Annotated Bibliography- Book for children with Emotional/ Behavioral Disturbances

Books for elementary students

Shannon, D. (1998). No, David! Blue Sky Press

-Suggested for Kinder-3rd
- No, David! Highlights that even if you behave wrong, or your parents constantly get on to you,
that they still love you. This is an important lesson for children because it shows that when we
mess up, even if it is daily, that there is still love for them. David himself serves as a relatable
figure for children who have behavioral issues that affect their impulse control or limit their
perspectives and serves as a realistic role model with a positive ending for the kids. This book
was also written by the author originally when he was a kid and thus describes these lessons in
language easily understood by kids.

Pfister, M. (1992). The rainbow fish (A, James. Trans). North-South Books Inc.
-Suggested for kinder -3rd
- The rainbow fish is a heartwarming story of a fish who is essentially outcasted by its peers
because it is unique. The other fish do not understand the Rainbow fish’s unique scales and thus
shun the fish because it is different from them. However, the rainbowfish, who has a heart of
gold, decides to share its unique scales with the rest of the fish so that they can all get along and
relate to each other. This story shows kids that their differences can be unique and positive
aspects about them rather than be viewed negatively. Most people judge because they do not
understand, but ones the rainbow fish shared insight into its unique scales the other fish stopped
judging and accepted the rainbow fish as their own. Overall highlighting that spreading
awareness about what makes us unique is a powerful and positive tool to make connections with
others.

Ehrlich, E. (2014). Nest (T. White, Illus.). Random House Children’s Books.
-Suggested for 4th and 5th grade readers
-Nest is the story of 11-year-old Naomi who is faced with tragedy when her dancer mother is
injured in an accident and succumbs into a deep depression. However, through the healing power
of her newly found friendship with Joey, Naomi is able to find comfort and escape through the
adventures they embark on together. This book is both a heart-warming and heart-wrenching
story of how to handle mental health within the family and teaches children the power of
friendship, adventure, perseverance, and patience. Nest serves as an honest yet powerful example
of how to handle intense changes in family dynamics for young children while also educating
them on depression and mental health as a whole.

Books for middle school students

Gantos, J. (1998). Joey pigza swallowed the key. Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
-Suggested for 6th and 7th graders mainly but would suffice for 8th grade as well
- Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is a humorous yet honest look at what it is like to be a middle
schooler with ADHD and behavioral problems. Joey feels dull and not himself when on his
medication but is consistently categorized as “aggressive” when he is off them. This book serves
as a realistic and personal look at what is like to be categorized at the “weird” kid due to
impulsive behavior and highlights humor and self-love as impactful coping skills to embrace
your own “weirdness”. Therefore, making Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key a wonderful reference
to help teach children how to handle ADHD or behavioral problems while also serving as an
educational tool for how to treat others that you may not understand.

Thompson, L. (2017). The goldfish boy. Scholastic Press.

-Suggested for 7th and 8th graders but can suffice for 6th graders with higher level reading
-The Goldfish Boy highlights the life of Mathew who suffers from severe OCD and anxiety
which surfaced around the same time as the death of his baby brother. This book heart-
wrenchingly describes what it is like to live in Mathew’s shoes firsthand; including his perceived
inability to leave his room and intense germaphobia. However, when a neighborhood little boy
goes missing Mathew is faced with the arduous choice of staying in his safety zone or tackling
his fears to help solve the crime of the missing child. This book is full of humor, horror, and
heart as it sheds light on what it is like to live with severe OCD while serving as a guide on how
to overcome your personal “roadblocks” for the sake of the greater good. The Goldfish Boy
serves as great representation for the OCD community through the main character and hero of
the book while educating all readers on what it is truly like to live with this disorder.

Books for high school students

Kuehn, S. (2013). Charm & Strang. St. Martin’s Press.

