As a Pre-K teacher I am always on the lookout for good books to read to my students. Especially when they deal with feelings. I hear more and more about people of all ages dealing with anxiety. Although we have many books in our school library about feelings, there are so few on anxiety which is such an important topic. The lovely cover of this book caught my eye as well as the title. The illustrations throughout are so beautiful and gentle. As I started reading, I was a little concerned at first thinking that it might be putting negative/scary ideas in children’s heads which may not necessarily be there. However, I quickly changed my mind as I read on. I love how it gives suggestions to children on how to handle feelings like an anxiety, including taking breaths, and getting hugs and support from loved ones. At the end, it includes real life advice for both readers and caregivers on how to help children (and others!) with anxiety. I would gladly purchase this for my school library.!
Thank you to NetGalley for ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

The illustrations were absolutely beautiful.i loved the imagery, and showing ways being anxious may manifest itself in children. I loved the notes at the end for readers and adults on how to help. It’s not only a beautiful book, but incredibly helpful.

Such a great book on anxiety- for both caregivers and children! Gorgeous illustrations as well. I highly recommend this book and will be sharing with my children.

This is a book about anxiety. And I’m an anxious person. But I wasn’t an anxious kid.
Anxiety is something normal in life, but an anxiety too much high can transform life into a loud and chaotic hell.
This book is for explaining how kids that have too much anxiety live the world around them and the sensations inside their inner world.
The illustrations are beautiful, like a painting in traditional methods.
The character design of the little girl is adorable,
The explanation of what anxiety do to a kid is wonderful and very accurate. I know this because I lived anxiously situations in my childhood, when I got bullied. And now I have post traumatic stress disorder…
So yes, help kids with anxiety when they are little it’s important. This book can be read by children and by adults.
Kids can understand better that what they feel has a name and they can control it.
Adults can learn how to help kids and listening them.
Totally approved.
I loved it.

"Anxious" by Luciana De Luca, with illustrations by Natalí Barbani, is a deeply touching and insightful children's book that tackles the complex issue of anxiety through the eyes of a little girl. This book stands out as not only a story but also a valuable tool for children and caregivers alike in understanding and managing anxious feelings.

De Luca's narrative is both gentle and perceptive, inviting readers into the inner world of a young girl grappling with anxiety. The book is exceptional in its ability to articulate what many children find difficult to express, making it an important read for those who experience similar emotions. By choosing a child's perspective, the author ensures the story is accessible and relatable to its intended audience, making the topic of anxiety less intimidating and more understandable.

Natalí Barbani's illustrations play a crucial role in bringing the story to life. The artwork beautifully captures the protagonist's stress and discontent, using visual metaphors and a careful selection of colors to depict the fluctuating emotions associated with anxiety. The illustrations are not just complementary but are integral to the narrative, enhancing the reader's understanding of the protagonist's feelings and the concept of anxiety itself.

What makes "Anxious" particularly valuable is its practical approach to dealing with anxious feelings. The book goes beyond merely describing anxiety; it equips readers with coping skills demonstrated by the protagonist. These strategies are presented in a way that is easy for children to understand and apply, making the book an excellent resource for young readers aged 4 to 7 who may be navigating their own anxious feelings.

The inclusion of notes to caregivers at the end of the book is a thoughtful addition, providing adults with guidance and resources to support children in managing anxiety. This section ensures that the book's benefits extend beyond its pages, offering caregivers the knowledge and tools needed to help children navigate their emotions effectively.

I received a copy of Anxious by Luciana DeLuca to read and review. As an educator and parent, I always love a good book about emotions that doesn't 'beat around the bush' or talk about feelings/emotions abstractly. This book was to the point and great for younger children that are anxious and need to be a name to their really real feelings.

I like how short this is.

It talked about the feelings of anxiousness and what you can do and reminding them that asking for help is okay.

I love the note at the back for the young readers and the note for the adult.

A beautifully illustrated book that will help children describe their anxiety. "Anxious" identifies numerous ways anxiety manifest, reinforced with pictures that encapsulate those feelings. Notes for kiddos, parents, and their caregivers on discussing and working through anxious feelings accompany the prose and offer a good road map to identifying and combating uncomfortable feelings.

Luciana de Luca’s book, Anxious, walks the reader through the trials of anxiety through the eyes of a little girl. The girl’s life is dark and scary until she learns to ask for help. Support from others colors her world. The book ends with a substantial “Note to Reader” and “Note to Adults” that provides additional information about anxiety and how to deal with it. Anxiety affects our family, so seeing more books that address a life altering, but so common, experience is welcomed.

