Wart the Worry Ghost | Children's Anxiety & Worry Activity Book

Helping children understand worry and build practical tools for managing it.

Wart the Worry Ghost by Mark Scarborough is an interactive, child-friendly resource designed to help children explore anxiety and worry in a way that feels approachable and engaging.

Using characters, activities and practical tools, the book helps children develop a better understanding of anxious thoughts and introduces strategies they can work through with a parent, carer or other supportive adult.

The book draws on cognitive behavioural theory and scientific research, using imaginative characters to make complex ideas about anxiety easier for children to engage with.

Wart the Worry Ghost was also used as part of Mark's Anxiety Workshops HAS Tools program, with practical tools that children and families can work through rather than simply reading about worry.

Why we chose it

• Helps children explore worry and anxiety in an accessible way
• Includes practical tools and activities children can work through
• Uses engaging characters to introduce potentially difficult concepts
• Draws on cognitive behavioural theory
• Can be worked through together with a parent or carer
• Suitable for use by families independently or alongside professional support
• Can also be used in school and group settings

What children can explore

Through the book, children can explore:

• What worry and anxiety can feel like
• Anxious thoughts and patterns
• Ways of understanding their worries
• Practical tools for responding to worry
• Strategies they can practise and return to over time

Who is it for?

Wart the Worry Ghost is designed for children and families wanting a practical resource for exploring worry and anxiety together.

It can be used by families at home, in school or group settings, or alongside support from a psychologist or other appropriate professional.

Product details

• Title: Wart the Worry Ghost
• Author: Mark Scarborough
• Format: Softcover
• Interactive children's anxiety resource
• Based on cognitive behavioural theory
• Includes practical tools and activities
• Used in Mark Scarborough's Anxiety Workshops HAS Tools program
• Suitable for individual, family, school and group use

ND-affirming note

Anxiety isn't always obvious.

It can look like avoidance, needing certainty, becoming upset when plans change, repeatedly asking questions, shutting down or needing extra support to feel safe.

The goal isn't to tell a child that their worries are silly or that they simply need to stop worrying. Resources like this can provide a way to explore worry together and build tools for responding to it.

About the author

Mark Scarborough was a clinical psychologist and author whose work focused on making psychological concepts practical and accessible for children, families and adults.

Mark held a Master of Clinical Psychology from the Australian National University and was a member of the Australian Psychological Society, the APS Clinical College and the International Association of Applied Psychology.

He created a range of approachable resources exploring anger, anxiety, emotional wellbeing and everyday psychological skills, including Angus the Angry Gremlin, Wart the Worry Ghost, It's Just Burnt Toast, The Masters of Misery and Shining Brightly.

Keeping Mark's resources accessible

Mark Scarborough wanted his resources to remain affordable and accessible to the people and families who could benefit from them. We're honoured to continue stocking his work and have intentionally kept our markup on these books low in keeping with that legacy.