The Worry Balloon (Hardcover)
On the first day of school, Isla’s mind plays the what if game. Scary thoughts come, the world goes dark, and
everything feels stormy. With Mami at her side, Isla takes a deep breath and blows her worries away in a big balloon. But as school gets closer, Isla’s worries come back like a tornado. Mami encourages her to imagine something happy, and Isla remembers there’s nothing she can’t handle.
The storm might come again, but for now, her mind is quiet.
In this thoughtful and reassuring picture book, Mónica Mancillas’s text and Betty C. Tang’s illustrations show how one child experiences anxiety and worry, providing different tools to practice mindfulness and strengthen one’s mental health.
Betty C. Tang is a New York Times bestseller illustrator of the Jacky Ha-Ha graphic novel. She earned her BFA from CalArts and after a successful animation career, she is now passionate about creating books for children. Betty loves squirrels and hates roaches. Born in Taiwan, she currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Visit her at bettyctang.com.
"Anxious readers will recognize themselves in Isla’s struggle and perhaps learn a new way of approaching their fears. . . Sure to help kids conquer first-day-of-school fears." - Kirkus
"Realistically depicting thought spirals and intrusive worry, [The Worry Balloon] takes a sensitive, strategic approach." - Publishers Weekly
