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What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts
Do your children know they are the boss of their thoughts? New York Times bestselling author Jennie Allen will help your kids realize that they don’t have to hang on to every scary, anxious, or mean thought that enters their heads (no matter how it gets there). Based on biblical advice to take thoughts captive, this picture book makes managing thoughts achievable and fun for kids.
As a mother of four and bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head, Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns—and she wants to pass on this liberating truth to the next generation.
A great gift for teachers, caregivers, or back-to-school celebrations, What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts is a wonderful tool to teach your children that
God created them and their amazing brains with a plan and a purpose, and He wants to help them use their thoughts and brains for good;God has given them power over their thoughts; andeven if they’ve been stuck in a swirl of anxious, scary thoughts, they don’t have to stay there!With whimsical illustrations from Nadia Gunawan, this picture book addresses one of the most foundational skills for a happy, healthy life. Surround your children with your love and with tools to combat anxiety and negative thinking.
As a mother of four and bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head, Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns—and she wants to pass on this liberating truth to the next generation.
A great gift for teachers, caregivers, or back-to-school celebrations, What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts is a wonderful tool to teach your children that
God created them and their amazing brains with a plan and a purpose, and He wants to help them use their thoughts and brains for good;God has given them power over their thoughts; andeven if they’ve been stuck in a swirl of anxious, scary thoughts, they don’t have to stay there!With whimsical illustrations from Nadia Gunawan, this picture book addresses one of the most foundational skills for a happy, healthy life. Surround your children with your love and with tools to combat anxiety and negative thinking.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 29, 2025
3535 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Allen
83 books2,289 followersJennie Allen, Bible teacher, author, and the visionary behind IF:Gathering and Gather25, a 25-hour global prayer gathering. Driven by a deep love for God and an unyielding belief in the potential of this generation, Jennie's mission is to disciple a generation of Jesus followers to live what they believe.
Through her writing and teaching, Jennie seeks to convey a simple yet profound truth: God sees you, loves you, and invites you to play your part in His unfolding story. She has witnessed firsthand the miraculous work of Jesus when people fully surrender to Him.
Jennie is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie is the New York Times' best-selling author of Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People and Get Out of Your Head. Jennie has a masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Zac, and their four children.
Through her writing and teaching, Jennie seeks to convey a simple yet profound truth: God sees you, loves you, and invites you to play your part in His unfolding story. She has witnessed firsthand the miraculous work of Jesus when people fully surrender to Him.
Jennie is a passionate leader following God's call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. Jennie is the New York Times' best-selling author of Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People and Get Out of Your Head. Jennie has a masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Zac, and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 16, 2025
First sentence: Oh, look at all your thoughts in that cute little head of yours!
Jennie Allen tackles the topic of children's mental health from a Christian perspective in What to Do With Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts. That's a simple enough summary. Is it too Christian to please some? Yes. Is it not Christian enough to please others? Maybe. Can you please everyone all the time? Definitely not.
The audience is children. I imagine elementary-aged children, but perhaps it could work with younger children as well [preschool, pre-K]. I don't know how well this would work with children *older* than that even if they have mental health concerns as well.
The format is picture book, obviously. BRIGHT, bold colors. Plentiful illustrations, perhaps a little on the busy side. BUT since the book is about whirly, swirly thoughts and being overwhelmed with feelings and emotions, it makes sense that the illustrations are a little busy as well.
The book offers practical tips on how to cope with 'whirly, swirly thoughts.' While the book as a whole is written with a Christian mindset in mind, the practical tips aren't confined to those you could reason from Scripture--if that makes sense. Tips include: talking about the thoughts out loud--either to God in prayer, to family, to friends, etc; practicing gratitude; physical exercise. The tips themselves are in some ways generic enough that they don't seem particularly religious--or exclusively religious.
There's definitely some talk of God and Jesus. However, I was slightly disappointed that there's no mention of the Holy Spirit. Surprised because it is only by being filled with the Holy Spirit that we are able to have transformed, renewed minds [Romans 12:2], and are able to take every thought captive [2 Corinthians 10:5]. It is the Spirit that unites us to Christ and gives us the mind of Christ [1 Corinthians 2:16]. It is the Spirit who helps us to pray and speaks even when we're unable [see Romans 8].
