Donut Worry

by Christianne Jones

Poor Donut is feeling anxious. School is about to start again, and Donut can't stop all sorts of worries from filling her little donut head. She's tired of her friends and family saying, "Don't worry!" As if it's that easy! Can her new friend, Cookie, help her find ways to manage her worries?

Christianne Jones, author of Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker, brings us a sweet story to introduce anxiety coping skills. Donut's story offers children a valuable understanding of their worries and techniques that can help manage them.

Genres: Picture Books, Mental Health, Childrens

Audio CD

First published April 15, 2021

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have poor Donut who is worried about starting school.

"What if I miss the bus? Who will I sit with at lunch? What if I get everything wrong?"

(Oh, no! We all know the only thing a doughnut should EVER have to worry about is proper sprinkle distribution, and the distinct possibility that someone like me will chomp down on their yummy deliciousness.)

But . . . back to poor Donut's dilemma. Luckily she finds a new pal who lets her know that sometimes, it's okay to not be okay. And, together they discover ways to help ease Donut's worries.



If sentient foodstuffs can't help kids cope with anxiety, I'm not sure what can.


Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this tiny little colourful story book!

By the way, this is the first time I really wanted to eat the character. Like from the first page until I close the book. The donut is so pink and glossy and bright and colourful and sprinkled with lots of goodies. I am terrible haha!

The story represents kids who are worried about school and everything else in general abd people keep telling them not to worry continuously.

Telling someone not to worry is easy but yes, totally annoying to hear though we keep saying this to others almost everyday. But ko one actually tells us to face our worries like this book does. It's amazing. So simple yet effective. And so damn important to learn!

The illustrations for me would have been a 3 star rating if not for the (yes!) Donut and the effective words in between.

I love it.

Makes the adult reading it learn as well.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 1st January 2021 – publication day!

I really liked the idea behind this book and it is a great way to look at covering worries for young children. It was a cute story and the images were lovely. I liked the different way given to help them too. My daughter is a little worrier so this will really help her.

It is 4 stars from me for this one, it is a great idea and the images are great – highly recommended!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This cute, colorful book is great! Telling Donut not to worry isn't helpful and it's good to see a book that teaches kids that it's okay to not be okay. It offers a few ideas to overcome worrying saying that it's not a one size fits all answer for everybody. Some tricks work and some don't. The illustrations are adorable.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Capstone through NetGalley.
Jones uses sweet treats to talk about worrying with elementary level readers. Donut worries a lot about school starting. Unfortunately, many people in her life just tell her, "Don't worry." That strategy does not work. Finally, she meets Cookie who shares their own story of worrying and offers strategies to cope. Cookie also shares wonderful advice everyone needs - It's okay to not be okay. This helps Donut face her worries and head off for school.
Colorful illustrations bring the foods to life.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange of an honest review.


Welcome in a world where food is alive, which is not working for my stomach who gets hungry from the donuts.. but then sees they have eyes. 😛 Donuts are not supposed to have that, my confused and hungry stomach says. 😉

In this book we meet Donut, a pink and yellow donut with glasses, she is having a great time.. but then OH NO, school is coming up and she is having BIG BIG worries which I could totally relate to. I know the stress of the first days all too well. Especially when one goes to a new school. I did feel sorry for Donut that she let the worries take over so much, I wish she would have just talked to someone, like her parents (though maybe they would do the same as so many others.. say that Donut shouldn’t worry (that is not how it works people)).

Then a new friend appears (and yes, my stomach rumbled even harder because chocolate chip cookies are YUM) and he tells Donut to worry. Now, this may sound all wrong, but he means that she has to face them. Find help, do exercising, and many other things.

And so begins a new chapter in Donut’s life. She now has a friend who understand, but she is also working hard herself and I was just delighted to see that.

The ending was a happy one and I am also very happy with the last page which gives a bit more information on how to battle worries.

The art was just so much fun! I love how bright and yummy it was.

