Avocado Feels a Pit Worried
A funny picture book that gives anxious kids a proven, real-world method for facing their fears one brave step at a time
What if something goes wrong? What then? What's going to happen? Avi the avocado worries about everything, and when fear takes over, he does what a lot of kids do: he avoids. New situations, unfamiliar sounds, anything that feels scary gets added to the "absolutely not" list. But one day, a mysterious THUMP! THUMP! THUD! outside his kitchen window changes everything. Fear swells in the pit of his stomach, but for the first time, Avi asks himself a different question: what is the worst thing that could happen if I just try?
With the support of his friends and a whole lot of courage he didn't know he had, Avi begins facing the situations he once avoided, one small brave step at a time. Kids will be rooting for him on every page, because they'll recognize their own worries in his. Avocado Feels a Pit Worried doesn't just tell kids to "be brave." It introduces a real, proven method for managing social anxiety and avoidance in a story so fun and so relatable that children will want to read it over and over, picking up a little more courage each time.
Key features:
- introduces a proven method for managing anxiety: teaches kids a real, therapist-backed approach to gradually facing fears instead of avoiding them, building confidence with each step
- incredibly relatable for anxious kids: Avi's "what if" thinking and avoidance patterns mirror exactly what children with social anxiety experience, helping them feel understood and less alone
- shows the power of friendship and support: demonstrates how encouragement from friends can help kids take brave steps they wouldn't take on their own
- perfect for families, classrooms, and counseling sessions: ideal for read-alouds, SEL lessons, anxiety-focused therapy sessions, school counselor groups, and bedtime conversations about worries and bravery
- trusted series and publisher: part of the Food for Thought series from Magination Press, the children’s imprint of APA, dedicated to emotional well-being and healthy development
Brenda S. Miles, PhD, is a clinical pediatric neuropsychologist who works with children, teens, and families. She blends brain science with creativity to build programs and resources that support learning and mental health.
Dr. Miles lives near Toronto, Canada. You can follow her on Instagramopens in new window.
Monika Filipina is an award-winning author and illustrator. She earned a master’s degree in children's book illustration at Cambridge School of Arts.
She lives in Toruń, Poland. Visit her on Facebookopens in new window and on Twitteropens in new window and Instagramopens in new window.
Watch the author read Avocado Feels a Pit Worriedopens in new window. Interested in this book? Purchase a copy to continue (or start) the conversation with the children in your life.
