The Worry Balloon

Mónica Mancillas

illustrated by Betty C. Tang

MACMILLAN

The Worry Balloon

Written by Mónica Mancillas

Illustrated by Betty C. Tang

On the first day of school, Isla’s mind plays the what if game. Scary thoughts come, the world goes dark, and everything feels stormy. With Mami at her side, Isla takes a deep breath and blows her worries away in a big balloon. But as school gets closer, Isla’s worries come back like a tornado. Mami encourages her to imagine something happy, and Isla remembers there’s nothing she can’t handle.

storm might come again, but for now, her mind is quiet.

this thoughtful and reassuring picture book, Mónica Mancillas’s text and Betty C. Tang’s illustrations show how one child experiences anxiety and worry, providing different tools for readers to practice mindfulness and strengthen their mental health.

Mónica Mancillas writes books for children and adults. She received her BA in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley before pursuing a decade-long career in the recording industry. Her picture book The Worry Balloon is inspired by the challenges that she and those she loves sometimes face managing anxiety, and the tools, great and small, that have helped them walk through each of those challenges. monicamancillas.com

Betty C. Tang is the New York Times–bestselling illustrator of the Jacky Ha-Ha graphic novel series. She earned her BFA from the California Institute of the Arts, and after a successful animation career, she is now passionate about creating books for children. Betty loves squirrels and hates roaches. Born in Taiwan, she currently lives in Los Angeles. bettyctang.com

Roaring Brook Press

This digital copy has been distributed for promotional and review purposes only. No other uses are allowed, including but not limited to consumer viewing.

No sale or further distribution of this digital advance reader’s edition is permitted, except to others on your staff for review purposes only. Please do not post or share the link to this material. View and share it responsibly within your organization. We thank you for supporting the rights of our authors and artists in this endeavor.

For more information, contact childrens.publicity@macmillan.com.

MARKETING & PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN

• Outreach to Key Reviewers, Media, and School and Library Contacts

• Digital ARE sent to Select Bloggers and Digital Influencers

• Included in MacKids Social Media Promotions

• Featured at Select School, Library, and Bookseller Conferences and Conventions

• Digital ARE Available on Edelweiss

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Roaring Brook Press is a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 • mackids.com

Text copyright © 2023 by Mónica Mancillas

Illustrations copyright © 2023 by Betty C. Tang

All rights reserved.

Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

First edition, 2023

The illustrations in this book were created digitally with Procreate. The main text was set in Amasis and secondary text set in Chalkduster and Whittingham BQ. This book was edited by Luisa Beguiristaín, with art direction and design by Mike Burroughs. The production editor was Mia Moran, and the production was managed by Celeste Cass.

Printed in China by Hung Hing Off-set Printing Co. Ltd., Heshan City, Guangdong Province

To Siena, my sunshine, who inspired this book with her unwavering courage —M.M.

To Sam and Emma —B.C.T.

Mancillas

by Betty C. Tang

When Isla was little, every day seemed sunny with blue skies and rainbows.

When something bad happened, kisses and tickles made everything all better.

But these days, things were different. Isla’s mind had learned to worry. When scary thoughts came, the world went dark and everything felt stormy.

On days like today, the first day of school, when the path ahead was uncharted, Isla’s mind played the what if game. Her mind knew just how to scare her.

Isla stood by the door in her first-day outfit and brand-new backpack. But her feet would not move. She felt like she was stuck in a pool of quicksand.

“It sounds like you’re worried,” said Mami. “Try putting your worry in a big balloon and letting it float away. Whenever it comes back to check on you, just remind it that you’re okay.”

“What if something bad happens?” said Isla.

Isla took deep breaths in and out and blew her worries away.

The farther away her worries flew, the calmer she became.

Outside, a buttercup sun seemed to smile as Isla stepped onto the sidewalk. Mrs. Olvera waved. “Buena suerte on your first día!”

The busy street was a symphony of hurried morning voices. Isla’s worries tried to return, but she blew them away bravely.

The city ahead was a bustling maze of buses, cars, and streetlights. Isla’s school was so far away, she could not even see it.

“What if we don’t?” asked Mami. “Remember to talk to your worry. Remind it that you’re in charge of your feelings.”

“What if we get lost?” Isla asked.