I would definitely recommend this one. For all us who worry.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is a good book. Favorite part is cookie. It okay not be okay." - My 2.5 year old kiddo.

Writing: Even though this book is at least three years above his age range (it's for kids who are starting school--although in this post COVID world who knows what that will look like?) my kiddo really loved this book and asks for it a lot!

It's well paced, has funny sequences and puns, and depicts a happy and helpful friendship where Cookie and Donut mutually help each other out with their anxiety. Kiddo could tell that Cookie was different and validated Donut.

Art: The art is very cute! It features photos of a donut and cookie, with hand drawn illustrations. Anthropomorphized donuts are not normally my thing, but it works for the pun.

Message: Donut Worry addresses a common issue for kids: "worry" aka uneasy, fear, or anxiety. It subtly pokes at why invalidation does not help people feel better, and introduces acceptance of emotions (eg: "It's okay to not be okay") as well as several empowering strategies to help cope with worry emotions (self talk mantras, breathing exercises, etc.) Overall, it's a good story to help kids build emotional awareness and distress tolerance management.

Rereadability: Kiddo certainly thinks it's re-readable and has been asking for it a lot this week. From a parent's perspective, it is painless to read and introduces some coping strategies parents can use, too!

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Donut is adorable!
As a mom of a worrier I almost cried reading this book. It will make me think twice about just saying "don't worry." The 'fear of the unknown' anxiety really does a number on my child - unfortunately inherited from me.
No one really understood Donut. Why was she so worried about going back to school? Cookie knew. She experienced the same feelings and shared what worked for her.
At the end of this book a few tips for calming yourself are added. It's very kid friendly to make it easier for them to relate to and remember. It's going to be helpful for me as a parent as well to help my little donut through the worries.
The animation is super cute!

The ages listed is 5-7 which is good when read with an adult to help them understand. To read on their own may be a little difficult. Some words may be too big for them to read.
It's most definitely a good conversation starter about worries. I think it will be very helpful for the child and adult to meet in a common ground to discuss and hopefully help ease fears.

(Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book!)

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Capstone Editions in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love the message this book carried through from beginning to end. I am a person who has so many worries that I can relate to the struggle donut is going through and how she was missing all of the fun times with her friends because she was afraid and worried about all of the things that could go wrong, she missed out on all the fun activities and chose to stay at home and watch TV. Then she gets frustrated and annoyed when her friends and family tell her to simply "don't worry" and she screams stop right on the top of the mountain until her friend Cookie comes along and says the complete opposite, 'so worry." See reverse psychology to the rescue, really puts a lot in perspective and then you get the courage to face your fears so they disappear. Such a wonderful book with a powerful message.

We will consider adding this title to our Picture Book collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Stephanie Sattler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book that teaches children about their worries and what to do with them. This story is about a donut who is getting ready to go back to school and all of the worries that go along with that transition. One thing I love about this book is that is mentions how your body actually feels when it is worried or anxious. Its important for children to start recognizing how their body feels and then what to do with that feeling. This book also helps deal with the alienating feeling that you are the only one who worries and what to do when everyone else tells you "DON'T Worry!" There are some great suggestions for ways to cope with worry and that worries won't go away but that its important to have strategies to deal with them.

This book is geared towards early elementary but I think there are themes that ANYONE can connect with. A graduate going to college, an adult starting a new job, someone traveling to a new place.

[Novel Obsession · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donut feels anxious….about a lot of things. A lot of her friends and family keep telling her not to worry, but that doesn’t help someone who is feeling anxious. Then she meets Cookie, who tells Donut that she also becomes anxious but has learned ways to cope with the anxiety.

This is a great book to read with children who may be worried about a particular thing or who are prone to anxiety in general. No only does it open dialogue, but it gives constructive techniques for kids, such as taking a deep breath and pretending to blow out a candle, as well as to their grown ups, such as talking through the worry rather than telling the child not to worry.

The illustrations are fun and quirky, combining actual photographs with graphic media. However, I wish the placement of actual photographs was more consistent. Some characters in the book involve photographs of actual objects while others are not.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by Capstone.