I was attracted to this book because of the cover art, and I was not disappointed throughout the story either. Natali Barbani’s emotional art conveys a sense of anxiety words cannot express. The limited color palette and dreamlike movement are the perfect companion to the beginning of the story where the girl’s anxiety is most pronounced and the colors chosen for when she comes out of her anxiety are both beautiful and calming.

I really wish this book was around when I was a kid. Being an anxious child in the 90s may have been overlooked a lot. This book puts anxiety into words that I would never have thought of. It will help a lot of children and parents a like. Thank you NetGalley for this little gem.

Thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Anxious is a charming picture book by Luciana DeLuca that speaks about feelings and emotions in a way that children can relate to. It is usually difficult for children to express feelings especially anxiety, and De Luca takes a thoughtful approach to simplify the understanding of anxiety for kids. It's such a valuable resource for children who might struggle with anxiety, offering them a guide to their feelings. It's easy to read and breaks down a complex emotion gently reassuring them that having these feelings is a normal part of life and it is important to seek help when needed.

The charming illustrations by Natali Barbani are cute and so expressive.

It serves as a charming read and can also be used as a tool that parents, teachers, and caregivers can use to initiate conversations about emotions. B It promotes understanding, empathy, and the importance of seeking support when needed.

Down to the point and wonderful imagery.

As someone with anxiety I wanted to check out how a child might suffer through it. From the beginning it states off how strange it is to feel anxiety swirling in your gut. How shy you can find things and scared to explore and discover. The illustrations captured exactly how one can feel trapped. Then how liberating it can be once you found the courage to seek help.This story help kids seek that outlet whether it be family support or professional.
Parents- don’t think they are to young to talk to them about it or think that they have no reason to feel anxious at their age. Plus at the end of the story their is a parent’s guide to how to help your child with anxiety.

Thank you NetGalley for approving to read the ARC.

This is such a beautiful book that touches on how someone may look or feel when they become overwhelmed with anxiety. There is so much unexplored in this area of children's literature, yet it's something a lot of children grapple with. A definite recommendation to anyone who works with today's youth!

This book touches on a subject not often found in children's literature. I think the knowledge that there is something to know about emotions at a young age can be crucial to the development of proper navigation. Knowledge that can be carried throughout life. This could have helped me growing up, but didn't realize the full story of what emotions do, and why we feel them. And navigating them with others was never on the table of discussion.
I can not wait to read this with my toddler. And I love the bits of advice and information at the end for caregivers.


Thank you Annick Press for this ARC. And look forward to seeing it on the shelves.

"Anxious" is an amazing picture book that reflects how children might feel whenever they experience anxiety. Even though it was a short and simple story, it included different ways that a child with anxiety can do to calm and alleviate it. It's filled with calm, neutral coloured illustrations that perfectly complements the story and is perfect for young and early readers.

The book includes a note to readers, parents, and caregivers that talks about different ways to calm anxious feelings and goes in depth on how to help alleviate it in a gentle and sympathetic manner, providing dialogue, examples, and scenarios.

This is going to be a great tool in my classroom. It is such a great depiction of how anxiety feels and looks so my kids can build sympathy and learn how to identify and communicate if they are experiencing and anxiety. Love it!

I so badly wish books like Anxious existed when I was a child. Kids are just as capable of suffering from mental health issues that we pretend only adults deal with, and books like Anxious make it okay for children to understand what they're dealing with. I remember growing up with anxiety and feeling like no matter what I did, I was "broken" and nobody would understand. Books like Anxious are important to treat children that it's okay to speak your feelings and learn to understand them.

A simple, short book that addresses how isolating anxiety can be. The pictures are pretty but do a good job of reflecting the child's feelings. It also addresses how anxiety is different for different kids and can present in their body.

At the end, there is a section for children to learn strategies to deal with anxiety symptoms. There is a longer section for adults to help a child in their life who may need it.

The story itself is probably best for a very young reader.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Read ARC through NetGalley. This book really explained what feeling anxious feels like. My daughter said she sometimes feels like that. It’s a good book to help talk about those feelings. The illustrations are beautiful too.

As someone who’s struggled with severe anxiety at a young age and continue to struggle to this day, I think that this is such an important story that everyone should read. I love how relatable the author and illustrator made this story, no matter how big or small your feelings, anxiety happens and that’s okay! This story made it easy to understand what is happening when you feel that way and how to take steps to feel better! This is a story I will be sharing with any children in my life. Many thanks to the Publisher and Net- Galley for sending me an E-ARC of this gorgeous story!