Isla closed her eyes and thought,

Slowly, the clouds above her head began to drift away.

The stirring in Isla’s chest quieted as she walked past familiar spaces.

Past the pet shop, where the finches sang.

Past Mr. Lee’s mercado.

Past the bakery that smelled of doughnuts and the happy toy-store window.

But then a single cloud seemed to darken, pulling her mind toward the storm.

Isla tried to keep going. But her legs were like jelly, trembling.

Isla remembered all the times she had weathered the things she was scared of.

Slowly, the storm quieted as her new friend barked hello.

Down the street, the school bell sounded as children quickened their feet. A slow parade of bumblebee buses made their way to the gate.

Isla’s heart went pún pún pún as each step took her closer. Mami squeezed her hand as the crossing guard busily waved them forward.

“Okay,” Mami said. “It’s time.” She gave Isla a kiss and a big abrazo.

Isla tried to be brave as she peeked through the gate. But her feet were like trees, rooted.

“What if you don’t come back?” Isla said.

“Try picturing what you want to see happen. The world is what you make it. So try making it something happy.”

Isla closed her eyes and tried to imagine something happy. But her mind was a whir of scary thoughts that spun like a black tornado.

“I can’t,” she said. “Try again,” Mami said.

Isla took a breath. She thought of a classroom warm with sun and lots of friends to play with.

Isla imagined arts and crafts, and recess on the playground. She thought of the stories her teacher would read, and the treats she might find at lunchtime.

Isla remembered she had done this before. There was nothing she could not handle.

The storm might come again. But for now, Isla’s mind was quiet.

What do you do when you’re caught in a storm? You use tools for staying dry! You carry an umbrella, put on a sweater, and wear rainboots and a waterproof jacket. You might be surprised to learn that there are tools for weathering other kinds of storms too. Here are just a few of the many tools you can use to manage your worry.

MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is the practice of keeping our minds focused on the present. By practicing mindfulness, we pull our attention to what is instead of what if. When we pay attention to what’s happening right now, we can learn how to respond to our feelings. Here are a few simple ways you can practice mindfulness in just a few minutes!

Hot-Chocolate Breathing

Close your eyes and imagine you’re drinking a nice big cup of hot cocoa. Breathe in the chocolatey smell through your nose. Now blow off the steam with your mouth. Repeat this several times, noticing as your breathing gently slows down. When we breathe slowly, our body tells our mind that there’s no need to worry!

I Can Body Scan

Try closing your eyes and paying close attention to everything you hear. Do you hear birds chirping outside? Cars passing by? Someone making dinner? What do you feel? Are you cold? Are you warm? Is any part of you itchy? Start at the top of your head and work your way slowly down your body. When you focus your mind on what’s happening now, you pull it away from worry!

Om on the Range

If you find it tricky to stay quiet while being mindful, this one might be for you! Take a deep breath and as you let it out, say “oooooooooommmm” until your breath runs out. Do you feel a tickle on the tip of your nose? Do you notice your lips buzzing? Sound has a magical way of bringing calm to our minds and bodies.

VISUALIZATION

Sometimes, your imagination can be a scary place. It can conjure up all kinds of thoughts and feelings that leave you frightened. But with practice, you can use your imagination to take you to happy places. When you close your eyes, you can visualize—imagine—anything you want! The next time you feel worried, try putting your worries in a big balloon. Imagine your worries floating away, far off into the distance. You can send your worries down the river on a leaf, or into the ocean on a raft. You can also send yourself away to a place that feels calm and safe!

YOGA

We don’t just have to sit still to bring a sense of quiet to our minds and bodies! Another way to pull ourselves back to the present is to practice something called yoga. Through yoga, we can learn to control our breath and relax our muscles. Here are a few simple poses that can help you to get started with your yoga practice.

Child’s Pose

Sit back on your knees, positioning your feet shoelace-side down. Reach your arms forward and place your palms flat on the floor in front of you. Allow your head to gently relax in between your arms. Close your eyes and breathe into the pose, relaxing more with each breath.

Cat-Cow

Come to the floor on your hands and knees, keeping your back in a flat, neutral position. Pretend you’re a cow. Chomp some grass. Breathe in as you raise your chin to the ceiling and curve your belly toward the floor. Pretend you’re a cat. Say “meow!” Breathe out as you tuck your chin in and round your back.

