This book is a great resource to help parents equip young children with anxiety. Through bright illustrations and lyrical prose, Allen teaches kids to talk about their thoughts, move their bodies, and practice gratitude. We don't have to stay in our negative thought patterns, but can take every thought captive with God's help.

However, I think that in some ways this book is a missed opportunity to teach kids about what the Bible says regarding our minds. While it does mention "taking every thought captive", there are so many other passages that talk about our thoughts and mind (armour of God, think about these things, mind of Christ, etc.), and I think that this book could have benefited from a few more lines of Scripture.

Overall, this is an engaging, practical book that would be a great tool for parents and educators.

A big thank you to Net Galley and Tommy Nelson for sharing a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Great book to teach our kids how to handle their emotions and all the thoughts going through their heads. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was such a great way to describe anxiety to such a young audience. I have loved to see what comes for children’s books. I have such a diverse school that we can’t continue to purchase a bunch of religious books, but I love recommending these things for students that I know are Christian!

Thank you for granting me access to this ARC!

A cute book about navigating emotions and provoking meaningful conversations with your child. Fun, vibrant illustrations.

This is a fun, preciously illustrated book that helps kids figure out what to do with their thoughts, specifically their anxious thoughts. Jennie Allen makes it known to kids that God designed our brain and it is filled with all kinds of thoughts. She teaches kids in a practical way how they can take captive their thoughts and get rid of those whirly, swirly thoughts. This book would be a great addition to a home or classroom library and is one that can be read over and over again.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I recently read What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen with my kids, and it was such a meaningful and engaging experience, especially for my 6-year-old. The book is all about helping children understand that they have control over their thoughts—even the scary, anxious, or mean ones that sometimes pop into their heads. With whimsical illustrations by Nadia Gunawan and a message rooted in biblical truth, the book teaches kids that God created their amazing brains with a purpose and that they have the power to take their thoughts captive and use them for good. My 6-year-old was immediately drawn to the colorful, playful artwork, but it was the message that really stuck with him.

What I loved most was how the book made such a big concept—managing your thoughts—feel accessible and even fun for young kids. My 6-year-old has been going through a phase where he gets stuck on worries or negative thoughts, and this book gave him a tangible way to think about those “whirly, swirly” feelings. He loved the idea of being the “boss” of his thoughts and would excitedly tell me, “I’m not going to let the mean thoughts stay in my head!” It was amazing to see him grasp such an important life skill in a way that felt empowering rather than overwhelming. The book also sparked some great conversations about how God wants to help us use our thoughts for good, which was a beautiful way to connect faith with everyday struggles.

✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The message in Jennie Allen’s new children’s book, What To Do With Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts, is clear, concise and beautiful, but paired with the gorgeous illustrations, this book is truly wonderful. Anyone who loves a child will want to share this book with them. Children need to know that their thoughts are always ok, and reminding them of God’s endless and unconditional love always helps.

this engaging book about mindfulness for tweens will help them focus on identifying and addressing big emotions that are swirling inside of them and how to best tackle them.

it gives them tips on how to grow their confidence, combat negative feelings and boost their self-esteem, journal their feelings and thoughts, to deal with disappointment and grief, letting go of their worries and fears, and learn how to manage their anxieties, sleep soundly at night, and tackle the menace that is social media.

I love the accompanying illustrations that show the different emotions that children deal also embraces a diversity in gender and culture.

All in all, I would recommend this book to parents who have kids under the age of 10.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful, and it's clear the author is someone who has a close relationship with God and Jesus.

My four kids and I have really enjoyed this book the last few nights at bedtime. It’s just darling! The story is so fun and we love the beautiful pictures.