I could not tell if the book dabbles into New Thought [which is in opposition to Christianity]. New Thought has increasingly become more and more common in Christian circles. Or if it's just trying to oversimplify Christianity for very young children.
For an older audience or perhaps for all ages, I'd suggest either having a spiral book [index cards are great] where you write out verses to encourage, support, uplift, and feed your soul. Verses to have as a resource for big feelings, big thoughts, big emotions. You can revisit these verses daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. Though the more you KNOW before you are overwhelmed with swirly, whirly thoughts the better equipped you will be to stop them from growing.
I'd also recommend actually READING the Bible. The more you know God THROUGH THE READING OF HIS WORD, the better equipped you are to face life. Again, the more familiar you are with the Word, the more equipped you are when you do face struggles. You know WHO to turn to, WHERE to go, and can have plans in place. You can PRAY SCRIPTURE back to God. You can be comforted by his promises and trust in him more.
MEMORY verses might also come in useful.
I would also highly recommend MUSIC. Though music has its own pros and cons when it comes to how biblically sound or unsound it may be, having theologically rich, God-focuses songs that you can use to feed your soul is wonderful. Sometimes it is easier to SING than to pray.
Jennie Allen tackles the topic of children's mental health from a Christian perspective in What to Do With Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts. That's a simple enough summary. Is it too Christian to please some? Yes. Is it not Christian enough to please others? Maybe. Can you please everyone all the time? Definitely not.
The audience is children. I imagine elementary-aged children, but perhaps it could work with younger children as well [preschool, pre-K]. I don't know how well this would work with children *older* than that even if they have mental health concerns as well.
The format is picture book, obviously. BRIGHT, bold colors. Plentiful illustrations, perhaps a little on the busy side. BUT since the book is about whirly, swirly thoughts and being overwhelmed with feelings and emotions, it makes sense that the illustrations are a little busy as well.
The book offers practical tips on how to cope with 'whirly, swirly thoughts.' While the book as a whole is written with a Christian mindset in mind, the practical tips aren't confined to those you could reason from Scripture--if that makes sense. Tips include: talking about the thoughts out loud--either to God in prayer, to family, to friends, etc; practicing gratitude; physical exercise. The tips themselves are in some ways generic enough that they don't seem particularly religious--or exclusively religious.
There's definitely some talk of God and Jesus. However, I was slightly disappointed that there's no mention of the Holy Spirit. Surprised because it is only by being filled with the Holy Spirit that we are able to have transformed, renewed minds [Romans 12:2], and are able to take every thought captive [2 Corinthians 10:5]. It is the Spirit that unites us to Christ and gives us the mind of Christ [1 Corinthians 2:16]. It is the Spirit who helps us to pray and speaks even when we're unable [see Romans 8].
I could not tell if the book dabbles into New Thought [which is in opposition to Christianity]. New Thought has increasingly become more and more common in Christian circles. Or if it's just trying to oversimplify Christianity for very young children.
For an older audience or perhaps for all ages, I'd suggest either having a spiral book [index cards are great] where you write out verses to encourage, support, uplift, and feed your soul. Verses to have as a resource for big feelings, big thoughts, big emotions. You can revisit these verses daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. Though the more you KNOW before you are overwhelmed with swirly, whirly thoughts the better equipped you will be to stop them from growing.
I'd also recommend actually READING the Bible. The more you know God THROUGH THE READING OF HIS WORD, the better equipped you are to face life. Again, the more familiar you are with the Word, the more equipped you are when you do face struggles. You know WHO to turn to, WHERE to go, and can have plans in place. You can PRAY SCRIPTURE back to God. You can be comforted by his promises and trust in him more.
MEMORY verses might also come in useful.
I would also highly recommend MUSIC. Though music has its own pros and cons when it comes to how biblically sound or unsound it may be, having theologically rich, God-focuses songs that you can use to feed your soul is wonderful. Sometimes it is easier to SING than to pray.
July 19, 2025
Sad to report that I am disappointed with this book. I had high hopes, because we love Jennie Allen’s fantastic, & well done, Theobaby book collection (5 books) I highly recommend; however, there were multiple things I automatically disliked with this new children’s book of hers.
