If you have explored our website you may have looked at our Get Help webpage. One of the resources listed is The Child Mind Institute. This organization provides resources to children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. They are the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health focusing on three areas: care, education, and science. With their website full of resources, two that caught my eye were 77 Children’s Books About Mental Health and The Best Kids’ Books on Mental Health of 2024. There are so many children’s books available focusing on mental health it can be hard to choose which one to get for children in your life. These articles provide information to help readers make an informed decision.
77 Children’s Books About Mental Health
This article contains books for children up to age 12, from picture books to chapter books. Each book was reviewed by clinicians at The Child Mind Institute. The list of topics is below.
- Abuse
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Body Image and Eating Disorders
- Bullying
- Depression
- Dyslexia
- Feelings
- Grief and Loss
- Identity
- Neglect
- OCD
- Self-Esteem
- Selective Mutism
- Sensory Processing
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Trauma
The links above take you directly to the section of the article with the books for that specific topic. A summary is provided for each book. It includes the author, the illustrator, the recommended age range, the publisher, and a link to Amazon where you can purchase the book if interested. This list is from January 2024. While this is not too old or outdated, The Best Kids’ Books on Mental Health of 2024 was more recently reviewed, on December 30, 2024.
The Best Kid’s Books on Mental Health of 2024
The books on this list were also reviewed by clinicians from The Child Mind Institute. All of the books on this list were published in 2024. Over 60 books were reviewed, and 20 made the list. The 20 books cover these topics:
- Anxiety
- Mindfulness
- Feelings
- Sadness and Depression
- OCD
- ADHD
- Autism
- Eating Disorders
- A Parent’s Addiction
Again, the links above take you directly to the section of the article with the books for that specific topic. As with the previous article discussed there is a summary that includes the author, the illustrator, the recommended age range, the publisher, and a link to Amazon. This is the inaugural annual list of the best kids’ books for mental health. We will have to wait and see what the 2025 list will look like at the end of the year.
Family Resource Center
These two articles are included in the institute’s online Family Resource Center. The center has many parenting guides and a video library for you to explore. The guides and videos cover many topics. While these resources are not reviewed in this article you may be interested in seeing what they have to offer so check them out.
If you find these resources helpful, or if you have suggestions for future articles, leave a comment below.