Happy Baby

Lie on your back. Bring your knees to your chest, keeping your feet wide. Grab the outside of your feet with your hands as you rock side to side like a happy baby.

EXERCISE

Did you know that when you exercise, your body releases something called endorphins?

These chemicals are like candy for your brain! They help you to feel happy and healthy. When we feel worried, our brains can send signals that tell us to move because we’re in danger. So what better way to alleviate your worry than to get your body moving! The next time you feel a worry storm coming on, try running, playing, or walking. Being outside in nature is the best way to bring on a feeling of calm.

SHIFT YOUR FOCUS TO THE POSITIVE

Have you ever noticed that your body responds to the thoughts that run through your head?

Your tummy might hurt or feel funny when you’re nervous. When you’re worried, your chest might feel tingly. Well, the good news is that your body responds to happy thoughts too! Here are a few tricks you can use to shift your focus to the positive.

1. Try using a positive phrase or affirmation the next time you feel worried. For example, you can say, “Everything will be okay” or “I’m strong enough to handle this feeling.”

2. Keep a gratitude journal where you draw a picture of or list all the things that you’re grateful for today. These can be big things like a trip to Disneyland or small things like a beautiful flower. The more we focus on what we’re grateful for, the happier we feel!

3. Make a deep wish at the end of every day. Start by closing your eyes and thinking of everything you’re thankful for. Next, take a moment to ask for all the things you want to see happen in your life.

4. Try putting your wishes onto a vision board. Start with a big piece of cardboard. Cut out pictures of the things you want and glue or tape them to the cardboard. Then, look at those things and imagine them happening!

TALK TO YOUR WORRY

Sometimes it feels like worry’s the boss of us. It likes to control how you’re feeling. But did you know that you can take charge by talking back to your worry? Worry may be a sneaky trickster, but you’ve got the brains to outsmart it. When it tells you something’s scary, try saying, “Oh yeah? Prove it!” You might find that your worry runs out of things to say!

TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS

Sometimes the best way to get worry to take a hike is to introduce it to a friend. Talking about how you feel can make the feelings easier to handle. When you share your worry, you might discover that others feel the same way you do. They might even have special tips on how to deal with your worry!

BUILD A CALMING CORNER

Now you have some tools to add to your tool bag! But where are you going to put them?

Try building a calming corner in your house—a place of your own to feel safe in. Decorate your corner with blankets and pillows and fill it with your favorite tools. Your corner can have pictures, music, books, or stuffies. Whatever makes you happy!

When I was a child, my mother suffered long periods of depression and anxiety. Her fears were an unrelenting storm that seemed to darken everything. Back then, people didn’t talk about these things. There were very few tools available. Armed with nothing but love, I felt helpless seeing my mother worry.

It wasn’t until I grew up that I experienced such storms of worry myself. Afraid of being pulled under as my mother once was, I felt my anxieties begin to spiral. I wasn’t just scared—I was scared of being scared. Which, of course, made my fear even bigger. But I was determined to find a way through, to learn how to manage my worry.

By the time I became a mother myself, I had a few tools in my tool bag. I had learned to use exercise, meditation, and yoga to work through my anxieties. The storms would come, but when they did, I knew what to do to weather them. And I was resolved that my daughter would never struggle with worry as I had.

Of course, life isn’t that simple. There is no road map to avoiding worry. There will always be uncertainty, no matter how hard we all might try to avoid it. When my daughter was six, she became unexpectedly ill, and the experience left her frightened. What if became her daily mantra. She was caught in a storm of worry.

I did what I could to help her through, and eventually, her fear subsided. But when the pandemic struck in 2020, everything changed again. I watched, feeling helpless, as my daughter’s routine was suddenly upended—as, without notice, she was forced to say goodbye to friends, school, and family.

The what ifs came back in full force as she faced daily uncertainties. And I knew she wasn’t alone. Children everywhere were contending with worry. I wrote this book for them—so that they know they aren’t alone. My hope is that everyone who reads it will learn that there is always a way through the storm.

When

Isla was little, every day seemed sunny, with blue skies and rainbows. When something bad happened, kisses and tickles made everything better. But these days, things were different. Isla’s mind had learned to worry.