I'm really excited about this new series by Dr. Dawn Huebner PhD., that explores events or challenges anxious children may face. The books are all non-fiction and aim to support children who suffer from significant levels of anxiety in a non-intimidating and interesting way. The straight forward strategies provided in these books will empower young children to fight back against their anxiety.
The layout of the books is awesome. Each page has simple illustrations that are not too distracting and support the content of that page. Most pages include short paragraphs making these more accessible for a range of reading abilities. Additionally, random fun facts and famous quotes are interspersed throughout the book and I could see that being a positive with many children. While anxiety and autism and/or higher intelligence do not always present as comobidity, I could see the fun facts and famous quotes appealing to those children in particular. Each of the strategies described in the books are given clever names or acronyms such as W.I.N. and analogies or imagery to help make the ideas more concrete, such as steps in a staircase or the amygdala as an alarm system.
Each instalment in the series also includes a list of ideas that could be new things to try. There is a note to caregivers with examples and suggestions as well as a list of resources. The illustrations are very inclusive, children in different cultural clothing, wheelchairs or other unique attributes are featured throughout the story.
I could 100% see myself using the books in this series in my Grade 3 classroom. I would recommend them to parents of anxious children. I could also see using a page or two as part of a small group or whole class mental health lesson, or just to offer to children who could use new strategies. This book could also be used by parents and guidance counsellors as well as teachers of children ages approximately 5 to 10, maybe others as well depending on developmental levels.
Read on to check out each of the Facing Might Fears Books I've read and LOVED so far!
Facing Mighty Fears About Animals
By: Dawn Huebner
Facing Might Fears about Animals includes several questions or thoughts that children might experience when encountering animals or insects that frighten them. The characters in the story very relatable to a child with anxiety. There are three steps, "W.I.N.", to take when preparing to meet a new animal. As a former Humane Educator, I could absolutely see using this book with children who have fears of animals. There are many parents who struggle with supporting children who are afraid of animals, and as a humane educator that was one of the challenges I supported some families and children with. This book and the WIN strategy would have been so helpful in my work in that setting as well.
Facing Mighty Fears About Health
By: Dawn Huebner
Facing Might Fears about Health really focuses in on the amygdala and how it works as sort of an alarm system. The book explains how this can be a good and bad thing and uses metaphors such as a smoke detector that I think are very well thought out. Even as an adult, I think that this metaphor could be helpful when facing my own anxiety, so I know that this would work really well for children. I love how well written this story is and how approachable the author has made this subject.
Facing Mighty Fears About Throwing Up
By: Dawn Huebner
Facing Might Fears About Throwing Up really focuses in on the fear of throwing up and how that can be debilitating for young children, preventing them from going certain places, eating certain foods or doing certain activities for fear of throwing up. The strategies involve finding a silly word for throw up that they prefer, talking about their fear with adults and to challenge yourself to not avoid parts of life out of fear.
Last, but certainly not least....
Facing Mighty Fears About Trying New Things
By: Dawn Huebner
Facing Might Fears about Trying New Things includes several questions or thoughts that children might experience when considering trying new things, making the characters in the story very relatable to a child with anxiety. There are three steps (using images of stairs) to take when trying something new. Whether the child you are shopping for has anxiety or not, changing and trying new things can be hard for most children! This book would also be great for goal setting with an anxious child because it would give them voice and choice about what new things they want to try to conquer and help them see the importance of small steps towards bigger things.
I hope you love this series as much as I do. As a former anxious child and a current anxious teacher of anxious children I fully support this fabulous series and can't wait to go out an purchase my own copies! Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review these books.
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