The Worries: Sohal Finds a Friend; Jion Sheibani

Sohal has a lot to worry about - the dark, the school bully, mutant alien sheep, not having any friends - whatever it is, Sohal worries about it. Helpful Mrs. Cherry - his teacher - suggests drawing his worries down, and that helps…at first. But imagine Sohal’s surprise when during the night his worries come to life and appear as little monsters in his bedroom.

ANGER, BIG, FAIL, HURT and ALONE have given Sohal a whole new thing to worry about, especially as they want to come to school. Can Sohal survive the day at school, take control of his worries and make a friend…

Everyone worries and this funny and heart-warming story helps to normalise many of the common worries and anxieties that all children have. Perhaps most importantly, it explores how to deal with worries and encourages children to take control, to own them and to deal with them rather than keeping them hidden away and letting them become even bigger or allowing them to express themselves.

Mindfulness and mental health have never been more important and it is great that books like this exist to help support children who might be feeling worried or anxious. Jion Sheibani provides the perfect platform for opening up conversations about worries and anxieties with children. Not only is the story a great deal of fun, it delivers the positive messages that children need.

Told over several short chapters and featuring lots of illustrations in shades of green, this makes for an excellent independent read for newly confident readers. It will bring comfort and reassurance to any child whose worries and anxieties need to be squashed back into the stationery cupboard or need to be sent away on vacation.

Recommended for 6+.