Disclosure

You can read my full disclosure here.

A lot of kids go through a period of separation anxiety. We found books to help let our child know they were not alone. Some books even provided useful tools for assisting them to face their anxiety head-on. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Puppy in My Head - by Elise Gravel

This book reminds kids that everyone has negative thoughts by calling them "puppies." We all have a puppy in our head and sometimes we have to help that "puppy" calm down. Elise Gravel provides some tips how how to calm our "puppy" and even encourages kids to imagine what their puppy looks like and to give it a name.

2. Owl Babies - by Martin Waddell

In this book, some baby owls wake up to find their mother gone and they worry where she might be. Any kid can relate to this fear, but rest assured, the mother owl returns! A great way to remind your child that even if you leave for a little, (like dropping your kid off at school) you'll always come back for them.

3. The Otter Who Loved to Hold Hands - by Heidi Howarth

This hard-to-find book was a lucky find at a garage sale and was one of our child's favorites because the otters are adorable. A little otter loves falling asleep holding his parents' hands and is initially afraid to let go, but finds his bravery and learns to stand on his own two feet.

4. Fear Not! - by Christina Furnival

This is a great book that reminds children and adults that we all have anxiety. The book provides wonderful advice on how to face anxiety head-on.

5. This Thing Has A Name - by Amanda Bacon-Davis

Another great book geared towards teaching children that the fear they feel has a name, which is anxiety. This book also provides tips on how to counter fear, worry, and anxiety.

6. First Day Critter Jitters - by Jory John

A great book for kids nervous about going back to school. This fun book features animals that are all a bit worried and even the teacher is worried! It's a great way to remind kids that they aren't the only ones feeling anxious and that their teacher, and adult, might also be nervous!

7. The Kissing Hand - by Audrey Penn

Another great book for going back to school, and provides a cute way for kids to know their parents are always with them, a kiss on the hand! Unfortunately, this one didn't fool our child, as they claimed it was all fake and didn't work, so it might not work on 7-year-olds, but younger kids may find comfort in a kiss on the hand before parting.

8. Summer Camp Critter Jitters - by Jory John

Perfect for kids going to camp and fans of the first Critter Jitter books. Likes in the previous book, it shows all the animals feeling nervous, but everything works out okay in the end.

9. Llama Llama Misses Mama - by Anna Dewdney

This one is geared for younger kids as it's very simple, but kids can relate to missing their mom while at school. There isn't much guidance in overcoming fear, but in the end, kids see that mom does return and picks up Llama Llama and he realizes he loves school and his mom.

10. Anchored - by Debra Tidball

This beautiful book shows the love between a tugboat and a ship. Their love stretches across the sea, so even if the ship is far away, the tugboat knows they will return. It's a great book for any child struggling with separation from their parent.

11. Call Me Penny Pickleberry - by Meghan Grana

This book is geared toward older kids as it is a bit long but teaches them how to manage worries and quiet their negative nellies. The author also provides a guide at the back of the book to help kids handle their negative self-talk.