It is not uncommon for children to experience some level of anxiety or worry when beginning a new school year or starting at a new school. Many adults experience it too when faced with a new situation. It is important to keep the worries in perspective to avoid having them grow uncontrollably until they take on monster proportions.
Today I am interviewing Brooke Graham, author of a beautiful new picture book called Go Away, Worry Monster! that is not only a tool for discussing these worries with children but also shares strategies they can use independently to chase those worry monsters away.
About the author Brooke Graham
Brooke Graham is a children’s author, primary school teacher and mother. She enjoys writing emotive stories that help children cope with life’s ups and downs. Brooke is a member of The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), The Australian Society of Authors, and Write Links, a Brisbane based writers’ group. Brooke teaches in primary schools part-time. She also does author visits in schools and kindergartens. In her spare time Brooke enjoys reading, bike riding, bush walking and spending time with family and friends.
About the book Go Away, Worry Monster!
Worry Monster loves ‘helping’ Archie worry, especially on the night before he starts at a new school. Archie feels so anxious that his head hurts, his tummy flutters and his heart pounds. He soon realizes that the only way to feel better is to make Worry Monster go away. He does his belly breaths and challenges his inner fears by facing facts, and Worry Monster is forced to leave Archie alone! Go Away, Worry Monster! gives children useful strategies to cope with their anxieties and stress, showing them how to make their own Worry Monsters leave, even in highly stressful times.
What I like about Go Away, Worry Monster!
Continue reading: Go Away, Worry Monster – Interview with Brooke Graham – readilearn
Norah Colvin 
Lovely title and idea. Some little kids do worry a lot. Sounds like a great book:)
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It is lovely. I like the way Brooke has woven strategies that children can use into the story without being preachy.
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What a lovely story. I don’t recall any picture books about anxiety when I was a kid.
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I’m sure it would make an interesting study for someone interrogating literature, but I think there has been an increase in books that focus on socio-emotional development over the years. I’m not sure that anyone cared so much about our socio-emotional development when we were young, as long as we did what we told and got on with things. Perhaps a little harsh, but the change is definitely there, IMO.
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I agree with you entirely. Much better nowadays, even though many do unfortunately slip through the net
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Too many still.
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Well, this is lovely. The more books kids have with tools to deal with worry & anxiety the better. (And adults, too.) ❤
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It is a good one, Sarah. I especially like that it arms children with strategies.
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Yes. We can all do with some good strategies for stress and worry. 🙂
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I know I can. 🙂
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Some of the first books I read as a preschool teacher were about monsters. “There’s a Nightmare in My Closet” and “There’s an Alligator Under My Bed.” These are the books children need to hear as opposed to much of what is written today. Thank you for introducing us to this book and author.
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My pleasure, Jennie. I remember the Nightmare in my Closet too, but not the Alligator. I wonder if it was called something different here. It’s funny how they change the titles and covers from one country to another sometimes. Maybe it happens less now with many books available to purchase worldwide.
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I have seen books that have a different cover. I wonder why, too.
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Different audiences, I guess. 🙂
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Probably.
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some Asian languages have no translation for this word ‘worry’ … it just doesn’t arise in their culture! They believe if you can do something about it act now, and if you can’t then move on. It’s very much a western issue and so glad it’s being addressed 🙂
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That’s interesting. I haven’t heard that before.
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I lived over there for years and know loads …
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That’s great. Thanks for sharing.
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Norah, what a beautiful and magical book! Brook I love the story and the illustrations are bewitching … this is a book my son and I would have loved when he was little and one he needed a lot then! A story relevant for adults and children alike … we just have to watch we don’t worry that monster into a ginormous size!
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It is a beautiful book, Annika, and your advice about size is important too.
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Acknowledging the worries is important, but I especially like how Brooke is teaching coping strategies.
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I agree, Pete. And I like that those strategies are not only easy to implement, they are effective too.
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I think we think kids don’t worry and/or their problems or concerns aren’t big. But they are real and big for them! Heading over to read the rest – thanks, Norah!
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Thanks so much, Barbara. Enjoy the interview!
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This is great!
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Thank you, Angela.
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🙂
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Great topic and not one talked about often. Sounds like a wonderful book.
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It is, Jacqui. I love the strategies that Brooke suggests. They are so easy for children to implement.
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I think there are days when we all need to read this book and remind ourselves in a fun way how to kick those ‘Worry Monsters’ out of our house.
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I totally agree, Kate. The strategies Brooke suggests are very like those I implement.
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