Understanding anxiety and worries: our top picks for improving mental wellbeing

Growing up comes with a whole range of feelings. Struggles with anxiety, confidence and mental wellbeing are so prevalent in our younger generations. But blind and visually impaired children can often have these feelings amplified because of their condition.

Over 85% of children feel excluded from activities with their sighted peers and almost half have experienced bullying due to their visual impairment. As they grow into adulthood, research tells us blind and visually impaired people are three times more likely to experience depression.

Children’s picture books are an incredible resource for helping youngsters understand their feelings and encourage them to talk about their emotions. Our work means that blind and visually impaired kids don’t need to miss out on this.

We’ve picked out a few of our favourite tactile-audio picture books in our collection that parents, guardians and teachers can explore through touch and sound with the blind and visually impaired children in their care.

Remember, our postal library of Touch to See books for blind and visually impaired children is totally free – so if you’re not already a member, join today!

My Beautiful Voice

Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys

A moving, lyrical picture book about a child unlocking the power of their own voice through poetry, as a young girl overcomes her anxiety and finds confidence with the support of an enchanting and magical teacher.

Audio guide comes from BAFTA award winning actress Sophie Okonedo.

Borrow My Beautiful Voice

Ruby’s Worry

Tom Percival

Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it’s not such a big worry, and that’s all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad.

From the bestselling Big Bright Feelings series, this is the perfect book for discussing childhood worries and anxieties, no matter how big or small they may be.

Borrow Ruby’s Worry

My Monster and Me

Nadia Hussain and Ella Bailey

Having suffered with panic disorder herself for as long as she can remember, Nadiya wrote this heartfelt story to help give children and parents the tools they need to talk about worries and anxiety, to ensure that no child suffers in silence.

Our audio guide is read by Nadiya herself, and includes a message to grown-ups where she discusses her personal experience with panic disorder.

Borrow My Monster and Me

Moles Sunrise

Jeanne Willis

A beautiful and moving story about a blind mole who thought he’d never get to see the sunrise. But with a little help from his friends Vole, Rabbit, Squirrel and Sparrow – and their lovingly told descriptions – he’s able to see it in his very own way.

With a special audio guide by Jim Broadbent.

Borrow Mole’s Sunrise

Where the Wild Things Are

Maurice Sendac

This classic storybook is the perfect vehicle to explore the idea of giving in to your “wild side”. Feeling misunderstood and angry at home and school, Max sets sail in his imagination to the island of the Wild Things. The fantastical beasts make him their king and he promises to make them happy – but he soon realises how much he loves his home.

Borrow Where the Wild Things Are