Is a Worry Worrying You? by Ferida Wolff and Herriet May Savitz, and illustrated by Marie LeTourneau may not take all your worries away, but it is a wonderful way to start a conversation about anxieties, a situation that may be debilitating to some. The text is not only soothing and humorous, but also suggests logical and appropriate solutions. What a perfect balance! 
The first things you notice about the book are the whimsical illustrations. The monster representing worry is a hairy beast reminiscent of the monsters from Where The Wild Things Are. Much of the humor is emphasized and elaborated in the illustrations.
The text shows the reader that everyone has worries, it is normal. But you don’t have to be a prisoner of those worries. By telling about some situations where a child might worry (a few of which are extremely silly, like an eagle nesting in your hair) and how to deal with each one, a child will add real world coping skills to his or her tool kit.
Having recently read an article about how picture book authors need have a subtle message to attract adults to buy the book as well as being appropriate for young readers, I was thinking about how well this works in Is a Worry Worrying You? The book shows the way by being absolutely child friendly, but the topic and message work well for adults, too. Everyone can definitely benefit from having a copy on their shelf to reference whenever stressful events arise.
The publisher’s website has instructions for a related activity of making a worry box. it is towards the bottom of the page.
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Tanglewood Press (May 8, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933718056
ISBN-13: 978-1933718057
The electronic review copy was provided via Net Galley.
Be sure to look for more information about children’s books at today’s Book Talk Tuesday.
Hi, Roberta. I hadn’t heard of this book, but I might check it out. My girls love the book Wemberly Worries by Kevin Henkes, so I’m thinking they might like this one as well. I’ve also heard of South American “worry dolls” who you can tell your worries to and put under your pillow at night. When you wake up in the morning, your worries will be gone 🙂
Those are some good ideas.