[Jennifer Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! From the viewpoint of a school district library clerk I think this is going to be a must read "read aloud" for elementary school classrooms and counseling offices to help students acclimate back into the school setting.

Donut is so relatable in her back to school stresses. I think we all get a little tense thinking about returning to something like school, work or other activities we have not done in a while. I was impressed by how the author, Christianne Jones, acknowledged the common fears students have in returning to school, especially in the throws of Covid 19. I also appreciate how she dealt with handling those fears, worries, concerns. It was nice to have that reminder that it's okay to not be okay.

The illustrator, Jack Viant, did a great job. The artwork is fun and whimsical. I really like how Donut and Cookie stand out as well.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this strange world of sunbathing donuts whose glazed icing doesn't melt, and cookies that go for a dunk in the swimming pool without the obvious result, our heroine is drop dead worried about hitting a new school after the summer break. Full of anxiety, you might think the fact she gets help from a cookie means she has turned to comfort eating, but no – for this cookie is a smart cookie, and has experience of the same fears. But can what he impart get her out of her funk and happily to school? Extremely cartoonish (and peculiarly so, as I intimated above), this little read will definitely help reassure a few people. I can see the majority of purchasers for this will be schools, so it's kind of going to miss its target audience a little, but I wish it well in getting a bit of PMA into some of the intended readers.

[suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I was a bit skeptical about the nature of this book, but after a bit, I understood that this has to be one of my favorite books to review. This book is about school anxiety and how to help overcome it. This really hit home for me as my son had extreme anxiety going to school, every morning was a mission for us. We used mantras, breathing techniques, and at the very end therapy which was the most helpful in our situation. But its important to try different methods and see which works best for you. This book talks about accepting the anxiety and everything it takes to overcome it.

I look forward to purchasing this book when it releases to use in my branch, I feel like this will be a great storytime book for back to school themes.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has just the right amount of puns, including the title. The author and illustrator didn’t take it too far and make it farcical. Donut has lots of worries and everyone telling her it will be okay isn’t helping. Until she meets a crumbling cookie who tells her “It’s okay to not be okay”. I think this is a lesson we need to teach children more. So many people want happy healthy children, or make light of a child's worries and fears, it’s nice to have something, or someone says, It’s okay to not be okay. This book works in all ways. The illustrations are great with the puns and the topics. It’s approachable without seeming like a lecture, and a fun to read book that isn’t just about it’s lesson.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Donut. She stopped enjoying the summer when she started to worry about school. The more those around her told her not to worry, the worse it was. Until, one day, she met Cookie who told Donut about how she crumbled. The two talked about their worries, things that might help and the concept of doing things in one’s own way and time.

If you know a child who worries a lot, think about reading this book with them. The illustrations are kind of ridiculous but I think that is this book’s way of making it easier to approach such a difficult subject. Make this a book that a child can return to and, please, encourage them to find their way.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

[AnneKR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a donut who can’t stop worrying about everything. Soon her worries sta rt to affect her everyday life and she doesn’t know what to do. Her anger increases every time someone tells her “Don’t worry!” It’s at this time she meets a new friend who helps her control her worries.

I thought this book is a good teaching tool for kids who worry about too many things, most of which they have no control over. There are some ideas given to help ease and erase some of the worries. The illustrations were my favorite part of the book. Bright, vibrant, realistic donuts that made me leave my house to get one (or a dozen)!

Thank you Netgalley and Capstone for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sandra Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going back to school can be stressful, and so can a lot of other things. In this book the cute little Donut is worried about a lot of things, including the new school year. Everyone tells her not to worry, however, that is not helpful and it just makes Donut agitated. If you have a worrier, it will definitely show them that they are not alone, and that everyone has worries. Fortunately, in this book, our little donut meets a smart little cookie who shows her how to cope with her anxiety. These strategies worked for Donut, and this book offers strategies what can work for your little worrier too. The realistic characters embedded in a cartoon background make this a fun read.

