Books & resources for children

Wishes and Worries

By Sarina Dickson

Year: 2015

Subject: Anxiety, part-one

This book is designed to be read aloud in the classroom, and then used in conjunction with the exercises aligned to address mild to moderate anxiety in children. Part two is Maia and the Worry Bug.

Location

CCL

MHERC

SL

WL

HL

Maia and the Worry Bug

By Julie Burgess-Manning

Year: 2015

Subject: Anxiety, part-two

This resource is designed to help families with mild to moderate anxiety manage their worries. After reading the story with your children, you will find exercises based on narrative and cognitive behavioural therapy principles to help you start talking about worry in your family.

Location

CCL

MHERC

SL

WL

HL

Quaky Cat

By Diana Noonan & Gavin Bishop

Year: 2012

Subject: Earthquake issues

In the aftermath of the earthquake, Noonan decided to do her part to help quake victims the only way she could – by writing a story for children about what happened that morning from the perspective of a bright orange cat called Tiger. Tiger wakes just before the earthquake strikes and bolts out of the house, looking for safety as the town rolls, shakes and rumbles all around him. Lost and lonely, he searches for his owner Emma in the chaos after the quake. A sweet and moving story, Quaky Cat acknowledges the scary and sad experiences children went through during and after the earthquake but also ends with a hopeful and reassuring message for those children and their families left homeless by the quake.

Location

CCL

MHERC

WL

HL

Worry Magic

By Dawn McNiff

Year: 2015

Subject: Worrying

Dawn McNiff tells a wonderful story of a girl learning she doesn’t have to shoulder the world’s problems on her own and that sometimes asking for help is all you can do. This is a great book for middle grade readers and young teens, especially those who tend to be worriers themselves.

Location

CCL

SL

Worries are Like Clouds

By Shona Innes

Year: 2016

Subject: A story depicting worries as clouds

Worries are like clouds that float on in and take the shine out of the day.” Designed for younger children to give options for when the worry clouds get overwhelming. Includes useful information at the back for parents

Location

CCL

Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears

By Emily Gravett

Year: 2007

Subject: A little mouse with fears

Young children will identify with the little mouse who uses the pages of this book to document his fears – from loud noises and the dark, to being sucked down the plughole. Packed with details and novelty elements including flaps, die-cuts and even a hilarious fold-out map, this is an extraordinary picture book.

Location

CCL

WL

A Terrible Thing Happened

By Margaret Holmes

Year: 2000

Subject: Experiencing trauma

Sherman saw a terrible thing. At first everything is Ok but then he starts to worry, to act out and feel nervous for no reason. A useful book for young children who have experienced trauma and may need to see a therapist. An afterword for parents give suggestions on how to use the book

Location

CCL

SL

Healing Days: A Guide for Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma

By Susan Farber Straus

Year: 2013

Subject: Experiencing trauma and abuse

A sensitive and reassuring book for children who have experienced trauma, the subtext is around sexual abuse but it could be used for other types of trauma. Introduces the idea of going to a therapist and using story and drawing to work through the issues.

Location

CCL

SL

WL

HL

Big Red and the Little Bitty Wolf: A Story About Bullying

By J F Ransom

Year: 2016

Subject: Bullying

Big Red Riding Hood has been bullying Little Bitty Wolf since she moved into the neighbourhood and his parents’ advice does not help, but their school counselor, Mr. Know-It-Owl, makes a comment that just might set things right.

Location

CCL

ACE – A Horsey Tail of Courage

By K Cook

Year: 2018

Subject: Bullying

A cute wee horse called Ace has bucket-loads of talent and big dreams. He also has a big problem. Well, three problems, actually – the three horses at Clip-Clop School who bully Ace every day. But help is at hand, or hoof, in the shape of Holly from the Crusaders Bayleys Horses. She’s Ace’s hero and she knows exactly what to do to make the bullying stop. And so, just as with every great story with a powerful message, Ace: a horsey tail of courage has a happy ending. Bayleys, together with Bullying-Free NZ, have created a charming children’s storybook that reminds us that every child matters, and that the first step to change for good is to talk about it.

