Charlie Star
Age 5+
Picture Books
This book addresses the issue of anxiety in a light-hearted and reassuring manner.
Charlie is an anxious dachshund who worries that something terrible might happen if he doesn’t keep to his daily rituals. After he is called upon to help rescue a friend, he discovers that this may not necessarily be the case, and that ‘change’ can have really positive outcomes.
Charlie’s character was inspired by Terry’s daughter, who went through a phase of daily rituals to help combat anxiety. Terry became aware that it is a behaviour pattern which is common amongst children and indeed adults.
Creators
Terry Milne was born in South Africa but is now based in Oxford, England. She has illustrated books with authors such as Martin Waddell, Angela McAllister and Vivian French, working with UK publishers such as Andersen Press and Walker Books. Her daughter's struggles with anxiety and repetitive behaviour led Terry to write and illustrate the story of Charlie Star, as a reassurance to children everywhere who have the same struggles.
Reviews
This is a really gentle story highlighting the way anxiety can take over, but also cleverly shows that change is not as scary as we think and can lead to wonderful things.
The BookActivist blog
What is great about this story is that Charlie still continues with his usual routine, but occasionally tries something different. It’s useful to learn that things don’t always have to be exactly the same and you can try something new or different without having to change who you are completely.
Booktrust: Ten of the Best Books for coping with Anxiety
