Mental health concerns in children are on the rise. For children who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and other intense emotions, it’s important for them to know they’re not alone and are not the only ones struggling. Seeing themselves in literature creates a sense of understanding and belonging. For children without mental health concerns, reading about others who may be experiencing these challenges can foster empathy and acceptance.
To shed light on children’s mental health through the joy of reading, here’s a list of books for kids that feature characters with mental health challenges. Try introducing some to your children and teens, whether they face mental health issues or not.
Note that the age ranges for each book are suggestions to give you an idea of what might be appropriate for your child’s age, maturity and reading level.
Ready, set, read!
All About Emotions
- The Color Monster: A Story about Emotions by Anna Llenas (ages 2-5)
- Feel Your Feelings by Scott Stoll and Sara E. Williams (ages 4-8)
- You Are Your Strong by Danielle Dufayet (ages 4-8)
- Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too) by Keith Negley (ages 3-5)
- (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health by Kelly Jensen (ages 14 and up)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/ADHD
- Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale (ages 3-6)
- Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book about Living with ADHD by Jeanne Kraus (ages 6-9)
- The Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos (ages 8-12)
- It’s the End of the World and I’m in my Bathing Suit by Justin Reynolds (ages 8-12)
- Focused by Alyson Gerber (ages 9-12)
Anger
- My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook (ages 4-7)
- Ravi’s Roar by Tom Percival (ages 3-6)
- When I Feel Angry by Sharie Coombes (ages 3-6)
- Cursed by Karol Ruth Silverstein (ages 12 and up)
- Croak by Gina Damico (ages 12 and up)
Anxiety
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes (ages 3-6)
- Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival (ages 3-6)
- A Kissing Hand for Chester Raccoon by Audrey Penn (ages 2-5)
- Guts by Raina Telgemeier (ages 9-11)
- Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (ages 12 and up)
Depression
- The Princess and the Fog by Lloyd Jones (ages 5-7)
- Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand (ages 8-12)
- The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange (ages 8-12)
- Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (ages 12 and up)
- Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow (ages 14 and up)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/OCD
- Mr. Worry: A Story About OCD by Holly Niner (ages 4-8)
- Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz (ages 8-12)
- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green (ages 14 and up)
- OCDaniel by Wesley King (ages 8-12)
- Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone (ages 12 and up)
- Under Rose Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall (ages 12 and up)