Location

CCL

SL

WL

HL

Made by Raffi

By C Pomranz

Year: 2014

Subject:Bullying, anxiety and resiliency

Raffi is a shy boy who doesn’t like noisy games and is often teased at school. But when he gets the idea of making a scarf for his dad’s birthday he is full of enthusiasm, even though the other children think it is girly to knit. Then the day draws near for the school pageant, and there is one big problem no costume for the prince. And that’s when Raffi has his most brilliant idea of all to make a prince’s cape. On the day of the pageant, Raffi’s cape is the star of the show.

Location

CCL

WL

The Wolf is not Invited

By A McDonald

Year: 2017

Subject: Bullying, anxiety and resiliency

Wolfgang is left heartbroken when his best friend Catreen runs off without him to play with Clarissa. Spider shows Wolfgang how to make his own fun and in doing so, he realises that there are many great friends just waiting to be met.

Location

CCL

SL

WL

Feel a Little: Little Poems about Big Things

By J Palmer

Year: 2017

Subject: Communicating Emotions

Animated rhymes and colourful illustrations helping children (and their grown ups!) talking about emotions. This is a book to come back to again and again, whether you feel a little nervous, happy, angry or just plain silly!

Location

CCL

SL

The Sound of Silence

By K Goldsaito

Year: 2016

Subject: Values

Yoshio delights in the everyday sounds of Tokyo, but when a musician tells him that her favourite sound is ma, the Japanese word for silence, Yoshio sets out to hear this sound for himself among the hustle and bustle of the city. Includes information on the Japanese concept of ma.

Location

CCL

Rising Tide

By S Dickson

Year: 2016

Subject: Self Belief, Worry, Family

To most people, Ari McInnis is just an ordinary kid. And that’s just the way Ari likes it, because he’s got some secrets that he doesn’t want to share — not with anybody. But then something happens that threatens to expose Ari’s secrets to everyone… Uses a story format that explores themes of worry, family bounds, self-belief, resilience and self-doubt. Includes notes and exercises for parents.

Location

CCL

SL

WL

HL

Release the Beast

By R S Zunde

Year: 2014

Subject: Anger

Release the Beast is a picture book text in which a child responds to controlling adults by unleashing his imaginary beast. In the style of Sendak, Release the Beast seeks to give children a healthy outlet for anger and frustration.

Location

CCL

SL

Oku Moe Moea: The dream which is bigger than I am

By S Hammond Boys

Year: 2015

Subject: Personal Story

Story traces the dilemmas of a young Māori artist as he struggles to come to terms with his relationships, talents and future. Born with an abundance of creativity and living without a mentor in an isolated area, he becomes increasingly alienated from others. He struggles with feelings of uncertainty and doubt which plague his efforts to engage in his talents as he wrestles with whether they can drive his future.

Location

CCL

Don’t Think About Purple Elephants

By S Whelan & G Jones

Year: 2015

Subject: Anxiety & Stress

Between the ages of 12 and 24, the brain changes in important, and oftentimes maddening and challenging ways. In this book, the author, a psychiatrist busts a number of commonly held myths about adolescence. He shows that, if parents and teens can work together to form a deeper understanding of the brain science behind all the tumult, they will be able to turn conflict into connection and form a deeper understanding of one another. According to the author, during adolescence we learn important skills, such as how to leave home and enter the larger world, how to connect deeply with others, and how to safely experiment and take risks, thereby creating strategies for dealing with the world’s increasingly complex problems. Here he presents an inside-out approach to focusing on how brain development affects our behavior and relationships. Drawing on important new research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology, he explores exciting ways in which understanding how the brain functions can improve the lives of adolescents, making their relationships more fulfilling and less lonely and distressing on both sides of the generational divide.

Location

CCL

SL

HL

What to do when you worry too much

By Dawn Huebner

Year: 2006

Subject: Anxiety

Teaches school-age children cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce and overcome anxiety, fears, and worry, through writing and drawing activities and self-help exercises and strategies. Includes introduction for parents.