This book is adorable and very helpful for parents who are looking for age appropriate ways to talk to their preschoolers/kindergarteners about big feelings and what to do with them. It is written with a Christian slant, including discussion of Jesus, God, and praying, however many of the steps described for helping take care and control of the thoughts can be used in any situation. In our case, we did include praying and talking to God as an option, and my daughter (5) really seemed to resonate with it. Big feelings and 'whirly, swirly thoughts' are a major topic in our household and this book has very much assisted in that discussion. My daughter has recently learned about heaven and that it means a separation from those on Earth and that is causing her some anxiety. We've used this book as one of the tools to assist her with navigating these feelings and it's been a big help. If you have a little one who's dealing with Big Feelings, especially ones of anxiety or grief, this book can be an excellent tool for giving them language to express what they're feeling. The illustrations are adorable, engaging, and help to explain what the words are saying in a fun way. Definitely a book that will be seeing regular rotation in our household. We read this digital ebook through NetGalley.

I really looked forward to reading this book and sharing it with my elementary school students but, unfortunately I work in a public school. There are many references to God in this book so, I am unable to share this with my students. I appreciated the bright and engaging illustrations and the simple but effective language used in the book. I like how the book blends explanations with simple ideas children can use to identify, name and manage their big emotions.
This book would make a great addition to a Catholic School library as well as Sunday School libraries.

Thank you Net Galley, Jennie Allen and Tommy Nelson for the opportunity to preview this title and the opinions shared are my own.

[Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.]

I loved the vibrant illustrations in this book! This title seeks to minister to children who are experiencing anxiety. Through rhyming words and lyrical writing, the author teaches children that these thoughts are something that everyone experiences but that we don’t have to stay stuck in our “whirly swirly” thought patterns. Instead, God can help us! The author goes over several other things that may help too, such as talking about our thoughts, getting outside, and moving our body. A very helpful resource!

This is a Children's book I read to my twin boys. I found this book to have a great message, and I enjoy reading it to my boys. The pictures were bright and fun. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts helps give suggestions of how kids can deal with anxious feelings, with a tie-in to Christianity. This might be a helpful resource for a religious family. The illustrations are colorful and show a lot of movement. The page count is low enough for kiddos to hold attention.

Thanks to Tommy Nelson and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

I loved this book! I have a child with lots of whirly, swirly thoughts and this book would be great for her! I love how it asks for questions and provides prompts within the book, allowing for further discussion. The pictures were also very lovely- complete with lots of whirls and swirls!

Jennie Allen is well known for her work in helping adults with controlling their thoughts in her book "Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts" and now she has done it again but for children. Jennie combines fun rhyming words and playful, imaginative drawings to help bring the big idea of controlling your thoughts down to a level that not only children can understand but also can enjoy. This will be an amazing tool for parents to pull out and read with their children in many different scenarios they may find themselves in. I give this book give 5 stars!

I received an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

A good book with several practical strategies to teach kids self-regulation. It is Christian Fiction and so may be off-putting to those from noon-religious backgrounds/from other religious traditions.

“What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts” by Jennie Allen is a short, yet great book to help kids understand their thought processes.

You may be familiar with Jennie’s book, “Get out of Your Head,” which helps adults control their thoughts and emotions. In both books, Jennie explains how these toxic thoughts are not from God, and helps readers understand how to control them and think positively instead. In this book particularly, the author simplifies the message of her main book, in a way that’s easy for children to understand. It also includes bright, colorful illustrations which make it a joy to look through!

From the introduction to the parents:

“Sometimes anxiety, depression, or the effects of trauma are beyond our control. Please read these words with great compassion. Sometimes we need more help than redirection! Praise God for the help of counselors and doctors.”

“Now more than ever, kids need the freedom that Jesus offers their thought lives, and they also need the love of a safe adult who cares about them and shows up for them again and again.”

I would rate this book 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to anyone with small children. ❤️ I received a copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very sweet, helpful book for a kiddo whose brain might feel like it's in overdrive! The author first explains how thoughts can make you happy, scary, worried, etc. and then explains how *you're* in control of your own brain. The concepts of gratitude, prayer, physical movement, and talking thoughts out with your loved ones are all explored, alongside adorable and vibrant illustrations.

(This is also a Christian book, so keep that in mind if it's not your jam. ♥)

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.