-Suggested for 9th-12th grade
-Charm & Strange brings to light the personal life of Andrew Winston who is consistently at war
with himself. Andrew suffers from violent impulses, isolative tendencies, family trauma,
bullying, and eventually suicidal thoughts. But when Andrew is exiled to a remote boarding
school he is forced to finally deal with his inner demons and make peace with his decision to
live. This book is a devastating yet honest account of what it is like to be at war with your own
mortality as well as the isolation, depression, and aggression that comes with the tiresome act of
battling oneself daily. However, this book does prove that no matter how deep one might feel in
their darkness it does not make that feeling permanent. Andrew’s story has the ability to relate to
many students who suffer with similar problems while still providing positivity through his
realistic struggle and decision to live.

Dunkle, E. & Dunkle, C.B. (2016). Elena vanishing: A memoir. Chronicle Books LLC.
-Suggested for 10th-12th grade
-Elena Vanishing is an in-depth memoir that describes Elena’s struggle with both anxiety and
anorexia. Co-written by a mother and daughter team this memoir dives into a heart wrenching
and gruesome account of what it is like to succumb to the lose-lose war of starving oneself to
please others. This book is difficult to read due to the severity of the accounts but serves as both
an educational tool to spread awareness of eating disorders and also shows representation of
what it is like to look back on your life with an eating disorder form a better place, as the author
has done. Elena Vanishing proves that one can be healthy and live a successful life after dealing
with an eating disorder while the author’s themselves serve as role models in the community to
look up to.
Garvin, J. (2016). Symptoms of being human. Harper Collins Publishers INC.
-Suggested for 9th-12th grade
- Symptoms of being human is a realistic and uplifting story of a courageous non-binary teen who
is forced into a situation where they must decide to either embrace who they are or succumb to
the limiting desires of their conservative town. This book describes the harsh and insensitive
bullying as well as feelings of anxiety and depression that many members of the LGBTQ
community face. Riley serves as a powerful representation for the community because their story
highlights both sides of the coin, both the experience of an “outcast” and the champion response
to advocate for your community. Riley inspires students to embrace who they are, regardless of
the environment, before they succumb to devastating effects on their mental health. This is a
great proactive and inspiring book for members of the LGBTQ community and for those who
need to be educated on how their words affect others.
Annotated Bibliography: Emotional Disturbance
Early Elementary-
The Color Thief
Written by Andrew Fusek Peters and Polly Peters, illustrated by Karin
Littlewood
Published by Albert Whitman & Company on September 1, 2015
Grade levels: 1-3 (ages 4-8)
“A child recounts his experience of losing his father to depression in this
poignant and beautifully illustrated picture book. The boy's father disappears into a world
without color. As the father seeks help, color begins to reappear and with it hope. An ideal book
for parents and caregivers to share with children to help them make sense of the devastating
effects that depression can cause.”
This book provides young children, ages 4-8, a carefully crafted visual of what it is like to have
depression or deal with someone who has depression. The boy in the story watches as his father
loses the colors in his life, which is how the authors and illustrator choose to show depression.
As the father gets help and leans on loved ones, the boy sees the color returning to the life around
his father. The color thief is the depression his father suffers from. This helps normalize the
feeling of being empty and alone to children who are often told that it is not ok to feel this way
and are more likely to grow up and hide these feelings from loved ones. This story helps children
make sense of these feelings and understand what they may feel or look like.
Peters, A. F., Peters, P., & Littlewood, K. (2015). The Color Thief. Albert Whitman & Company.
I Am Enough
Written by Grace Byers and illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
Published by Balzer + Bray on March 6, 2018
Grade levels: Pre-k to 3

“This gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others,
and being kind to one another comes from Empire actor and activist
Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo.

We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.”

This is a story of a young girl as she navigates the similarities and differences between people
and learning to love herself because of those differences. Not everyone is the same, and it is
harmful to compare yourself and your progress to those around you. You are your own person
and do things in your own way. This book highlights how important loving yourself is and how
we should all be practicing positive self-talk more and being kind to others. This book is
appropriate for children ages 4-8.

Byers, G., & Bobo, K. A. (2018). I Am Enough. Balzer + Bay.

