Summersdale's "Monster Mental Health" Series

One of Toppsta's biggest missions is to help give children the tools they need to look after their mental health. Research has proven books are a key factor in supporting children's emotional well-being and the National Literary Trust claim that young people who read are three times less likely to experience struggles with their mental health. Just the more reason to LOVE books! So it will be no surprise that when we discovered Summersdale's interactive workbook series for parents and children to help young people build their confidence, social skills, anxiety management and lasting friendships, we couldn't help but dedicate an entire blog post to their wonderful confidence-building series.

Upon just having an initial conversation with Summersdale's team, it is clear they are as passionate about supporting children’s mental health as we are. They have built a dedicated list of titles for children aged 4–16 to help support emotional development and boost feelings of self-worth and confidence in just a few years.

The backbone to Summersdale's list is the Monster Mental Health series by Poppy O’Neill for children aged 7 and over. These fun and engaging activity books combine proven cognitive behavioural therapy with mindfulness methods used by child psychologists to help children explore their emotions and understand how they make their mind and body feel.

The titles Don't Worry, Be Happy : A Child's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and You're a Star: A Child's Guide to Self-Esteem became instant bestsellers and we are not surprised one bit. The activities in each of these workbooks are so well-crafted, from encouraging children to understand the big, overwhelming feelings, to affirmations and body movement suggestions to quiet the mind.

And if you finished this series and absolutely loved it, no fear! Summersdale also have an amazing Workbook series, which you can learn about here.

Georgina Atwell

Toppsta

2023-04-30

2023-04-29

Summersdale's "Monster Mental Health" Series

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Don't Worry, Be Happy: A Child's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety

Does your child appear to worry a lot? Perhaps they have frequent tummy upsets, or are irritable, tearful, angry or withdrawn? Do they have problems concentrating or show a loss of enthusiasm for their usual interests?
These could all be signs that your child is struggling with anxiety.
This practical guide combines proven cognitive-behavioural therapy methods used by child psychologists in schools with simple activities to help your child to overcome anxiety. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Fiz – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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A spread from the book Be Cool, Be You that invites the reader to add in some personal info — Children can personalise their own workbook while they get to know each other better through the intro activities.

You're a Star: A Child's Guide to Self-Esteem

Does your child often feel isolated and do they struggle to get involved in social situations? Are they nervous about what people think of them, or maybe they’re just a little unsure of how they feel about themselves?
These could be signs that your child is experiencing low self-esteem.
This practical guide combines proven cognitive-behavioural therapy methods used by child psychologists in schools with simple activities to help your child grow their self-esteem. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s sense of self-worth, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Bop – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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Be Calm: A Child's Guide to Feeling Relaxed and Happy

Does your child appear anxious or stressed a lot of the time? Do they find it difficult to let go of negative thoughts and feelings? Do they seem tense or nervous?
These could all be signs that your child is struggling with stress and anxiety.
This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child find calm. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Kip – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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Be Mindful: A Child's Guide to Being Present

Does your child appear worried or stressed? Do they find it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time? Do they spend a lot of time on their phone or gadgets?
These could all be signs that your child would benefit from practising mindfulness.
This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child improve their focus and be more present. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Buddy – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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An interior spread from 'Be Mindful'. On the left, we are introduced to the 'monster' character called Buddy, and on the right, the concept of mindfulness is explained. — Meet a new monster character in each book! The monster will not only normalise feelings of overwhelm, anxiety and insecurities, but is also a brilliant guide throughout all the activities.

Be Brave: A Child's Guide to Overcoming Shyness

Does your child appear nervous and isolated in social settings? Perhaps they find it difficult to approach other children or make friends? Do they seem to avoid engaging in hobbies and activities?

These could all be signs that your child is struggling with shyness.

This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child overcome shyness. It's aimed at children aged 7-11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child's confidence, not just now but for years to come.

Your child will be guided, with the help of Jem - a friendly and supportive character they can identify with - through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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Be Cool, Be You: A Child's Guide to Making Friends

Does your child appear unhappy or lonely at school? Perhaps they have a tendency to think negatively and doubt themselves? Do they worry about what other children think about them?

These could be signs that your child is struggling to make friends.

This practical guide combines proven cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child grow their self-confidence. It's aimed at children aged 7-11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child's emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.

Your child will be guided, with the help of Blip - a friendly and supportive character they can identify with - through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents and carers.

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A sample spread of the book Be Cool, Be You. Two monsters discussing friendship, and why sometimes that can be a tricky thing (for example, when you disagree about something) — Learn how to be a good friend by just being your sparkly self with Be Cool, Be You!

