10+ Best Worry Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Hey there! If you've noticed your little one feeling a bit anxious or overwhelmed, picking up some worry books for 5-year-olds can be a great help. These books are specially crafted to address and soothe young minds dealing with worries. Curious to discover which books made our list? Keep reading to explore our selection of worry books for 5-year-olds, perfect for easing your child’s mind and giving them tools to cope with their feelings.

Fun Worry Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Emotional Learning
  • Synopsis: Ruby, a young girl, encounters a worry that grows larger the more she tries to ignore it. Through the story, she learns how to deal with her anxiety by talking about it.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a gentle introduction to managing worries and emotions, presented in a way that's easy for young children to understand and relate to.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who might be dealing with their own worries and parents looking to help their children express their feelings.

• The Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside, illustrated by Frank Rodgers
  • Genre(s): Children’s Fiction, Mental Health
  • Synopsis: Jenny carries around a huge bag of worries that follows her everywhere, growing bigger until she shares them with someone who cares.
  • Why we recommend this book: This story helps children understand that sharing their concerns can lighten their emotional load. It's a great tool for discussing mental health even at a young age.
  • Perfect for: Children who tend to keep their concerns to themselves and caregivers who want to encourage open communication about feelings.

• Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Julia Cook, illustrated by Anita DuFalla
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Emotional Health
  • Synopsis: Wilma Jean worries about everything — school, friends, and even family events. This book offers creative solutions for children to manage their anxiety.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides practical strategies for dealing with anxiety, making it a useful read for both children and their parents.
  • Perfect for: Kids who often feel anxious and parents seeking ways to help their children cope with stress.

• Don't Feed The WorryBug by Andi Green
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Emotional Wellness
  • Synopsis: Wince, one of the WorryWoos, struggles with worry until he learns how to keep his WorryBug in check.
  • Why we recommend this book: It creatively illustrates how worries can grow if fueled by our attention and offers a fun way to learn about emotional self-control.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who need help understanding how to control their worries and enjoy whimsical, imaginative stories.

Educational Worry Books for 5-Year-Olds

• When My Worries Get Too Big! by Kari Dunn Buron
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Self-help
  • Synopsis: This book offers a young boy's perspective on handling overwhelming emotions and stress through simple calming techniques.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional regulation, stress management techniques
  • Why we recommend this book: It's particularly effective for children who experience anxiety and stress, providing them with tools to manage their feelings.
  • Perfect for: Children who often feel overwhelmed by their emotions and parents who want to aid their kids in learning stress management skills.

• Is a Worry Worrying You? by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz, illustrated by Marie LeTourneau
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Emotional Health
  • Synopsis: This book addresses various hypothetical worries that children might face, offering creative and humorous solutions to overcome them.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, creativity, emotional resilience
  • Why we recommend this book: It uses humor and imaginative scenarios to help children see worries in a less intimidating light.
  • Perfect for: Kids who have active imaginations and any child who might need a lighter approach to dealing with their fears.

• What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner, illustrated by Bonnie Matthews
  • Genre(s): Children's Non-fiction, Self-help
  • Synopsis: This interactive self-help book is designed to guide children and their parents through techniques for handling persistent worries and fears.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Anxiety management, cognitive behavioral techniques
  • Why we recommend this book: It's an engaging and practical workbook that empowers children to work through their anxieties.
  • Perfect for: Children who need actionable steps to manage their anxiety and parents looking for resources to support their children's mental health.

• Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree because he's afraid of the unknown, but he finds adventure when he's unexpectedly forced out of his safe space.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Risk assessment, adaptability, overcoming fears
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous take on facing one's fears and the unexpected benefits of stepping out of comfort zones.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are hesitant to try new experiences and anyone who enjoys a good laugh while learning life lessons.

Challenging Worry Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster by Michelle Nelson-Schmidt
  • Genre(s): Children’s Fiction, Emotional Learning
  • Synopsis: Jonathan James is constantly accompanied by the Whatif Monster, who fills his head with worries and doubts about everyday situations.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book introduces the concept of anxiety through "what if" scenarios, which are more abstract and complex for young minds to understand.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches children to challenge their fears and doubts by asking positive "what if" questions instead.
  • Perfect for: Children who often wonder "what if" and need encouragement to face their fears with optimism.

• The Worry Glasses: Overcoming Anxiety by Donalisa Helsley, illustrated by Kalpart
  • Genre(s): Children’s Fiction, Mental Health
  • Synopsis: This story follows a young girl named Marissa who learns how to manage her anxiety with the help of a special pair of glasses given to her by a therapist.
  • Why this book is challenging: It deals with the concept of anxiety management through visualization and coping mechanisms, which are sophisticated topics for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a tangible tool for children to visualize managing their anxieties, making the concept more accessible.
  • Perfect for: Kids who experience anxiety and could benefit from a creative way to think about and manage their feelings.

• Can I Catch It Like a Cold?: Coping With a Parent's Depression by Centre For Addiction And Mental Health, illustrated by Joe Weissmann
  • Genre(s): Children’s Fiction, Health
  • Synopsis: Through the story of a young boy named Alex, this book explores the impact of parental depression on children and how families can cope together.
  • Why this book is challenging: The subject of parental mental health is a complex and sensitive topic, requiring a higher level of emotional maturity from its readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It opens up important dialogues about mental health within families and provides reassurance to children in similar situations.
  • Perfect for: Children dealing with a parent's mental health issues and families seeking to understand and communicate about these challenges together.

• Silly Billy by Anthony Browne
  • Genre(s): Children’s Fiction, Emotional Health
  • Synopsis: Billy worries about many things, until his grandmother gives him worry dolls to share his fears with, helping him sleep better.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of metaphorical worry dolls to represent coping with anxieties introduces abstract thinking, which is advanced for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a creative and culturally rich method for children to manage their worries.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who need a comforting and imaginative way to deal with nighttime anxieties and fears.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Reading can be a delightful adventure for kids, especially when it helps them manage their worries. Here are some engaging exercises designed for 5-year-olds to accompany worry books, enhancing their reading experience and helping them develop good reading habits early on.

• Picture Story Recap
  • What it is: After reading, the child draws a scene or a character from the book.
  • How it helps: This exercise boosts comprehension and helps children express feelings about the story.
  • Tips: Keep plenty of colorful crayons and paper handy to make this activity fun and inviting.

• Read and Role Play
  • What it is: Encourage your child to act out parts of the book with you or their toys.
  • How it helps: Role playing brings the story to life and helps deepen the child's understanding and empathy.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the role play more exciting and engaging.

• Story Map Creation
  • What it is: Together, create a map of the story’s events or settings.
  • How it helps: Helps with memory and sequence understanding, which are crucial reading comprehension skills.
  • Tips: Use large sheets of paper and colorful markers to draw the map, and let your child lead the way in illustrating the story’s journey.

• Question Time
  • What it is: Ask simple, open-ended questions about the story and discuss the answers.
  • How it helps: Encourages critical thinking and personal connection to the story's themes and characters.
  • Tips: Keep questions light and fun; focus more on thoughts and feelings rather than right or wrong answers.

• Book-Themed Snack Time
  • What it is: Prepare snacks that are themed around the book’s content.
  • How it helps: Makes reading a multi-sensory experience and can help in retaining interest in the story and its characters.
  • Tips: Choose simple and healthy snacks, and involve your child in the preparation for added fun.

These exercises are not just about reading; they're about making reading a versatile, enjoyable experience that also addresses the worries and fears typical in young children. By incorporating these activities, you're not only helping your child develop a love for reading but also providing tools to express and manage their emotions effectively. So, grab a worry book and let the fun and learning begin!