during times of stress.
3. Anxiety Relief For Teens
Now, because many of these books were written with smaller children in mind, I wanted to include an option for teens! (Especially since your teenage years are often your first introduction to real stress and anxiety.) And Anxiety Relief For Teens fits the bill perfectly.
It covers over thirty CBT-based skills, as well as over thirty mindfulness exercises, that your teenager can use to manage their anxiety. And it also includes some quizzes and self assessments for your teen to take, in order to get a better idea of where their mental health is at.
4. Anxious Ninja
Speaking of anxiety, Anxious Ninja is a book that covers the topic in a way that’s helpful for younger children. It follows a storyline, in which the main character struggles with their anxious thoughts but ultimately overcomes them. And there are plenty of actionable lessons hidden within the plot, that your child can takeaway from the book.
If you like the way this book flows, and your child found it helpful, then you should also check out some of the other books from the series! Because there’s a large variety of children’s books about mental health available within it.
5. Listening To My Body
Listening To My Body takes a different approach to teaching kids about their emotions. Since it focuses on how different ones can affect our bodies, and how children can get in touch with (and identify) their emotions by paying attention to physical sensations.
Of course, the book also covers many different exercises kids can use to recognize what they’re feeling and work through those emotions. And it also provides them with important vocabulary they can use to express their feelings to adults and even other children! Overall, this book is a step in the right direction of raising an emotionally intelligent child.
6. I Can Do Hard Things
Previously, I’ve written posts on daily affirmations for kids, affirmations for teens, and even affirmations for moms! So it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of them, and believe they can be really beneficial for everyone to try.
Therefore, the book I Can Do Hard Things had to go on this list of children’s books about mental health. Seeing as it’s a book full of mindful affirmations for kids, with heartwarming illustrations as an added bonus!
7. The Color Monster
The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions is a book you can use to introduce kids as young as two years old to the concept of feelings! And you can do so while also entertaining them and helping them learn/recognize colors as well.
The storyline of this book is adorable, following the “color monster” as he learns about all of his different emotions (which are represented by different colors). Along the way, he also learns how to deal with his powerful feelings. Just as your child will learn how to better manage their own feelings by having this book read to them!
8. The Invisible String
Next up, we have The Invisible String. Which is a picture book that’s all about navigating separation, loneliness, loss, and grief in a way that young children can understand and find comfort in.
The story is about a mother telling her kids about the invisible string of love that connects everyone together. The children ask lots of questions that your own kids might ask about the string, and about whether or not it still connects us when we can no longer physically reach someone. And the mother in the story has plenty of comforting words to say in response.
This book is a great way to comfort your children in regards to these tough topics, especially if you use it as a way to open up a larger conversation.
9. Sometimes I’m Anxious
This book, Sometimes I’m Anxious, is for kids around the ages of 8-12 and is another guide that talks about tackling childhood anxiety. It includes lots of great information for parents, twenty different activities that teach kids CBT methods for managing anxiety, and some inspirational statements as well.
Plus, it features an adorable main character that kids with anxiety can relate to. To make the lessons discussed in the book sink in even more.
10. Find Your Calm
Lastly, we have Find Your Calm. Which is an adorably illustrated book that talks about the difficult reality of feeling scared and anxious, as well as valuable coping mechanisms children can use to tap into a sense of calm and safety to combat those unwanted emotions and physical sensations.
This book is also part of a larger series of children’s books about mental health, so if you and your child find it helpful, you could also check out the other installments!
