30 Children’s Books for Mental Health Awareness Month

In A Day Full of Feelings, each character learns that it’s okay to feel a certain way and that with the help of friends, everyone can express their emotions safely. A delightful picture book that encourages empathy and understanding, this feelings book makes a special gift or self-purchase for just the right moment in a child’s and a parent’s life.

Everyone knows the crayons love to colour, but did you know that crayons have feelings too? Sometimes they are happy and sometimes they feel downright blue.

From the creative minds behind The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home, comes a fun board book to help young readers understand and express their feelings.

My First Brain Quest: Feelings introduces babies and toddlers to nine core emotions-happy, sad, scared, excited, angry, shy, proud, surprised, and calm-to help develop essential emotional literacy skills, promote social and emotional health, and set a strong foundation for early learning.

When Sam lets in a little fear one night, he’s sure it won’t be any bother. But before he knows it, the fear has grown and grown and grown. Until even the sunniest of sunny days doesn’t feel very sunny any more. There’s only one thing for it. Sam must try and be a little bit brave ….

Beautifully and simply told, this reassuring and empowering story on confronting your fears is a hugely exciting debut from author and illustrator Luke Scriven.

It’s Ivor’s first day at school and he’s very nervous, and to make matters worse, he’s suddenly discovered he has. . . A BEAR BEHIND!

Forget worrying about making friends or finding the toilet, Ivor now has to fret about his big, bumbling bear behind him, causing chaos and embarrassing him at his new school!

Can Ivor get rid of this clumsy Bear Behind, or will the bear help him to see that school can be an exciting adventure?

Bea CAN’T WAIT for her birthday. There are only three days to go, and everything is going to be PERFECT! Then snow begins to block the roads . and everything begins to go wrong. With no party, no cards, and maybe even no cake, can Bea find a way to be OK – even in the middle of a really BAD day?

This reassuring and funny book is the perfect springboard for talking to children about setting expectations and finding balance amidst disappointment.

Ivor has a Bear Behind – a great big, bumbling bear who has a habit of appearing at just the wrong moment.

When Ivor sets off on his class trip to the farm, he’s determined to keep his Bear Behind hidden away. But when his best friend chooses to play with someone new, teeny-tiny feelings of jealousy begin to rumble . . . and so does his Bear Behind!

When Finn accidentally breaks his grandma’s precious clock, he tells a teeny tiny little lie – and blames it on his sister instead! Soon, Finn’s little fib is OUT OF CONTROL, and it’s getting in the way of everything! Can he find a way to tell the truth?

This reassuring and humorous book is the perfect springboard for talking to children about the importance of honesty.

Most of the time Ravi can control his temper but, one day, he lets out the tiger within .

Being a tiger is great fun at first – tigers can do ANYTHING they want! But who wants to play with a growling, roaring, noisy, wild tiger who won’t share or play nicely? Ravi is about to discover something very important about expressing his feelings and making amends.

One morning, Stompysaurus wakes from a happy dream, feeling excited for the new day, until things start to go a bit wrong. His brother’s being a tease, his breakfast isn’t his usual favourite and NOTHING is going right. His STOMPS and ROARS start rising inside him, until they EXPLODE!

But a tricky start doesn’t have to mean a stompy finish. Can Stompysaurus find a new way of looking at things and turn his day around?

Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it’s not such a big worry, and that’s all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again?

A perceptive and poignant story that is a must-have for all children’s bookshelves. From Tom Percival’s bestselling Big Bright Feelings series, this is the perfect book for discussing childhood worries and anxieties, no matter how big or small they may be.

One sunny morning, a happy little Hugasaurus waves goodbye to her Pappysaur and sets off into the world on her own for the very first time. When she finds a playground, some new friends welcome her to their games. But it isn’t long before the other little dinosaurs start to squabble.

Can Hugasaurus bring her new friends back together using the magical power of kindness?

Norman had always been perfectly normal . . . until the day he grew a pair of wings!

Norman loves his new wings, and has the most fun ever trying them out high in the sky. But then he has to go in for dinner. What will his parents think? What will everyone else think? Norman feels the safest plan is to cover his wings with a big coat.

But hiding the thing that makes you different proves tricky and upsetting. Can Norman ever truly be himself?

It’s a beautiful day and Worrysaurus has planned a special picnic.

But it isn’t long before a small butterfly of worry starts fluttering in his tummy . . .
What if he hasn’t brought enough to eat?
What if he gets lost in the jungle?
What if he trips and falls?
What if it rains?!

Can Worrysaurus find a way to chase his fears away and have fun?

Tilda’s world is just as she likes it . . . until one day, it turns completely UPSIDE DOWN. All of a sudden, everything is topsy-turvy, and nothing feels right. Things that were once easy now seem incredibly challenging.

Can Tilda discover a new way to approach her problems and believe in herself?

Bold, bright and empowering, this is an inspiring story about coping with difficult situations. It’s the ideal book for helping children to build resilience and embrace a ‘can do’ approach to life.

