September 13, 2019

On Fridays I link up with Susanna Leonard Hill’s amazing group of authors and children’s literature bloggers and bring you a book too good to miss!

My choice this week . . .

I’M WORRIED

Michael Ian Black

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2019

Ages: 4-8

Themes/Topics: Feelings, Worry, Stress

Opening Line:

I’m worried.

            What are you worried about?

The future.

            Why are you worried about the future?

Because what if something BAD happens?

            Like what?

LIKE ANYTHING!!!

Brief Synopsis: Potato (Yes, a potato!) worries about the future. Then Flamingo starts to worry. With wit and wisdom, a little girl consoles them both by helping them remember when the bad came so did the good. After all, no one can promise nothing bad will ever happen, but everyone can enjoy the now. Potato and Flamingo discover that enjoying the present is “WAY better than worrying about the future!” Worrying just doesn’t help.

 

Why I Like This Book: A dialogue book that carries a universal message clearly and to the point. Short and sweet, with an important truth that’s hard to miss. Simple, colorful, and fun illustrations lighten the heaviness of worry and by the end you’re smiling. I’ll remember this one the next time worry knocks at my door. Genius!

Links To Resources: 

-Anxiety and depression are on the rise with adolescence and children. I’m Worried, by Michael Ian Black, is certainly not a therapeutic resource, yet it may be effective for beginning a conversation with a child that feels stressed or worried.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric condition in youth. Lifetime prevalence rates for any anxiety disorder in adolescents is 31.9%.¹Anxiety disorders occur early in childhood with a median age of onset of 6 years. Psychiatric Times, Feb. 25, 2019, Vol. 26, Issue 2, Karen Dineen Wagner, MD, PhD       For more of this article look here.

-A practical hands-on guide to help kids that worry.

–Kidshealth.org offers adivce for helping kids handle worry.

-The post on Christian Children’s Authors, “Why Should I Be Anxious?” Kids Might Have Lots of Reasons, has more on this topic.

-Here are some what to do and not do suggestions from the Child Mind Institute when you have an anxious child.

-There are lots of fun books to help children process and talk about their feelings. Check out my recent blog post, I Feel Weird, to find a few more.

For more perfect picture books and accompanying resources, check out children’s author, Susanna Leonard Hill—the brainchild of this awesome idea! Teachers, parents, gift-givers, grandparents, writers and anyone else that finds a picture book good company will be delighted to find books listed alphabetically and sorted by theme for easy reference. Thanks, Susanna!