My Mouth is a Volcano
Written by Julia Cook and illustrated by Carrie Hartman
Published by National Center for Youth Issues on October 1, 2005
Grade levels : Pre-k to 3 (ages 4-8)
“Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has
something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his
tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts). His mouth is a
volcano! But when others begin to interrupt Louis, he learns how to respectfully wait for his turn
to talk.”
Louis is a young boy who has trouble controlling the things that come out of his mouth. He
interrupts others when they are speaking, he yells, and he doesn’t think about how his words may
affect others. His thoughts are very important to him and he needs to say them quickly so others
will know they are important, too! Throughout the story you see how those around Louis feel
about him interrupting them all the time. His friends get upset, his parents feel disappointed, and
his sister is sad. Why can’t he understand their thoughts are important, too? Louis begins to
understand how it feels when those around him begin to interrupt him instead. Because of this,
Louis leans on those around him to learn how to control the volcano inside of him so that it
doesn’t erupt and disrupt others. This book is appropriate for early elementary students age 4-8.
Cook, J., & Hartman, C. (2005). My Mouth is a Volcano. National Center for Youth Issues.
Upper Elementary-
Some Kind of Happiness
Written by Claire Legrand
Published by Simon and Schuster Books on May 16, 2017
Grade levels: 3-7 (ages 8-12)
“Things Finley Hart doesn’t want to talk about:
-Her parents, who are having problems. (But they pretend like they’re
not.)
-Being sent to her grandparents’ house for the summer.
-Never having met said grandparents.
-Her blue days—when life feels overwhelming, and it’s hard to keep her head up. (This happens
a lot.)
Finley’s only retreat is the Everwood, a forest kingdom that exists in the pages of her notebook.
Until she discovers the endless woods behind her grandparents’ house and realizes the Everwood
is real—and holds more mysteries than she’d ever imagined, including a family of pirates that
she isn’t allowed to talk to, trees covered in ash, and a strange old wizard living in a house made
of bones.”
Finley is a young girl who is struggling desperately to make sense of the bad things that keep
happening in her life and the growing darkness and emptiness she feels in herself because of it.
Finley is sent to live with her grandparents who she has never met. In order to escape from her
loneliness, Finley creates an imaginary land in the forest behind their house. She begins to
uncover secrets and dark things in the forest, deciding that she must save the Forest. But soon
Finley realizes the only way to save the forest is to deal with her own mental disability and seek
help. In order to save her imaginary world, she must save herself in the real world. Finley
struggles with asking for help but discovers in the end that its ok to ask for help when things get
dark. This book is intended for ages 8-12 but would be a great starter chapter book for upper
elementary school aged children. It is similar to Bridge to Terabithia and Counting by 7’s.
Legrand, C. (2017). Some Kind of Happiness. Simon and Schuster Books.
Middle School-
Chillax! (How Ernie Learns to Chill Out, Relax, and Take Control of His
Anger)
Written by Marcella Marino Craver and illustrated by Amerigo Pinelli
Published by Magination Press on August 1, 2011
Grade levels: 3-8 (ages 8-13)
“Meet Ernie, a typical kid with an everyday life. Ernie has great friends, a
great family (except for his annoying sister), and a great school. There is
just one problem -- Ernie doesn't just get mad. He gets MAD!”
This graphic novel focuses on Ernie, who is an average, everyday kid with a big anger problem.
In this book, Ernie learns how to deal with his outbursts of anger through the help of his school
counselor. Ernie discovers that when he puts his mind to it, and practices, he can control his
outbursts and anger. This makes for a happier Ernie, a better brother, a nicer friend, and a caring
son. Ernie is in middle school, so this book is aimed for students in middle school, but based on
the reading level can be used for students grades 3-8 (ages 8-13).
Craver, M. M., & Pinelli, A. (2011). Chillax!: How Ernie Learns to Chill Out, Relax, and Take
Control of His Anger. Magination Press.
High School/ Young Adult-
 The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary
Written by NoNieqa Ramos
Published by Carolrhoda Lab on February 1, 2018
Grade levels: 9-12 (ages 14+)
“Macy's school officially classifies her as "disturbed," but Macy
isn't interested in how others define her. She's got more pressing
problems: her mom can't move off the couch, her dad's in prison, her
brother's been kidnapped by Child Protective Services, and now her best
friend isn't speaking to her. Writing in a dictionary format, Macy
explains the world in her own terms―complete with gritty characters and outrageous endeavors.
With an honesty that's both hilarious and fearsome, slowly Macy reveals why she acts out, why
she can't tell her incarcerated father that her mom's cheating on him, and why her best friend
needs protection . . . the kind of protection that involves Macy's machete”
At school, Macy has been labeled as “emotionally disturbed” and at home, Macy is surrounded
by family that is dealing with their own mental disabilities. Because of this, she feels like she is
losing control of her life and the people in it. One thing she can do is define the things happening
around her in her own terms: like defining something in a dictionary. Macy is faced with
problems in life that are much bigger than anything a high school student should have to deal
with. Because of this, Macy begins to show why she has made the choices that have led her to
where she is now. This book is for high school students (age 14) and up.
Ramos, N. (2018). The Disturbed Girl’s Dictionary. Carlrhoda Lab.
Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles
Edited by Jessica Burkhart
Published by Simon and Schuster Books on April 10, 2018
Grade levels: 9-12 (ages 14+)
“Have you ever felt like you just couldn't get out of bed? Not the
occasional morning, but every day? Do you find yourself listening to a
voice in your head that says "you're not good enough," "not good
looking enough," "not thin enough," or "not smart enough"? Have you
ever found yourself unable to do homework or pay attention in class
unless everything is "just so" on your desk? Everyone has had days like that, but what if you
have them every day?

