Frankie's Fishy Feelings -- New Picture Book about Anxiety & Introducing Therapy

 

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you know a young child who struggles with anxiety? My daughter has anxiety and has struggled with it from a very young age. I remember her separation anxiety as well as her getting nervous if she watched someone break a rule. I sometimes had to turn Curious George off because she got nervous when he broke a rule. There were so many conversations about how her anxiety caused her to feel sick. I wish today's book was available when she was young, but the author is only a few years older than Hazel and was experiencing her own anxiety. The author of today's book is in high school and wrote this book from her own experiences. The book is Frankie's Fishy Feelings by Quincy Kadin. Since the main character is getting ready for the first day of school, I recommend it for the preschool through early elementary age kids.

About the Book:

"Frankie's Fishy Feelings" is a heartwarming children's book that tackles the important topic of childhood anxiety in a fun and relatable way. Dive into the underwater world with Frankie, a kind-hearted 5-year-old shark who navigates through her fishy feelings and discovers coping strategies to overcome them. Frankie is a lovable shark who often finds herself feeling overwhelmed and worried about everyday situations. From the first day of school to playdates with friends, her anxiety makes her feel like she's swimming against the current. But with the support of her parents and a therapist, Frankie learns valuable techniques to manage her anxious thoughts. In this engaging story, young readers will join Frankie on her journey of self-discovery and watch as she learns breathing exercises and visualization techniques. Through this experience, Frankie gains confidence and finds the courage to face her fears head-on. With colorful illustrations that bring the underwater world to life, Frankie's Fishy Feelings offers a relatable and accessible narrative that helps children understand and cope with their own feelings of anxiety. The book emphasizes the importance of self-care, empathy, and seeking help from trusted individuals when needed. Written with empathy and sensitivity, Frankie's Fishy Feelings is suitable for children ages 4 to 8 and serves as a valuable tool for parents, teachers, and caregivers to open up discussions about mental health, emotions, and coping strategies in a safe and supportive manner. Join Frankie on her underwater adventure, where she discovers that even sharks can conquer their anxieties and embrace a world full of possibilities!

From Me:

Frankie reminds me of my daughter when she was young. The anxiety about going to school or on a playdate or a birthday party. Social anxiety was and sometimes still is very real in our family. I love how Frankie learns ways to cope with the anxiety and goes to a therapist. This book is perfect for sharing about how everyone has anxiety and some people have more and need help coping with it. The book is well written and truly feels the experience of anxiety. It offers some common strategies for dealing with anxiety as well as some that are new to me. 

This book is perfect for everyone. It helps share that anxiety is part of life, but it also shares methods to help cope with anxiety when it gets too much to handle. This book is perfect for families to read as well as for the first day of school or aloud for a story time. It can lead to discussions about emotions and how sometimes we all have those fishy feelings that describe physical anxiety. I hope you will check it out!!