Wemberly Worried

Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books)

Age 3-6

Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start. And Wemberly worried even more. If you ever worry (or know someone who does), this is the book for you.

Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. “Worry, worry, worry,” her family said. “Too much worry.”

We all worry at times

The truth is, we all have times when we worry. And most of the time, the things we worry about will never happen. This story helps children see this. It also gets them to laugh about their worries, as they laugh at some of the silly things Wemberly worries about.  Ask your child to tell you some of the things that worry them, and offer yours. Help them see why their worries may be unnecessary.  (Although you need to first let them talk about their worry before telling them it’s silly – let them share why they have that worry). In an age when anxiety is increasing, this book is an important tool to use, helping to open up a conversation with your child.

In a class situation, everyone can have a chance to chime in with what they worry about, and when a child realises that they may share worries with a classmate, they can find comfort and lose the stigma around admitting their worries. 

The Biggest Worry: Starting School 

The thing that Wemberly worries about most of all is her first day of school. But when it’s time to go back to school and she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, she realises that school is too much fun to waste time worrying! The perfect book for back-to-school fears and all worries in general!

This warm and comforting back-to-school favourite is from Kevin Henkes, the nationally bestselling and celebrated creator of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Kitten’s First Full Moon, and Chrysanthemum.