Morris and the bundle of worries
By Jill Seeney and Rachel Fuller, 2008. CoramBAAF adoption and fostering Academy, London.
In this story worries are represented as an enormous sack. The sack is so big that Morris can hardly fit in his own bed. When he tries to sleep the bundle rolls into him and wakes him up. A feature I enjoyed in this book is that worries are described as ranging from light and feathery to squiggly and wrinkly to thorny. Worst of all are the terrors. After a particularly bad night sleep, Morris bursts into tears and confides in Robin. Robin suggests a friend who may be able to help. The friend is a brown bird who represents a therapist. Morris talks to her and feels quite a bit better.
At this point he tries covering his eyes to ignore the bundle, but it doesn’t work. Then he digs a new chamber underground for his worries, deciding to visit them sometimes, so they will not take up his bed. He also returns to the brown bird and asks her what she does with her worries. She gives an intriguing answer.
Given that ignoring his worries hasn’t worked, now Morris decides to open the bundle. He pulls out worries and hurls them at a nearby tree. Some worries explode and some rebound. He decides to keep chipping away at the big worries. Finally, he asks the Nightingale to help him in a specific way until he’s ready to tell his story.
At the end of the book is a booklet for a child to record the things they’re worried about. This includes the people they’re worried about, the people who could help them, things the child could do to help themselves and the things that don’t worry them anymore.
Black Dog
By Levi Pinfold, Templar publishing, 2011
A black dog shows up outside the family home. Their fear makes it grow ever bigger. It starts the size of a tiger, then an elephant then a Tyrannosaurus Rex. One character makes up teasing songs, refusing to be afraid of the dog. It starts to shrink. In the end it is so small that it can fit through a cat flap! It is not dangerous at all. In a humorous way, the story shows a child how to overcome anxiety. This book also has gloriously detailed illustrations of an old-fashioned home, which children will love examining.
Lavender Pots
By Pia Whitmartlet, Troubador, 2025
This is a lovely book where several of its vivid cast overcome anxiety. It is not written as a mental health resource, but it demonstrates a gentle way of being to children. When a slug escapes from a plant onto the family rocking chair, a boy has to overcome some discomfort. He picks up the slug, but he makes sure he wears rubber gloves! However, the slug is also scared. There is a thoughtful description of how, for all slugs might hum quietly, they certainly would not like commotion. The slug especially does not like being picked up. Once it is safely installed in the garden life returns to normal. The book also has wonderful illustrations which any young child would enjoy.
