Finding the right book can be a simple but powerful way to help children understand themselves, explore difficult feelings and discover that they are not alone in what they are experiencing.
We’ve asked our tutors, emotion coaches and counsellors at Emotionally Healthy Minds to recommend some of their favourite books for children and young people aged 1–18. The books cover a wide range of topics, from building confidence and understanding emotions to managing anxiety, developing resilience, navigating friendships and exploring neurodiversity.
We’ve grouped the recommendations by theme to make it easier to find books that may be helpful for your child or young person.
We’ll continue adding to this list as our team discovers new books that they believe can support children’s emotional health, wellbeing and personal development.
A note from our team: These books have been recommended by members of the Emotionally Healthy Minds team based on their professional experience working with children and young people. Every child is different, so a book that is helpful for one child may not be right for another. Our recommendations are intended as a starting point for parents and carers rather than a substitute for professional support where this is needed.
Book categories
Books for Building Confidence
Books can be a gentle way to help children recognise their strengths and develop confidence in themselves. These recommendations explore themes such as trying new things, believing in yourself, overcoming self-doubt and discovering that you don’t have to be perfect to succeed. They may be particularly helpful for children who lack confidence or are reluctant to try because they are worried about getting things wrong.
The Lion Inside
Author: Rachel Bright
Recommended age: 1–5 years
Wonder
Author: R J Palacio
Recommended age: 9–13 years
Books About Understanding Emotions
Children don’t always have the words to explain how they are feeling. Stories can give them a safe and accessible way to explore emotions such as anger, sadness, worry, frustration, jealousy and happiness. These books can help children recognise and name their feelings, understand that emotions are normal and begin to develop healthier ways of expressing and managing them.
The Colour Monster
Author: Anna Llenas
Recommended age: 2–5 years
Angry Arthur
Author: Hiawyn Oram
Recommended age: 2–6
Ravi’s Roar
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
Bea’s Bad Day
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
The Little Iceberg
Author: Nicky Murray
Recommended age: 3–10
Books About Resilience and Growth Mindset
Resilience isn’t about never finding things difficult. It is about developing the confidence to face challenges, learn from experiences and keep going when things don’t work out. These books explore perseverance, problem-solving, learning from mistakes and developing a growth mindset, helping children understand that abilities can develop through practice, support and experience.
Tilda Tries Again
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
Sammy Feels Shy
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
What do you do with a Problem?
Author: Kobi Yamada
Recommended age: 5–8
Marcus Rashford: You Can Do it
Author: Marcus Rashford & Carl Anka
Recommended age: 9–14
Books About Starting a New School or Coping With Change
Changes such as starting nursery, beginning primary school, moving to secondary school or dealing with a change at home can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. These books explore transitions, new experiences and uncertainty in ways that can help children understand their feelings and feel more prepared for change.
The Colour Monster Goes to School
Author: Anna Llenas
Recommended age: 4–7
The Kissing Hand
Author: Audrey Penn
Recommended age: 4–7
The Invisible String
Author: Patrice Karst
Recommended age: 7–11
My Name is not Refugee
Author: Kate Milner
Recommended age: 7–11
The Boy at the Back of the Class
Author: Onjali Q.Rauf
Recommended age: 7–11
Can you See Me?
Author: Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott
Recommended age: 10–14
Books About Self-Esteem and Identity
Developing a positive sense of self is an important part of growing up. These recommendations explore self-esteem, identity, individuality, belonging and learning to accept yourself for who you are. They may be particularly helpful for children and young people who compare themselves with others, struggle with self-worth or are beginning to explore who they are.
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Author: Giles Andreae
Recommended age: 1–5
Perfectly Norman
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
Ish
Author: Peter H. Reynolds
Recommended age: 4–8
Books for Anxiety and Stress Management
Worries are a normal part of childhood, but anxiety can sometimes begin to affect sleep, friendships, learning or everyday life. These books offer age-appropriate ways to explore worry, anxiety and stress and may help children understand what happens when they feel anxious. Some also introduce practical ideas for coping with worries and finding ways to feel calmer.
The Worrysaurus
Author: Rachel Bright
Recommended age: 1–5
Ruby’s Worry
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
The Black Dog
Author: Levi Penfold
Recommended age: 3–8
The Happy Confident Me Daily Journey
Author: Annabel Rosenhead
Recommended age: 6–10
Books About Friendships and Relationships
Friendships become increasingly important as children grow, but relationships can sometimes be complicated. These books explore friendship, kindness, empathy, communication, conflict, boundaries and belonging. They can provide useful opportunities to talk with children about what makes a healthy friendship and how to navigate some of the challenges that relationships can bring.
The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse
Author: Charlie Mackesy
Recommended age: All
I love you, Blue Kangeroo!
Author: Emma Chichester Clark
Recommended age: 1–5
I Want to Win!
Author: Tony Ross
Recommended age: 2–5
Finn’s Little Fibs
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
Meesha Makes Friends
Author: Tom Percival
Recommended age: 3–7
The Hare-Shaped Hole
Author: John Docherty
Recommended age: 3–7
Have you Filled a Bucket Today?
Author: Carol McCloud
Recommended age: 4–9
The Sad Ghost Club Collection
Author: Liza Meddings
Recommended age: 12–18
Books About Mindfulness and Self-Care
Mindfulness and self-care can help children develop greater awareness of their thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. These recommendations introduce ideas such as slowing down, noticing the present moment, relaxation and looking after yourself. They can provide simple starting points for conversations about emotional wellbeing and healthy ways to manage everyday stress.
Breathe Like a Bear
Author: Kira Willey
Recommended age: 4–8
Mindful Me: Exploring Emotions
Author: Paul Christelis
Recommended age: 4–8
Sitting Still Like a Frog
Author: Eline Snel
Recommended age: 5–12
Books About Neurodiversity and Understanding Differences
Children and young people can benefit from books that help them understand and celebrate the different ways people think, communicate, learn and experience the world. These recommendations explore neurodiversity and differences including autism and ADHD, as well as themes such as acceptance, inclusion, individuality and belonging. They can be useful for both neurodivergent children and their peers.
All My Stripes
Author: Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
Recommended age: 4–8
A Friend Like Simon
Author: Kate Gaynor
Recommended age: 4–8
The Brain Forest
Author: Sandhya Menon
Recommended age: 4–10
Can I tell You About ADHD?
Author: Susan Yarney
Recommended age: 7–12
Books for Exam Pressure and Study Stress
Exams and assessments can create significant pressure for children and teenagers, particularly when they feel that their results define their future or their worth. These books explore exam stress, managing pressure, confidence, motivation and maintaining perspective during demanding periods. They can also provide opportunities to talk about healthy expectations and looking after emotional wellbeing while studying.
You are Awesome
Author: Matthew Syed
Recommended age: 9–14
The Teenage Guide to Stress
Author: Nicola Morgan
Recommended age: 12–18
Books About Perfectionism and Fear of Failure
For some children, the fear of making a mistake can become a barrier to learning, trying new things and enjoying themselves. These books explore perfectionism, mistakes, failure, self-compassion and the importance of having a go. They can help children understand that getting things wrong is a normal part of learning and that they don’t need to be perfect to be successful.
Beautiful Oops!
Author: Barney Saltzberg
Recommended age: 3–8
The Girl who Never Made Mistakes
Author: Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein
Recommended age: 4–8