You're not alone. Millions of people are going through similar things. However issues around
mental health still tend to be treated as something shrouded in shame or discussed in whispers.
It's easier to have a broken bone--something tangible that can be "fixed"--than to have a mental
illness, and easier to have a discussion about sex than it is to have one about mental health.”
This book recounts the lives and events of 31 authors who all struggled or dealt with some
mental health impairment in one form or fashion during their life. Some authors recount dealing
with family members who suffered from mental disabilities ranging from PTSD to Depression to
OCD and everything in between. They talk about how it affected their life to grow up with
someone who was diagnosed with a mental disability. Other authors recount growing up and
dealing with their own diagnosis and disability. They discuss how it impacted their life to be
labeled with a disability and how it shaped the opinion of those around them. They discuss
struggles they faced in school and beyond in the real word. Each author also describes the
turning point in their life that helped them accept their disability and move forward with their
life. The goal of the authors was to show that mental health is not something we need to hide
from and it is more common than we are led to believe. The authors state that these are stories
written by “this generation for this generation” so that teens do not need to feel so alone or
helpless when facing the reality of having a mental disability. This book is for high school
students (grade 9-12) and beyond.
Burkhart, J. (Ed). (2018). Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles.
Simon and Schuster Books.
Santana Ramon 3/19/2021

Emotional Behavioral Disorder

Annotated Bibliography
Dean, Kimberely. (2013). Pete the Cat and his Magical Sunglasses. HarperCollins Publisher.
(Grade level PreK – 2).

Pete the Cat and his Magical Sunglasses is a book about how to
turn a bad day into a good day. This book is made for younger
students to express how they feel and how they can manage to
turn it into a good day. With students who are not able to turn
their bad feelings into good feelings. Pete the Cat character is
seen to be having bad feelings, but once having those magical
sunglasses been given to him. He seemed to turn his feelings into
good feelings for the day. With our students, we can turn to
something that the student relies on and let it be “magical” to
help the student express their feelings and how we can help turn
them into good feelings.

Cain, Janan. (2005). The Way I Feel. Parenting Press. (Grade level Pre-K – 2).

