The Worried Book

A hilariously honest and heartwarming story about anxiety, self-doubt, and the power of positive thinking, The Worried Book shows young readers that it's OK to worry--what matters is how we respond.

The Worried Book is having a bit of a meltdown. "Hi, I can't wait for you to read me... You are going to read me, right? Wait--what if you don't like me? What if nobody likes me?!"

Meet the most anxious book on the shelf--a nervous narrator who worries about everything that could possibly go wrong. But as the pages turn, this worried book discovers something important: everyone feels anxious sometimes, and the key isn't to make the worries disappear--it's learning what to do with them.

With warmth, humor, and a gentle touch, The Worried Book invites young readers to acknowledge their "what-if" thoughts and imagine what could go right instead of wrong. A reassuring read for little worriers and the grownups who love them, this story is perfect for classrooms, bedtime, or anytime kids need a comforting perspective.

Author: Howard Pearlstein
Publisher: Red Comet Press
Published: 04/14/2026
Pages: 36
Binding Type: Hardcover
Series: Emotions
Weight: 0.75lbs
Size: 9.00h x 9.20w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781636551982
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026
Booklist 04/01/2026
School Library Journal 01/01/2026 pg. 41

About the Author
Howard Pearlstein is the author of nine picture books that have been translated into five languages. His most recent picture books include This Book Is Not For You and The Bad Book for Good Kids. Pearlstein lives with his family in Birmingham, Alabama. James Munro has been drawing since he could grasp a pencil. From that moment, everything in his path has fallen prey to his doodles, from books and magazines to films and animation. He lives and works in a pile of pencil shavings and spilled ink in Liverpool, England.