Things that I am disappointed about: The illustrations, a few statements made, and as other reviewers point out- this book just has a couple scripture passages throw in at the end of the book. (I like how in her Theobaby books, full scripture passages are included on each page as an additional optional read. To me, I prefer including them on each page as this helps to reveal which truths in scripture she is using support the idea shared on each page.)
*The illustrations each page: For a child (and even an adult) the illustrations are overwhelming. It’s a different illustrator for this book who seems to use lots of attention-grabbing. Visually chaotic. Each page is jam packed with color and tons of images to look at-almost like an I-spy book. For a child with ADHD or easily overstimulated, this is a lot. Not simple straight-forward teaching. (But also might relate to how a child feels in their brain sometimes). It was hard to explain to my child what was going on in each page. What the page was about (distractions). Even the words to read were hard for me to figure out the order to read them in when some pages have the sentences a bit scattered.
*At least 4 pages/statements made in the book were unsettling to me. (I liked Jennie Allen’s “Get Out of Your Head” book, so I agree with her attempted direction she was going with this book for kids). I am just concerned what direction my child might take/interpret them. Pages/statements that I feel unsettled with:
1.) “These (negative) thoughts can grow so big that they get stuck in your head”
2.) “So whenever your thoughts grow BIG and start to spiral down the way you whirl and swirl down a slide…”- the image here is with 3 different children going down literal “slides” each representing a different emotion, which seems uncontrollable to me NOT to go down the slide they were each falling. They all look scared. As if they just have to ride out that slide, can’t stop it, even though that’s what the book is about- being able to stop it! So the imagery of an emotion or thought pattern being compared to a slide feels confusing. Feels scary and out of control. No choice. You’re “stuck” going down that “slide”. But this same page is followed by the statement, but “you can tell your thoughts who’s boss. Tell your brain … STOP!” This seems confusing to me with that slide metaphor. Thinking from a child’s perspective.
3.) “Did you know you can get out of your head by saying your thoughts out loud?” This page is encouraging a child to share everything on their mind. I think here some parent teaching would be needed about what’s appropriate here.
4.) “Did you know you can get out of your head by being thankful?” -This page triggered me. Gratitude IS so important, but I would be concerned about this page causing future guilt-ridden feelings of ‘I should just be thankful, then these thoughts would go away if I was just thankful…’
Overall, I’m just bummed because I was really looking forward to this book. I feel that I can’t just read this book without adding many caveats and explanations. It may complicate rather than simplify. Lastly, I wonder how different this book might read with a different illustrator.
Things that I am disappointed about: The illustrations, a few statements made, and as other reviewers point out- this book just has a couple scripture passages throw in at the end of the book. (I like how in her Theobaby books, full scripture passages are included on each page as an additional optional read. To me, I prefer including them on each page as this helps to reveal which truths in scripture she is using support the idea shared on each page.)
*The illustrations each page: For a child (and even an adult) the illustrations are overwhelming. It’s a different illustrator for this book who seems to use lots of attention-grabbing. Visually chaotic. Each page is jam packed with color and tons of images to look at-almost like an I-spy book. For a child with ADHD or easily overstimulated, this is a lot. Not simple straight-forward teaching. (But also might relate to how a child feels in their brain sometimes). It was hard to explain to my child what was going on in each page. What the page was about (distractions). Even the words to read were hard for me to figure out the order to read them in when some pages have the sentences a bit scattered.
*At least 4 pages/statements made in the book were unsettling to me. (I liked Jennie Allen’s “Get Out of Your Head” book, so I agree with her attempted direction she was going with this book for kids). I am just concerned what direction my child might take/interpret them. Pages/statements that I feel unsettled with:
1.) “These (negative) thoughts can grow so big that they get stuck in your head”
2.) “So whenever your thoughts grow BIG and start to spiral down the way you whirl and swirl down a slide…”- the image here is with 3 different children going down literal “slides” each representing a different emotion, which seems uncontrollable to me NOT to go down the slide they were each falling. They all look scared. As if they just have to ride out that slide, can’t stop it, even though that’s what the book is about- being able to stop it! So the imagery of an emotion or thought pattern being compared to a slide feels confusing. Feels scary and out of control. No choice. You’re “stuck” going down that “slide”. But this same page is followed by the statement, but “you can tell your thoughts who’s boss. Tell your brain … STOP!” This seems confusing to me with that slide metaphor. Thinking from a child’s perspective.
