Go Away Worry Monster!

Description

Worry Monster loves 'helping' Archie worry, especially the night before he starts his new school. Archie feels so anxious that his head hurts, his tummy flutters and his heart pounds. He soon realizes the only way to feel better is to make Worry Monster go away. He does his belly breaths and faces facts to challenge his inner fears. Children have the potential to engage and empathise with Archie and Worry Monster both through the text and the subtle gestures and fleeting emotions captured in the beautiful illustrations. Encouraging children to name their anxiety is an evidence-based, current strategy used by psychologists to assist children in separating themselves from their anxiety. Go Away, Worry Monster! gives children this and other useful strategies to cope, showing them how to make their own Worry Monsters leave during stressful periods of their lives, from starting or changing schools, to a change in family dynamics. Created by an author and illustrator passionate about helping children to cope with common emotional difficulties, this is an invaluable, life-changing resource for young children and their parents in guiding emotional development.

Brooke Graham is a children's author, primary school teacher and mother. She is passionate about reducing the stigma around mental illness and frequently works with Beyondblue. Robin Tatlow-Lord is a writer, animator and cartoonist who loves bringing character and emotions to all her pictures.

"...perfect tool for helping kids cope with anxiety, and uses tested strategies from psychotherapy to help kids understanding anxiety and hope to cope with it." 'Gives children evidence-based strategies to cope with anxiety. This invaluable resource is an excellent spring board for discussions with children who are experiencing worry' -- My Child "This Hardback picture book is a non-confronting way to approach any worries a small child may have about new situations in school or at home." -- What book next? "Archie feels so anxious that his head hurts, his tummy flutters and his heart pounds. He soon realises the only way to feel better is to make Worry Monster go away. He does his belly breaths and faces facts to challenge his inner fears." * Newshub website * "With so much going on in children's lives with a pandemic that goes on and on, worries about their loved ones and much more - the worry monster can teach us all to reign in our thoughts and take control." * Teacher Librarian Janet * Author Brooke Graham uses a narrative externalising technique to show how 'Worry Monster' gets Archie to worry. Archie uses the strategies his mother taught him to shrink the Worry Monster - deep, slow breaths, telling Worry Monster why he doesn't need to worry, ignoring it and distracting himself. Delightful, colourful and imaginative illustrations support the concepts effectively, depicting the worry monster growing bigger and then smaller as the story progresses. There is much for readers to look for as the characters show a progression of emotions and responses throughout the story. Counsellors will find this book particularly helpful to use with 4 - 9-year-olds who are struggling with anxiety. -- Hazel Prickett * New Zealand Association of Counsellors magazine * Children who worry or are anxious will be encouraged to see the boy's resilience and confidence grow. It provides an opportunity for counsellors to discuss similar strategies that a child may use. Narrative therapy and CBT are combined beautifully in easy-to-understand language where the main character moves from being afraid, to using coping skills and strategies that make him assertive and able to make the Worry Monster go away. -- Celia King * New Zealand Association of Counsellors Newsletter * "Go away, Worry Monster! is a fun story about a not-too-scary worry monster that also provides practical resources for growing-up kids to manage their anxiety independently." * Picture Book Parents *