Families who loved Petie and Collin Learn About Anxiety by Courtney Knoch often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child starts expressing physical symptoms of worry, such as tummy butterflies, or when they seem stuck in a cycle of what-if thinking before new experiences. It is an essential tool for helping children name the invisible weight of anxiety and see it as something manageable rather than something to fear. Through the relatable characters of Petie and Collin, the story introduces the concept of the amygdala and the fight, flight, or freeze response in a way that is scientifically grounded yet perfectly accessible for children aged 3 to 8. This book is particularly helpful for parents who want to move beyond just telling a child to be brave and instead want to provide them with a concrete biological understanding of their feelings and a toolkit of calming strategies. It normalizes the experience of anxiety, showing that even the bravest friends can feel overwhelmed, and emphasizes that asking for help is a sign of strength.