3.) “Did you know you can get out of your head by saying your thoughts out loud?” This page is encouraging a child to share everything on their mind. I think here some parent teaching would be needed about what’s appropriate here.
4.) “Did you know you can get out of your head by being thankful?” -This page triggered me. Gratitude IS so important, but I would be concerned about this page causing future guilt-ridden feelings of ‘I should just be thankful, then these thoughts would go away if I was just thankful…’
Overall, I’m just bummed because I was really looking forward to this book. I feel that I can’t just read this book without adding many caveats and explanations. It may complicate rather than simplify. Lastly, I wonder how different this book might read with a different illustrator.
May 27, 2025
What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen starts out with a letter to parents from the auhttps://readingwritingandpondering.bl.... In this letter she shares why she wrote the book and how she hopes it will be helpful. She also encourages people to recognize that sometimes people need more help than a book and it is okay to talk to a counselor. I like that she recognizes that and offers that advice to parents.
What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts does have some colorful and cool illustrations. That is my favorite part of the book. I like that it offers some advice for helping to change thoughts BUT I feel that it invites the child to stuff down the bad stuff and not really deal with it. The verses that are used make it seem that we should only think good thoughts. And yet, David and other psalmists certainly dealt with some bigger thoughts. I think God gave us all emotions and so many times in church I feel like we get platitudes about why we we have to only think good thoughts. That is concerning to me. Sometimes we have something big and scary coming up like medical tests and it is okay to feel scared. I would have liked to have seen some of that type of information included in this book too. Otherwise, I think it sends the message that we are "bad" for having other types of thoughts and when/if we do have other types of thoughts, we must immediately get rid of them.
One way the author lists to get rid of bad thoughts is to be thankful. I do think gratitude is important and needs to be part of our lives, but sometimes we need to process difficult emotions outside of gratitude.
What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts is a Christian book and there are Bible verses in the book.
I received a copy of this book from Tommy Nelson. All opinions within this review are my own.
What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts does have some colorful and cool illustrations. That is my favorite part of the book. I like that it offers some advice for helping to change thoughts BUT I feel that it invites the child to stuff down the bad stuff and not really deal with it. The verses that are used make it seem that we should only think good thoughts. And yet, David and other psalmists certainly dealt with some bigger thoughts. I think God gave us all emotions and so many times in church I feel like we get platitudes about why we we have to only think good thoughts. That is concerning to me. Sometimes we have something big and scary coming up like medical tests and it is okay to feel scared. I would have liked to have seen some of that type of information included in this book too. Otherwise, I think it sends the message that we are "bad" for having other types of thoughts and when/if we do have other types of thoughts, we must immediately get rid of them.
One way the author lists to get rid of bad thoughts is to be thankful. I do think gratitude is important and needs to be part of our lives, but sometimes we need to process difficult emotions outside of gratitude.
What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts is a Christian book and there are Bible verses in the book.
I received a copy of this book from Tommy Nelson. All opinions within this review are my own.
April 18, 2025
📚 Recommended Ages: 4–8
What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts is a gentle, affirming, and useful tool for helping kids begin to understand that they are in charge of their thoughts—not the other way around. Whether those thoughts are anxious, scary, or just plain mean, Jennie Allen guides readers through what it means to recognize, name, and redirect them in a way that feels empowering without being overwhelming.
What I especially appreciated about this book is how it offers practical strategies for kids to try when their minds feel like a whirlwind. These aren’t just abstract ideas—they’re hands-on exercises, easy enough for a child to grasp with a little help, and meaningful enough to make a real difference. It’s a book that doesn’t just soothe, it equips.
My five-year-old loved the illustrations—bright, engaging, and full of whimsical movement that perfectly reflects the swirling thoughts the book describes. While younger readers may need a few read-throughs to fully grasp the message, this is definitely one of those books that’s meant to be revisited.
What makes this book stand out is how it weaves together psychological circumstances with faith so seamlessly.