When Wobblysaurus gets her very first bicycle, she can’t wait to go and ride with all her friends. But every time Wobblysaurus sets off her new wheels, she wibbles… wobbles… and falls!

This little dinosaur is just about ready to give up, but then a word from a wise Grannysaurus reminds her that when you really want something, it’s always worth trying again.

Little Chattysaurus LOVES to chitter chatter. He wants to tell EVERYONE how to build a den, how to play hide-and-seek AND his thoughts on having picnics. There is a LOT to say. But when going on adventures into the woods, there is often a lot to listen to as well – and some of it is VERY helpful!

The perfect picture book to help children learn the benefits of listening. For every Chattysaurus – large or small.

Meesha loves making things . . . but there’s one thing she finds difficult to make – friends. She doesn’t know quite what to do, what to say or when to say it. But one day she discovers that she has a special talent that might just help her navigate social situations – and maybe even make new friends.

A warm and affectionate look at the joys and difficulties of making and keeping friends, relating to others, and finding your place in the world.

Milo loves spending time with his best friend, Jay. But when a new girl called Suzi moves in next door, Milo starts to feel left out. The jealous feeling gets stronger and stronger – until suddenly, a GREEN-EYED MONSTER pops up beside him! Soon, the monster is poisoning Milo’s thoughts. It won’t leave him alone!
Can Milo find a way to free himself from the monster and repair his friendship?

Warm and uplifting, Milo’s Monster is an inspiring story about dealing with feelings of jealousy. It’s the ideal starting point for helping children to build strong friendships and say goodbye to jealous feelings.

Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn’t want to talk about it, but after some persuading, agrees to go for a hike with Grandpa.

Throughout their forest walk, they see many different things: big, strong trees with networks of roots growing underneath, still water with schools of fish swimming below, and an expectant bird with eggs nestled under her. Grandpa explains that people also have hidden feelings beneath the surface, and despite appearances, may be feeling the same way you do.

Panda has lots of ways to look after her mental wellbeing and her cub’s. She eats healthy food, gets plenty of exercise and is kind to others and herself. She has plenty of tips for young children for looking after their mental wellbeing too`.

The Healthy Habits series for children aged 4 plus, features key information about how to stay healthy in mind and body, simply told and brought to life through a relatable animal guide alongside bright and gently humorous illustrations.

Jayben discovers that many moons ago, a giant put a dark spell on the golden torch, and the elves forgot everything that had come before. Now they hang precious memories in jars on trees, just to try to remember. But a new darkness grows among them.

An evil villain called Null is burning down the forests, hellbent on finding the torch and becoming the most powerful being ever to live.

If Jayben can find his own magic and ignite the torch with its fierce violet flame, his power will be unstoppable … Can Jayben save the world before the lights go out forever?

There are 4 things you should know about Ben:
1. He’s 12 years old
2. He’s the new kid at school
3. His special number is 4
4. He has a bully in his brain

An authentic and affecting #ownvoices story about living life with OCD, from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey.

Ren’s family lose their home in a fire. They’re living with her grandmother now and things are a bit tense.

Ren lost her collection of things, her clothes; her brother lost his little bear and is inconsolable. So Ren starts replacing things with other people’s possessions. They’ve got loads of stuff, after all.

But she gets caught and has to strike a terrifying deal to avoid detection…

Ella is the new girl at school. She doesn’t know anyone, and she doesn’t have any friends. She also has a terrible secret…

Ella can’t believe her luck when Lydia, the most popular girl in school, decides to be her new best friend – but what does Lydia really want? And what does it all have to do with Molly, the quiet, shy girl who won’t talk to anyone?

Her time at this new school is a gripping story filled with secrets, lies and friendship…

Help children feel happy and grow their confidence with this interactive journal, full of tried and tested self-esteem boosters, fun exercises, and creative activities from mental health ambassador, Dr. Alex George.

Dr. Alex George’s books are written to be your friend, in good times and bad. So grab a pen, get scribbling and start looking after your mental health with confidence.

As Keedie and her twin Nina approach their fourteenth birthday, they seem to only be growing further apart. Keedie instead feels drawn to, and fiercely protective of, their quiet younger sister Addie – who on the surface is the opposite of loud and fiery Keedie, but in fact they have more in common than anyone knows.

This is the story of one of those days – a day so bad you can barely get out of bed, when it’s a struggle to leave the house, and when you do, you wish you hadn’t. But even the worst of days can surprise you. When one sad ghost, alone at a crowded party, spies another sad ghost across the room, they decide to leave together. What happens next changes everything.

Join Olivia Kirkby on her journey to accepting herself as perfectly imperfect and learn how you can too. In this inspiring book for teenage girls aged 13+, Olivia talks openly and honestly about growing up with body issues, low self-worth, and an unhealthy relationship with food. By setting herself free from society’s beauty ideals, she learned to appreciate and love her changing body.