Anxiety in small children is often overlooked and underdiagnosed - I know because my six-year-old was just diagnosed with it. I was happy to get this ARC because it's important to address topics like this for kids who have severe anxiety but also who might have certain anxieties, like joining a team. However, this was handled way too simply. There were not mindfulness suggestions or coping mechanisms. He tries to make animal calls, which was random because his mom then tells him to try and if he fails, just try again and boom, he's a soccer star. Really?

"...because failing is really just trying until you win.”
Feeling low and worthless occasionally is an inherent quality of human being, which is totally okay. We all have our ups and downs and we eventually come out of it. We ought to. And the easiest way to overcome your fears is to face them. To deal with them, to embrace them and learn from them.
In this beautiful children's novella Andy is anxious and scared. He wants to play and do things with his friends he enjoys, but a crippling fear engulfs him. He listens to other's advice which turn out unhelpful and unnecessary. Atlast Andy listens to his mother and starts believing in himself. He starts being himself, his truest self.
The book will prove to be extremely helpful in building little childrens ' self worth and make them love themselves, just as they are. Will definitely recommend parents to read this book out loud to the kids !

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

I did not like this book. The wording was very disjointed with some rhyming and some not. I also did not like the message that you can get ride of anxiety forever just by 'being in the moment'. I was hoping for more.

Great book for kids and adults alike! I struggle with anxiety, and so does my son, so this was great to read together.

Thank you NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review. This was an interesting book and I'm glad that it covered the problems of anxiety. However, I feel like the situation could have been executed more smoothly and more thoroughly for younger children.

I have mixed feelings about "Anxious Andy." On the one hand, it's an accurate (and rare) depiction of what it's like to have severe anxiety as a child. On the other hand, it seemed that the way it was handled was a bit too simple and will work for some situations but by no means all.

Andy misses out on the fun because he is afraid of getting hurt. This story is a good reference for discussing the feeling of anxiety with primary students. Perhaps it is important to note that anxiety in its many forms doesn't just go away. Kids deal with anxiety in many settings. Anyhow, Andy's experience is a good starting point.

It is a sweet story for young kids and a good compliment to positive reinforcement and support from parental figures and other adults. It doesn't do much on its own but I think it's a good gift for a child and could be a way to start important conversations. Mostly a 2-star read but I'm adding an extra one because even now I can relate to Andy's feelings of anxiety over the smallest things (that unfortunately feel anything but small) and how despairing they can be.

Andy doesn’t engage with the other children because he is afraid that he will get hurt. He asks the animals of the forest how to get rid of his anxiety. They all give him advice, but nothing works. His mother suggests things of feelings of bravery and courage. When he does, he finds that he can overcome his fear and have fun playing with the other kids.

This book is wonderful for kids who are experiencing anxiety in any form. It teaches them not to dwell on their fears but to think of positive things. It also reinforces that the only one who thinks he will fail is himself. It is a wonderful message sent in a fun but workable way.


I received an ARC from Clavis through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This book is sweet but misses the mark a bit. It could have been executed better. I felt as though it minimized anxiety and could have either had more coping strategies included or focused more on supports.

I think it’s a very helpful story to show little kids how to recognize their emotions and deal with them

Anxiety is a common ailemnt in kids these days, especially since theyhave been home for so long during the pandemic. This book is a good way to get kds to understand what they aor someone they know might be feeling and could lead them to becoming a bit more understanding or empathetic.

This is a wonderful for kids and parents, but I feel its execution is a bit weak. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for this review.

The book Anxious Andy is a story about a boy dealing with anxiety. The story starts with Andy getting pretty nonsensical advise from various animals, before finally turning to his mother for help. Then in the end his anxieties just went away and never came back. Well, that's not how anxiety works, and it felt trivializing to me.... as if someone telling you to stop overreacting and to just stay in the moment in the middle of an anxiety attack is going to pull you out and cure you for eternity. Not sure this is the best message for young children struggling with what could be a debilitating mental health problem. It didn't really work for me.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Anxious Andy 8s a story about a little boy who suffers with anxiety and worry. He worries he'll hurt himself climbing, fall over playing football and doesn't know or understand why he feels this way. Upon walking home he meets three animal friends who give him advise but it doesn't help. When he gets home he shares his fears with his Mum who helps him understand his feeling a little clearer and gives him some advise that helps him feel better.
This book is a great resource to encourage children to open up about their worries and fears instead of keeping them bottled in. It's a great way of showing a problem shared is a problem halved.
The illustrations are wonderful and really let you see what it's like through the eyes of a child with anxiety such as everything seeming bigger than it really is.
This is a really useful and helpful read for both children and carers.

Super sweet book about a little boy named Andy who wants to overcome his anxiety. With the encouraging words of his mom he is able to get through his anxieties. Cute book that will help little ones get through their feelings if anxiety.

Andy is a little boy who wants to play with his school friends but is afraid he’ll get hurt or do something silly so instead he doesn’t do anything. His mom teaches him to be brave and try new things.

I read this with my 6 year old and we enjoyed seeing Andy become braver and try new things. I really enjoyed the illustrations and the book kept my son engaged the whole time.

I love what this book is trying to do, I just don't love how it does it. Poor Anxious Andy is worried about a lot of things, and animals around him try to help by telling him to Bark or Hiss his worries away. However, their tactics don't work, and finally, Andy needs advice from his mom to "stay in the moment" for his anxiety to lessen. I appreciate books that tackle mental health topics like anxiety, but this book misses the mark. The rhyming is sometimes just a bit off, and I don't agree with the ending, when "his worrying was gone! He was known just as Andy from that day on. The anxious part of him left and never came back around..." Realistically, anxiety is something that doesn't just disappear, but has to be worked on over the course of time.

I loved this book! So perfect for kiddos starting a new chapter in their life (school, new daycare, etc.). Love these sweet illustrations, too!

A great book for children that teaches them about what anxiety is and what it feels like, and gives you several ideas on how to overcome it.
Great read although the illustrations appear to be quite dull, but then I guess that goes with the whole anxiety story.