The closing message—“You have a choice”—is such a powerful takeaway for kids. Thoughts and feelings may come and go, but how we respond is something we can learn to guide.
This is one of those books to keep on the shelf, front and center. The kind you’ll want to pull out on the tough days, when emotions feel too big, and your little one needs a reminder that they’re not alone—and that they’re more powerful than they think.
What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts will be published April 29, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tommy Nelson®, Thomas Nelson®, Jennie Allen (Author), and Nadia Gunawan (Illustrator) for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts is a gentle, affirming, and useful tool for helping kids begin to understand that they are in charge of their thoughts—not the other way around. Whether those thoughts are anxious, scary, or just plain mean, Jennie Allen guides readers through what it means to recognize, name, and redirect them in a way that feels empowering without being overwhelming.
What I especially appreciated about this book is how it offers practical strategies for kids to try when their minds feel like a whirlwind. These aren’t just abstract ideas—they’re hands-on exercises, easy enough for a child to grasp with a little help, and meaningful enough to make a real difference. It’s a book that doesn’t just soothe, it equips.
My five-year-old loved the illustrations—bright, engaging, and full of whimsical movement that perfectly reflects the swirling thoughts the book describes. While younger readers may need a few read-throughs to fully grasp the message, this is definitely one of those books that’s meant to be revisited.
What makes this book stand out is how it weaves together psychological circumstances with faith so seamlessly.
The closing message—“You have a choice”—is such a powerful takeaway for kids. Thoughts and feelings may come and go, but how we respond is something we can learn to guide.
This is one of those books to keep on the shelf, front and center. The kind you’ll want to pull out on the tough days, when emotions feel too big, and your little one needs a reminder that they’re not alone—and that they’re more powerful than they think.
What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts will be published April 29, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tommy Nelson®, Thomas Nelson®, Jennie Allen (Author), and Nadia Gunawan (Illustrator) for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2025
This was such a colourful blast! I absolutely loved this book. I haven’t read Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head yet, but I can definitely see how this children’s book could be considered a kid-friendly version of it. It beautifully tackles the topic of our thoughts—especially those whirly, swirly ones that seem to grow bigger and bigger if we don’t catch them in time.
The illustrations by Nadia Gunawan are gorgeous—bright, cheerful, and full of life. They give off a total candy store, candy cane vibe that will immediately capture the attention of little readers (and adults too!). The visuals perfectly match the theme of the book, making it not only fun to read but also engaging to look at.
The message is powerful: we do have the ability to choose what thoughts we let grow. Negative thoughts can spiral quickly, but this book gently teaches kids that they can reject lies and replace them with gratitude, truth, and even physical activity. It’s hard to stay anxious or worried when you're building your body, mind, and soul with good things. This isn’t just about stopping bad thoughts—it’s about replacing them with better ones.
Jennie Allen does a fantastic job making the concept of “taking every thought captive” (as mentioned in Scripture) accessible to kids. This book is about fighting the battle of the mind through faith, thankfulness, and intentional thinking. It’s truly a beautiful resource for helping kids learn to renew their minds and trust in Jesus.
This is an excellent Sunday school resource and would make a thoughtful gift for young children. I’m so grateful to NetGalley and Tommy Nelson for providing me with a copy of this book. I highly recommend it!
January 30, 2025
I recently read What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen with my kids, and it was such a meaningful and engaging experience, especially for my 6-year-old. The book is all about helping children understand that they have control over their thoughts—even the scary, anxious, or mean ones that sometimes pop into their heads. With whimsical illustrations by Nadia Gunawan and a message rooted in biblical truth, the book teaches kids that God created their amazing brains with a purpose and that they have the power to take their thoughts captive and use them for good. My 6-year-old was immediately drawn to the colorful, playful artwork, but it was the message that really stuck with him.
What I loved most was how the book made such a big concept—managing your thoughts—feel accessible and even fun for young kids. My 6-year-old has been going through a phase where he gets stuck on worries or negative thoughts, and this book gave him a tangible way to think about those “whirly, swirly” feelings. He loved the idea of being the “boss” of his thoughts and would excitedly tell me, “I’m not going to let the mean thoughts stay in my head!” It was amazing to see him grasp such an important life skill in a way that felt empowering rather than overwhelming. The book also sparked some great conversations about how God wants to help us use our thoughts for good, which was a beautiful way to connect faith with everyday struggles.
✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
What I loved most was how the book made such a big concept—managing your thoughts—feel accessible and even fun for young kids. My 6-year-old has been going through a phase where he gets stuck on worries or negative thoughts, and this book gave him a tangible way to think about those “whirly, swirly” feelings. He loved the idea of being the “boss” of his thoughts and would excitedly tell me, “I’m not going to let the mean thoughts stay in my head!” It was amazing to see him grasp such an important life skill in a way that felt empowering rather than overwhelming. The book also sparked some great conversations about how God wants to help us use our thoughts for good, which was a beautiful way to connect faith with everyday struggles.
✧˖°. ⤷ I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
May 28, 2025
What to Do with Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts is an absolute gift to parents, educators, and children alike. This book has been so needed for so long, and I’m incredibly grateful that Jennie Allen recognized the gap and filled it so beautifully. With wisdom, warmth, and clarity, she has crafted a practical, biblically grounded tool that empowers children (and the adults who love them) to understand and manage their thoughts—especially during those tough days or seasons when our minds can feel overwhelming and out of control.
Allen doesn’t just offer abstract advice; she provides tangible, age-appropriate strategies rooted in scripture that help children recognize unhealthy thought patterns and realign with the truth of who God created them to be—resilient, strong, and capable of taking their thoughts captive. The illustrations are engaging and the scenarios are perfectly relatable for early childhood through elementary years.
This book is not just a must-read—it’s a must-have for every home, classroom, and church library. It’s a tool that fosters emotional awareness, spiritual growth, and mental wellness, all while pointing children back to the ultimate truth: God designed our minds, and with His help, we can steward them well.
I was provided a free copy of What to Do with Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Allen doesn’t just offer abstract advice; she provides tangible, age-appropriate strategies rooted in scripture that help children recognize unhealthy thought patterns and realign with the truth of who God created them to be—resilient, strong, and capable of taking their thoughts captive. The illustrations are engaging and the scenarios are perfectly relatable for early childhood through elementary years.
This book is not just a must-read—it’s a must-have for every home, classroom, and church library. It’s a tool that fosters emotional awareness, spiritual growth, and mental wellness, all while pointing children back to the ultimate truth: God designed our minds, and with His help, we can steward them well.
I was provided a free copy of What to Do with Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 20, 2025
This book is adorable and very helpful for parents who are looking for age appropriate ways to talk to their preschoolers/kindergarteners about big feelings and what to do with them. It is written with a Christian slant, including discussion of Jesus, God, and praying, however many of the steps described for helping take care and control of the thoughts can be used in any situation. In our case, we did include praying and talking to God as an option, and my daughter (5) really seemed to resonate with it. Big feelings and 'whirly, swirly thoughts' are a major topic in our household and this book has very much assisted in that discussion. My daughter has recently learned about heaven and that it means a separation from those on Earth and that is causing her some anxiety. We've used this book as one of the tools to assist her with navigating these feelings and it's been a big help. If you have a little one who's dealing with Big Feelings, especially ones of anxiety or grief, this book can be an excellent tool for giving them language to express what they're feeling. The illustrations are adorable, engaging, and help to explain what the words are saying in a fun way. Definitely a book that will be seeing regular rotation in our household. We read this digital ebook through NetGalley.
April 23, 2025
What to Do with Your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen and illustrated by Nadia Gunawan is a ridiculously adorable book to deal with a very important topic that many children suffer from in our society today.
As a mother of several children with anxiety and “whirly, swirly, thoughts”, I think that this book approaches the topic in a very child-friendly way and helps children to see their own experience as normal. The book shows children that their brains and the thoughts therein are gifts from God which they can (with help) control. It makes complex and scary things very approachable and discussable even with small children. Well done!
This book is beautifully illustrated with bright eye-catching pictures that include children from many racial backgrounds and physical abilities. I particularly like seeing the pictures of the children in wheelchairs seamlessly interacting with ambulating children!
This book is one that I am very excited to share with my children and can wholeheartedly recommend!
Many thanks to Jennie Allen, Nadia Gunawan, Tommy Nelson, and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are offered freely and are entirely my own.