The Way I Feel book defines each feeling and gives an example
of how the body can react to this feeling. It is great for students
to understand the definition of feelings and how the body reacts
with it as well. Students who are expressing a lot of emotion are
unaware of how this emotion makes them feel and what it is
being define as. Being able to read this book to your students
will help them understand the definition of the feelings and how
the body can react to it. You can use it in your classroom when a
student is having a feeling that he/she is unsure about. This book
will help determine how they are feeling and can put a definition
to it.

Lee, W Britney & Souva, Jacob. (2019). The Boy with Big Big Feelings. Bearning Books. (Grade
level 1-3).
The Boy with Big Big Feelings gives real life examples of how
feelings can affect your behavior. This book describes each
feeling into a real-life example that can happen in a young
student. Reading this can show the students that you are going to
have feelings that you can not control because of the situation
that is happening. Expressing to them that it is best to let your
feelings out to another student or teacher that way they can help
along the way with these feelings the students are getting.
Students and teachers are the best way to help calm down and
understand those feelings.
Santana Ramon 3/19/2021

Larnia, Mary. (2012). Emotions! Making Sense of Your Feelings. Magination Press. (Grade level
3-8)

Emotions! Making Sense of Your Feelings is about how you can

manage your feelings into making quality life decisions. It is
based on the positive side of having all these feelings to where
you can manage them to work to your needs. It gives an outline
of what the feeling is, how you will feel during that time, and
then explains how you can turn that feeling into something that
works for you. This book can help students look on the positive
side of having all these feelings and mixed emotions. To where
they can see how having these emotions can be beneficial if used
in the positive way of looking at them.

Wolynn, Mark. (2016). It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We
Are and How to End the Cycle. Penguin Publishing Group. (Grade level 5-12).

This book focuses on family trauma that has been going through
all the students’ lives and possibly even the parents. How that
trauma manages our emotions and behavior in the classroom. It
gives helpful tools and strategies in how that trauma can be
ended in the students live. I feel this book is more turn for the
teacher to have on how he/she can find ways to help their student
with the trauma they are dealing with. The teacher can decide
which parts to let that child read for their own benefit of finding
out how does this trauma have to do with my emotions and
behavior.

Nakazawa, Donna. (2016). Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology,
and How You Can Heal. Atria Books. (Grade level 6-12)

This book is based around biology and biography of some

people who have had their lives turned upside down because of
how they feel or what they go through. It gives an understanding
of how this can all start through biology, hear people’s stories of
how they are being affected, and then tie it all together with how
you can “heal” through this process. It is given the insight of
biology wise of where emotions, feelings and the behavior can
all start in different people.
 Emotional Disturbance Annotated Bibliography

Cook, J. & Hartman, C. (2005). My mouth is a volcano! National Center for Youth Issues.
(Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3rd)
My Mouth is a Volcano! is about a child that is always interrupting the teacher
and his peers. However, he learns he does not like being interrupted when his
peers begin to do the same to him. The story is told from the child’s perspective to
allow parents, teachers, and counselors an entertaining way to teach respect of
others by listening and waiting their turn. It is an empathetic approach on the
habit of interrupting. It teaches children a witty technique to manage their
thoughts and words. This book is great for teaching patience to children. It builds
awareness that everyone has differences and outbursts, but we should be
respectful of others too.

Cook, J. & De Weerd, K. (2011) I just don’t like the sound of no! My story about accepting
no for an answer and disagreeing the right way! Boys Town Press. (Grade Level:
Kindergarten – 2nd)
This is book is great for children aged 5-8 years old. It is so hard for many
children to hear the word no. This book works to teach important social skill to
accept no and disagree respectfully. The main character, RJ, continuously argues
with his parents and teacher when he is told no. His teacher recommends joining
the Say YES to NO club. The club rewards the students that learn to accept no for
an answer and disagree appropriately with their teacher and parents. RJ finds that
using these skills the right way leads to lots of praise and some rewards. This
book shows how some behaviors are inappropriate and hurt interpersonal
relationships. It also includes tips for parents and educators on how to teach and
encourage the development of skills to counter those behaviors.

