Mr. Worry: A Story about OCD

Kindergarten-Grade 4-Soft, soothing artwork accompanies a quiet story about a young boy trying to overcome the terrors of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in his daily life. All of the people in young Kevin's life join forces to help him manage his problem, which he names Mr. Worry. The use of simple language and straightforward information clarifies the situation, and readers are soon cheering for the boy's success. The artistic portrayals of Kevin's thoughts add whimsy and interest to the story. Although the author includes a few setbacks, Kevin makes good progress, providing hope for the future. This title fills a singular need in the area of psychology.-Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI
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Gr. 2-4. Kevin does a lot before he goes to sleep: line things up neatly, push in the desk chair, ask his mom the same questions over and over. If he doesn't do those things "his mind gets sweaty," and he is afraid to tell his parents. What if his mom's an alien? (The picture of Kevin and Mom both riding bikes, in which she turns blue with pointy ears, is actually quite funny.) Kevin's parents take him to see a doctor who talks to people all day about their worries. Dr. Fraser teaches Kevin techniques on how to "hang up" on worry messages as if they were wrong numbers, and she gives him medication. Soon Kevin, who has named his OCD Mr. Worry, is managing his fears better. The airbrushed illustrations, which tend toward realism, have a certain blandness, but there's humor in them as well. This picture book for older readers is useful bibliotherapy that will no doubt comfort many kids. GraceAnne DeCandido
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