You Can Do Amazing Things: A Child's Guide to Dealing with Change and New Challenges

Does your child shy away from trying new things? Perhaps they have experienced a big change recently and are finding it difficult to articulate their feelings? Do they feel out-of-control at times and want to understand why?

These are signs that your child is ready to learn more about how to thrive through life's changes.

This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child develop the skills to articulate their feelings and regulate their moods. It's aimed at children aged 7-11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child's emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.

Your child will be guided, with the help of Bud - a friendly and supportive character they can identify with - through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational affirmations and practical information for parents and carers.

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Positively Me: A Child's Guide to Feeling Good

Does your child struggle with low mood? Perhaps they worry that they are not good enough and prefer not to try? Do they find it difficult to speak up in class or make friends?
These could be signs that your child is experiencing feelings of low self-worth.
This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child to boost their mood and sense of self-worth. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Chip – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational affirmations and practical information for parents and carers.

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I Like Being Me: A Child's Guide to Self-Worth

Does your child frequently compare themselves to their friends? Perhaps they find it difficult to make decisions because they doubt themselves and their abilities? Do they seem to avoid socializing and participating in hobbies and activities?

These could all be signs that your child is struggling with low self-worth.

This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child overcome their self-doubt. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s confidence, not just now but for years to come.

Your child will be guided, with the help of Coco – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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When I Feel Angry: A Child's Guide to Understanding and Managing Moods

Does your child have frequent tantrums and outbursts? Perhaps they find it hard to speak about their emotions? Do they seem to get overwhelmed by stress and anxiety quickly?

These could all be signs that your child is struggling with angry moods.

This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child manage their anger and express their feelings in healthy ways. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.

Your child will be guided, with the help of Rah – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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A sample spread from 'When I feel angry'. Readers can select what anger feels like and what happens to their face and body when they feel angry. — A mindful activity, focusing on the feeling of anger in your body.

Be Strong: You Are Braver Than You Think: A Child's Guide to Boosting Self-Confidence

Does your child appear nervous in social situations? Perhaps they worry a lot about what other people will think of them, or are sad and withdrawn? Do they seem reluctant to partake in their usual interests and hobbies?
These could be signs that your child is struggling with low confidence.
This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child to improve their self-confidence. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Pip – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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My Feelings and Me: A Child's Guide to Understanding Emotions

Does your child struggle to control their emotions? Perhaps they get upset easily and find it difficult to calm down? Do they feel out-of-control at times and want to understand why?
These are signs that your child is ready to learn more about big feelings and the physical sensations they experience as a result.
This practical guide combines cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods with simple activities to help your child develop the skills to articulate their feelings and regulate their moods. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Pop – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational affirmations and practical information for parents and carers.

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Be Yourself: Why It's Great to Be You: A Child's Guide to Embracing Individuality

Does your child appear to put themselves down frequently? Perhaps they have a tendency to think negatively and doubt their abilities? Do they worry about what other children think about them?
These could be signs that your child is struggling with self-acceptance.
This practical guide combines proven cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness methods used by child psychologists in schools with simple activities to help your child to build on their self-belief. It’s aimed at children aged 7–11 because a lot happens in these years that can impact a child’s emotional well-being, not just now but for years to come.
Your child will be guided, with the help of Glow – a friendly and supportive character they can identify with – through fun and engaging activities which are interspersed with useful tips, inspirational statements and practical information for parents.

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Summersdale's "Monster Mental Health" Series

Don't Worry, Be Happy: A Child's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety

You're a Star: A Child's Guide to Self-Esteem

Be Calm: A Child's Guide to Feeling Relaxed and Happy

Be Mindful: A Child's Guide to Being Present

Be Brave: A Child's Guide to Overcoming Shyness

Be Cool, Be You: A Child's Guide to Making Friends

You Can Do Amazing Things: A Child's Guide to Dealing with Change and New Challenges

Positively Me: A Child's Guide to Feeling Good

I Like Being Me: A Child's Guide to Self-Worth

When I Feel Angry: A Child's Guide to Understanding and Managing Moods

Be Strong: You Are Braver Than You Think: A Child's Guide to Boosting Self-Confidence

My Feelings and Me: A Child's Guide to Understanding Emotions

Be Yourself: Why It's Great to Be You: A Child's Guide to Embracing Individuality

5 Fantasy Books about WITCHES (for teens)

Summersdale's "Workbook" Series