[Julie Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Christianne Jones's book, "Lucy Walker, Nonstop Talker," and have used it many times in my K-2 classrooms. I was excited to check out her latest book, "Donut Worry." This book is about a donut who loves summer vacation until August when she starts worrying about going back to school. Jones is right on with the types of things that early elementary students worry about. Donut meets a fellow worrier, Cookie, who shares her tips about how to deal with her worries. The illustrations are quirky and fun, containing a mix of photos and drawings. This would be a great book for adults who spend time with kids who are anxious about school.

[Vidya Tiru · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I mentioned in Sunday’s post, today is my eldest’s first day of school, well college actually! While my conversations with him prove he has it all under control, the mom-in-me feels like telling him donut worry!

This book does just that (maybe I should get him to read it!) It addresses all those first-day jitters in the right way to get you ready, and to meet that first-day head on, no matter what. Adorable and cute characters, bright and colorful illustrations, clever and catchy dialog and storyline, all make this a fun and just-what-you-need read.

thanks to netgalley for the e-rc of this book. these are my honest opinions.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well well... First, let me say I like the purpose of this book, overcoming your worry or fear is an important topic to discuss with children, and this book does that quite well. My main concern with it was the visual presentation, it looks a bit cheap and it felt closer to a non-fiction than a fiction, because ti seem so concern on making its point clear, that it forget to tell a fun and enjoyable story. It you're looking for a fun read, don,t do it, but if you're looking for something to open up a discussion about anxiety and worry, then, this might do the job!

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the summer, Donut is worried about the beginning of the new school year. She pictures troublesome scenarios. Everyone tells her “don’t worry,” but that’s not working. Can her new friend, Cookie, help her manage negative thoughts and feelings? I liked the story and the section in the back about working out one’s worries. This is a valuable book for children regarding topics of stress and anxiety. I read this via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really adorable book with vibrant illustrations. I love the fact that donuts have lives and go to school. I 100% relate with Donut because I always worried about everything as a kid. This is really good to help kids get over their worry and focus on happy things, living one day at a time and facing their worries. I love that Donut finds a friend who understands.

[Sharae RaetheReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am Donut, Donut is me. But seriously, anyone that has or struggles with worry or anxiety will enjoy and appreciate this book. From the fun, bright art style to the practical steps to combat worry I think this book would circulate well in libraries, child therapists, and behavioral analysts, basically anyone who works with young children. I like that the author also included mindulfness activities and explanations of things kids can do to deal with worrying.

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the message behind this book, I'm just a little confused as to the target age range. The illustrations are very cute and would appeal to a young child, but the concept of mantras and meditation etc, is much more suited for an older child, for which the illustrations are too young.

Good book for the right child.

*Free e-copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[sinag · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really love the message of this book. It's okay not to be okay. It has a very simple and straight-to-the-point story line, but still able to evoke emotions from me. The characters being food is so, so cute as well.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

donut worry is very relatable. It truly doesn't help when people tell you to not worry. Cookie is a great friend to donut and let her know that it is OK to worry. He also helped her work through her worries. I love how this book is done in a cute story to help kids rather than overwhelm them with their fears.

[brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both myself and my daughter enjoyed this book quite a lot. We both laughed at the silly illustrations and my daughter told me that it reminder her of when she was nervous to go to school. She worried about the same things as the donut. As a parent I loved that they put real techniques to help with calming down.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute story about anxiety and worries and how to deal with them. I love the illustrations of the donuts and other tasty desserts. I thought the Cookie and the way they described their worries was awesome.

This book would be a great way to get kids to talk about their worries and concerns.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book about worry and anxiety that I've been waiting for! In a light hearted way, it addresses the idea that what works for you, might not work for me, and that's ok. It shows that it is ok to worry, it's ok to not be ok, and it's good to find your own way to work through worries. I love the fun illustrations and agree completely with the way it addresses anxiety.

Thanks NetGalley