Ages 5–9Out now
My Brain Has Its Own Speed
A first book about ADHD, for kids who have been called "too much"
My Worry Is a Balloon
Little Knots
My Worry Is a Balloon
A first book about anxiety and the feelings that get bigger when we hold them
The more Lina kept her worry a secret, the bigger it got. Balloons are like that.
Lina has a worry she has not told anyone, and it is getting heavier to carry. A story about how naming a feeling out loud is what lets the air out — and how the grown-up who listens does not need to fix it to help.
What a child takes away
- Feelings get smaller when they are said out loud
- Telling a grown-up is not telling tales
- Worry is information, not a warning you must obey
The page at the back
Includes the Feelings Weather printable and three "what to say" prompts for parents.
For the grown-up buying it
What age is My Worry Is a Balloon for?
Ages 4–8. It reads aloud comfortably in about ten minutes, and works for bedtime or a classroom read-aloud.
Does it diagnose or label the child?
No. It is a story, not an assessment. It describes an experience so a child can recognise themselves in it — which is the opposite of handing them a label to carry.
Is there anything for the grown-up reading it?
Yes. Includes the Feelings Weather printable and three "what to say" prompts for parents.
Can teachers and therapists use it in groups?
Yes. Read-alouds in classrooms, groups and sessions are welcome. If you need a bulk or institutional option, get in touch.
More from the kids shelf
Ages 5–9Coming soon
No Is a Whole Sentence
A first book about boundaries, for kids taught that politeness comes first