Hutchinson, S. D. (2017). We are the ants. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
(Grade Level: 9th – 12th)
We are the Ants takes an interesting approach to mental illness. The main character,
Henry, is abducted by aliens periodically. During the most recent abduction, the
aliens give him an ultimatum: the world will end in 144 days and all he has to do to
stop it is push a big red button. Henry struggles with if the world is worth saving. He
relies on the advice and support of his family and friends to decide. The book deals
with suicide, suicidal thoughts, PTSD themes, anxiety, depression, disassociations,
and denationalization in an extremely creative way.
Keller, T. (2019). The science of breakable things. Yearling. (Grade Level: 3rd – 7th)
Natalie’s teacher suggests she enter an egg drop competition; she thinks it could
be the solution to her problems. She plans to use the prize money to fly her
botanist mother to see a specific Orchid that has the resilience to survive against
impossible odds. She feels that her mother will be able to relate to this and fall in
love with life again. Natalie’s mother struggles with depression and does not get
out of bed most days. Natalie’s friends not only help her with her project, but also
show her that you should talk about your problems. Natalie discovers the science
of hope, love, and miracles. This story explores what its like for children to deal
with a parent with mental health struggles and the typical ups and downs of the
teenage years. It is a hope-filled story with lessons about persevering when life’s
challenges try to break you.

Scelsa, K. (2017). Fans of the impossible life. Balzer + Bray. (Grade Level: 9th – 12th)
This book is about three friends. The main character Mira struggles with depression.
She only feels her best when she is with her gay best friend, Sebby. It highlights that
there are good days and bad days to depression. Sebby, is in a foster home right now,
and the story highlights the some of the difficulties that could occur living in that
environment. Newcomer to the group Jeremy, isolated himself from his peers because
of an incident that occurred the year before, is drawn to the two. Jeremy begins to
understand the rituals that the two participate in to try to fix the parts of their lives
they deem broken. The book shows how support can help make the symptoms of
mental illnesses easier to manage. The characters are extremely relatable for children
in high school.

Swartz, E. (2019). Finding perfect. Square Fish. (Grade Level: 3rd – 7th)
In Finding Perfect, the main character Molly struggles with OCD, friendship, and
family. Molly has her own definition of perfect, and her mother leaving to take a job
that is faraway is not in her definition. She fears that her mom will not return in a
year like she promises. Because of this she hatches a plan to win a poetry slam
contest because she knows her mother would never miss the fancy banquet. Instead
writing slam poetry becomes harder for her and she develops new habits. Counting,
cleaning, and organizing are not enough to keep her world from spinning out of
control and she must learn that there is no such thing as perfect. This book is an
empathetic guide to coping with mental illnesses.
 Emotional Disturbance/Behavioral Disorder Annotated Bibliography

Oriard, K., Christensen, C., & Thomson, T. (2019). The Feels. Pacific Northwest: Slumberkins.
(Grade Level K-4th).
The Feels is an informational book designed by therapist and educator,
for younger children to promote emotional wellbeing, emotion identification,
and coping skills. This book expresses on a journey of self-discovery, meeting
feelings, and how to take care of each one. Throughout the book the children
will learn about emotions and how to support each emotion. The book
emphasizes that students with emotional disturbance /behavioral disorder are
capable of identifying their emotions and managing them as well. The feels is
a great book to use in class to help children with the understanding and
acceptance of all kinds of feelings. It will help students understand that taking
care of themselves and knowing about their emotions is important. They will
be able to see that all their classmates have different emotions and its helpful
to help each other no matter what emotion they are experiencing. It also helps
younger children understand to identify their emotions. At a young age they
will be able to see that what they experience, and feel is okay. They will also
understand how to take care of each feeling with the help of the explanation
the book provides.
McIntyre, T., & Lisovskis, M. (2015). The survival guide for kids with behavior challenges: How to make
good choices and stay out of trouble. Sydney, N.S.W: Read How You Want. (Grade Level 5th-8th).

