The Worry Balloon

By Mónica Mancillas, Betty C. Tang (Illustrator)

A child battles first-day school anxiety with imaginative tools.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 169 ratings

40 pages· 1,868 words· Est. 15 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Isla faces a storm of anxiety on her first school day. With her mother's guidance, she learns to blow her worries into a balloon, finding calm amidst chaos. Can she conquer her fears as school approaches? Discover how Isla navigates her inner tornado and builds resilience with a creative worry tool bag. This heartwarming tale offers a gentle approach to managing childhood anxiety, encouraging young readers to find their own peace.

From the publisher

A thoughtful and reassuring picture book about how one child experiences anxiety, and what kids can do to manage their worries. Perfect for social-emotional learning and Back to School reading, The Worry Balloon includes a guide for kids to build their own worry tool bag that children and caregivers alike can use when faced with anxiety and change. On the first day of school, Isla’s mind plays the what if game. Scary thoughts come, the world goes dark, and everything feels stormy. With Mami at her side, Isla takes a deep breath and blows her worries away in a big balloon. But as school gets closer, Isla’s worries come back like a tornado. Mami encourages her to imagine something happy, and Isla remembers there’s nothing she can’t handle. The storm might come again, but for now, her mind is quiet.

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