As a mother of several children with anxiety and “whirly, swirly, thoughts”, I think that this book approaches the topic in a very child-friendly way and helps children to see their own experience as normal. The book shows children that their brains and the thoughts therein are gifts from God which they can (with help) control. It makes complex and scary things very approachable and discussable even with small children. Well done!
This book is beautifully illustrated with bright eye-catching pictures that include children from many racial backgrounds and physical abilities. I particularly like seeing the pictures of the children in wheelchairs seamlessly interacting with ambulating children!
This book is one that I am very excited to share with my children and can wholeheartedly recommend!
Many thanks to Jennie Allen, Nadia Gunawan, Tommy Nelson, and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are offered freely and are entirely my own.
April 27, 2025
This children’s book is a much needed tool for parents in approaching and even placating anxiety in our children. The book outlines the following child-level concepts through a spiritual lens:
-We have thousands of thoughts a day
-Our thoughts can be happy, angry, silly, or worried
-We have exciting thoughts, thoughts to do math and thoughts as we talk to Jesus
-Some of our thoughts can be scary and bad thoughts
-And when we keep thinking about them, they grow and grow and crowd out good thoughts
-Our brains are gifts from God-He put us in charge of them so we can tell those bad thoughts to stop and think good thoughts and things we are thankful for instead
-In training our brains with practical and Biblical ways to renew our minds and the thoughts that whirl and swirl around in our brains, we can learn to choose our thoughts
I also adore the vibrant and colorful, whimsical illustrations throughout this story that appear as road maps, whirly clouds, winding slides and musical scores. I envisioned my own churning thoughts as I read the book and eventually became their “boss” as I traveled along and replaced them with thankfulness and joy.
I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.
-We have thousands of thoughts a day
-Our thoughts can be happy, angry, silly, or worried
-We have exciting thoughts, thoughts to do math and thoughts as we talk to Jesus
-Some of our thoughts can be scary and bad thoughts
-And when we keep thinking about them, they grow and grow and crowd out good thoughts
-Our brains are gifts from God-He put us in charge of them so we can tell those bad thoughts to stop and think good thoughts and things we are thankful for instead
-In training our brains with practical and Biblical ways to renew our minds and the thoughts that whirl and swirl around in our brains, we can learn to choose our thoughts
I also adore the vibrant and colorful, whimsical illustrations throughout this story that appear as road maps, whirly clouds, winding slides and musical scores. I envisioned my own churning thoughts as I read the book and eventually became their “boss” as I traveled along and replaced them with thankfulness and joy.
I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.
May 2, 2025
What to Do With Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts offers a concise, helpful guide for children on how to reflect on their thoughts. I appreciated that the book emphasizes our ability to control our thoughts, especially in the context of how God has empowered us to do so.
The opening of the book explores familiar emotions that young children will recognize. It acknowledges the validity of negative emotions, while also reinforcing the message that we are not held captive by them. Throughout, readers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and emotions by answering questions, and these helped spark discussion in our family as we read.
While the book offers concrete advice on how to take our thoughts captive, younger readers might still struggle to make the necessary connections to understand, which is where I think a narrative to follow in the book could have been helpful.
Although the advice and wisdom in the book are solid, the inclusion of Scripture only at the end of the book, disconnected from the actual text, felt like an afterthought, and I would have preferred it to play a more prominent role in a faith-based title like this one.
The opening of the book explores familiar emotions that young children will recognize. It acknowledges the validity of negative emotions, while also reinforcing the message that we are not held captive by them. Throughout, readers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences and emotions by answering questions, and these helped spark discussion in our family as we read.
While the book offers concrete advice on how to take our thoughts captive, younger readers might still struggle to make the necessary connections to understand, which is where I think a narrative to follow in the book could have been helpful.
Although the advice and wisdom in the book are solid, the inclusion of Scripture only at the end of the book, disconnected from the actual text, felt like an afterthought, and I would have preferred it to play a more prominent role in a faith-based title like this one.
January 14, 2025
“What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts” by Jennie Allen is a short, yet great book to help kids understand their thought processes.