The Survival Guide for Kids with Behavior Challenges is a book that
teaches kids with behavior challenges to find practical strategies. These
strategies will help them make smarter choices, get along with friends and
teachers. All while taking responsibility for their actions and allowing them to
enjoy the results of better behavior. Within the book there is a special section
at the back of the book that addresses diagnosed behavior disorders. The book
highlights helping young students who need help with behavior and guiding
them on how to produce it. This book will allow children to see that some
friends have trouble with behavior. Despite them making poor choices they
will come to realize there are strategies the book provides that their friends
could practice and that they could help them with so that they build better
habits. Not only will it help peers who may not experience behavior challenges
but maybe help those students who do. They are able to use the survival guide
to see how they could help change their behavior and how it will benefit them
if they do with the guide that is provided.
Buron, K. D. (2013). When my worries get too big!: A relaxation book for children who live with
anxiety. Shawnee Mission, KS: Autism Asperger Pub. (Grade Level K-3rd).

When My Worries Get Too Big! Is a children’s book created to help

children who live with anxiety. The book offers simple strategies provided by
the author to help relax themselves and to focus either on work or play. It
provides parents, teachers, and children with helpful tools that give young
children an opportunity to explore their own feelings. With either their parents
or teachers as they are reacting to events that occur in their daily lives. The
book provides opportunities for children who experience anxiety to participate
in developing their own self calming strategies. When My Worries Get Too
Big will help students see that some classmates have difficulties with a feeling
of worry and uneasiness. Just because they have this feeling often compared to
others there are tools that the book provides to help them when they are feeling
a certain way. That way if they a see a friend experiencing this, they are able
to understand why. This will also help the student who experience anxiety
recognize that they are able to express their own feelings and use tools
providing by the book to do so.

Thompson, L. (2018). The goldfish boy. New York, NY: Scholastic. (Grade Level 7th-12th).

The Goldfish Boy is a book designed to talk about a main character

who suffers from an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The main purpose
is to help readers to see how their health system deals with issues. The book
expresses a critical point in the main characters life where he must choose
between stepping out of his comfort zone to help a missing child which he has
key information about. The book emphasizes that despite any disorder
sometimes you must step out of your comfort zone in order to make a
difference in your life or in someone else’s. The Goldfish Boy will help
students see that even though some peers may suffer from certain disorders or
they themselves they are still capable of being themselves to help others. This
will help them in accepting their classmates despite what disorder they might
have because now they understand that it may be difficult for them to fit in.
And this will help students maybe with the disorder recognize that it is fine for
them to be themselves. And accept the disorder because being themselves will
always be good enough.
Tompkins, M. A., Martinez, K. A., & Sloan, M. (2010). My anxious mind: A teen's guide to managing
anxiety and panic. Washington, DC: Magination Press. (Grade Level 9th-12th).

My Anxious Mind: A teen’s guide to managing anxiety and panic is a

book created to help teenagers deal with anxiety. The book outlines a simple
and proven plan to help the reader understand and how to deal with anxiety or
panic. It provides simple to use tools and strategies that easily fit into any
teenager’s busy routine. The strategies provided are cognitive behavioral
strategies to help tackle anxiety and help teen’s feel more confident and
empowered throughout the process. The book emphasizes the importance of
ways for teens with anxiety to improve their interpersonal skills, manage
stress, handling panic attacks. Most importantly it discusses the use of diet and
exercise appropriately and deciding factors to tell whether certain situations of
anxiety will be helped with medications. My Anxious Mind will help students
understand that being a teen is a difficult time in their lives. Despite the
difficulties they may face this book acts as a guide to help them with anxiety.
It will also help the students who may not experience this that some of their
friends may deal with these feelings and how they maybe could be of help to
them. The book provides cognitive behavioral strategies that may be of help to
those students who do suffer when experiencing anxiety.