Worries Are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick

Worries Are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Give young children strategies to ease anxieties and worries and feel better again.

Everyone feels worried at times, and young children are no exception. Friendly and reassuring, this book geared to preschool and primary children explains what worries are and how it feels to be worried. The book assures children that lots of kids—and grown-ups—feel worried, and that they can learn to make their worries “smaller and smaller and smaller.” Talking about worries, moving around, keeping hands busy, breathing deeply, getting a big hug, and thinking good thoughts are all ways for children to cope with worries. The book includes a special section for parents and caregivers with activities and discussion starters.

Sometimes the world can feel like a scary place for kids.

The beginning was beautifully open-ended. It mentioned a few general possible reasons why young readers might worry, but it left plenty of space for the grown-up reading it to include specific areas of concern if needed. That was a nice way to introduce this topic, and I’m glad it was written so inclusively. It even mentioned the fact that adults have worries, too, which could lead to all sorts of fantastic conversations about the things people worry about in general.

I do think it would have been helpful for the narrator to explain the difference between normal, everyday worries and anxiety. This is something I’d happily read to young children who worry occasionally but are otherwise okay. However, I would like to add in some caveats for kids who suffer from serious or long term anxiety as there are other coping mechanisms that might work better for them. This is a minor criticism of a picture book I thought was otherwise excellent and wish I’d had access to when I was a kid!

My favorite section was the one filled with ideas of how to cope with worries. They were all wonderfully age-appropriate and helpful. I loved the fact that the author came up with so many of them. There truly was something there for every kid and type of personality, from little athletes who might find relief in running around to cuddly children who might feel better with a hug from a loved one.

Worries Are Not Forever was a reassuring tale that I highly recommend.