Location

CCL

MHERC

WL

Introducing Teddy

By Jessica Walton

Year: 2016

Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything together. Whether it’s riding a bike, playing in the tree house, having a tea party or all of the above, every day holds something fun to do together. One sunny day, Errol finds that Thomas the Teddy is sad, and Errol can’t figure out why. Then Thomas the Teddy finally tells Errol what Teddy has been afraid to say: ‘In my heart, I’ve always known that I’m a girl teddy, not a boy teddy. I wish my name was Tilly.’ And Errol says, ‘I don’t care if you’re a girl teddy or a boy teddy! What matters is that you are my friend.’ A sweet and gentle story about being true to yourself and being a good friend, Introducing Teddy can also help children understand gender identity.

Location

CCL

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HL

All Birds Have Anxiety

By Kathy Hoopmann

Year: 2019

Life as a bird can be stressful! From worrying about airplanes, windows and getting enough worms to eat, it is clear that birds can be anxious beings. Through a humourous, quizzical depiction of bird behaviour, this book validates everyday experiences of anxiety, provides an understanding of the associated symptoms and offers compassionate coping strategies.

Location

CCL

MHERC

WL

Relaxations: Big Tools for Little Warriors

By Mamen Duch

Year: 2018

Relaxations is a guide on mindfulness techniques for children. Creative metaphors work to help children achieve a state of calm and concentration through breathing, relaxation, and visualization. This book uses gentle affirmations to improve and enhance confidence, self-esteem, concentration, and creativity!

Location

CCL

Just Breathe: Meditation, Mindfulness, Movement and more

By Mallika Chopra

Year: 2018

A meditation guide for teens offers specific mindfulness exercises to help deal with day-to-day challenges and includes tips to lead a happier, healthier, and more connected life.

Location

CCL

MHERC

SL

WL

HL

Happy: A Children’s Book of Mindfulness

By Nicola Edwards

Year: 2018

Happy gently encourages young readers to explore their emotions and the beautiful world around them, with stunning illustrations and thought-provoking rhymes on every page. This poetic journey to a place of happiness and calm will inspire and empower your child to enjoy the practice of mindfulness.

Location

CCL

A Feel Better Book for Little Worriers

By Holly Brochman

Year: 2017

Illustrations and simple, rhyming text provide young children with tools for dealing with feelings of anxiety, such as breathing deeply or replacing worry with happy thoughts.

Location

CCL

A Feel Better Book for Little Tempers

By Holly Brochmann

Year: 2017

Illustrations and simple, rhyming text provide young children with tools for dealing with feelings of anger, such as pretending the anger is a baseball that can be batted away or breathing deeply.

Location

MHERC

WL

When Sadness Comes to Call

By Eva Bland

Year: 2019

When Sadness arrives, try not to be afraid: give it a name, listen to it and spend some time together. Maybe all it wants is to know that it’s welcome. This beautiful debut by new author-illustrator talent Eva Eland takes a poignant but uplifting look at dealing with uncomfortable emotions.

Location

CCL

MHERC

WL

My Princess Boy

By Cheryl Kilodavis

Year: 2011

A four-year-old boy loves dressing up in princess clothing. “A nonfiction picture book about acceptance … to give children and adults a tool to talk about unconditional friendship

Location

CCL

It Feels Good to be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity

By Theresa Thorn

Year: 2019

A picture book that introduces the concept of gender identity to the youngest reader from writer Theresa Thorn and illustrator Noah Grigni. Some people are boys. Some people are girls. Some people are both, neither, or somewhere in between. This sweet, straightforward exploration of gender identity will give children a fuller understanding of themselves and others. With child-friendly language and vibrant art, It Feels Good to Be Yourself provides young readers and parents alike with the vocabulary to discuss this important topic with sensitivity.

Location

CCL

SL

They, She, He, Me – Free to Be!

By Maya Christina Gonzales

Year: 2017

Pronouns serve as a familiar starting point for kids and grown-ups to expand ideas about gender and celebrate personal expression with fun imagery that provides a place to meet and play.

Location

CCL