You may be familiar with Jennie’s book, “Get out of Your Head,” which helps adults control their thoughts and emotions. In both books, Jennie explains how these toxic thoughts are not from God, and helps readers understand how to control them and think positively instead. In this book particularly, the author simplifies the message of her main book, in a way that’s easy for children to understand. It also includes bright, colorful illustrations which make it a joy to look through!
From the introduction to the parents:
“Sometimes anxiety, depression, or the effects of trauma are beyond our control. Please read these words with great compassion. Sometimes we need more help than redirection! Praise God for the help of counselors and doctors.”
“Now more than ever, kids need the freedom that Jesus offers their thought lives, and they also need the love of a safe adult who cares about them and shows up for them again and again.”
You may be familiar with Jennie’s book, “Get out of Your Head,” which helps adults control their thoughts and emotions. In both books, Jennie explains how these toxic thoughts are not from God, and helps readers understand how to control them and think positively instead. In this book particularly, the author simplifies the message of her main book, in a way that’s easy for children to understand. It also includes bright, colorful illustrations which make it a joy to look through!
From the introduction to the parents:
“Sometimes anxiety, depression, or the effects of trauma are beyond our control. Please read these words with great compassion. Sometimes we need more help than redirection! Praise God for the help of counselors and doctors.”
“Now more than ever, kids need the freedom that Jesus offers their thought lives, and they also need the love of a safe adult who cares about them and shows up for them again and again.”
February 24, 2025
This bright, colorful picture book teaches kids about ways they can deal with their thoughts. The author writes from a Christian perspective, encouraging kids that God designed their brains and their bodies, and that it's possible for them to "take every thought captive" through various physical and mental exercises. The author describes these activities in simple, kid-friendly ways, and the illustrations show kids doing these things.
This book shares simple, practical advice for dealing with anxiety and negative thinking patterns, and I especially appreciate the author's note at the beginning, which acknowledges that some issues are more complex, and that trauma and severe mental health issues may require additional interventions. This book won't be sufficient for everyone, and I love that the author mentions this up front, but it can be very helpful for kids who need support in responding to fears, mean and negative thoughts, and harmful beliefs.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This book shares simple, practical advice for dealing with anxiety and negative thinking patterns, and I especially appreciate the author's note at the beginning, which acknowledges that some issues are more complex, and that trauma and severe mental health issues may require additional interventions. This book won't be sufficient for everyone, and I love that the author mentions this up front, but it can be very helpful for kids who need support in responding to fears, mean and negative thoughts, and harmful beliefs.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
August 19, 2025
As someone who has "whirly, swirly thoughts," I like that Jennie Allen has put in practical, child-friendly words, how to deal with them. A book on this subject for children is a rare find, and is much needed to teach our children how to take their thoughts captive.
I'm not well versed in Psychology, but a lot of the things mentioned in the book help when someone is being overwhelmed with gloomy thoughts, fears, and anxiety. Things such as going outside, excercise, and being thankful.
The illustrations seem to go along perfectly with the theme of the book. They're whirly. And swirly. And kinda chaotic. My daughter seemed to like the illustrations, but what she was getting out of the pictures wasn't the same as what I was reading to her. I didn't enjoy the chaotic pictures as well as she did.
Overall, although it's not a "fun story," I think it is a useful tool for children in elementary grades, to learn how to deal with thoughts and emotions.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not well versed in Psychology, but a lot of the things mentioned in the book help when someone is being overwhelmed with gloomy thoughts, fears, and anxiety. Things such as going outside, excercise, and being thankful.
The illustrations seem to go along perfectly with the theme of the book. They're whirly. And swirly. And kinda chaotic. My daughter seemed to like the illustrations, but what she was getting out of the pictures wasn't the same as what I was reading to her. I didn't enjoy the chaotic pictures as well as she did.
Overall, although it's not a "fun story," I think it is a useful tool for children in elementary grades, to learn how to deal with thoughts and emotions.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2025
I didn't ask for this. Why must people "sneak in" religious ideas into books that are seemingly unrelated to religion?? I went into reading this book thinking that it would be about how to manage thoughts that are created by anxiety. I was mostly right, but then the word came up: the big G. I totally agreed with the book when it said "you are in control of your own mind". This is great! But, then why bring in that guy? You give yourself control, no one else. Kind of dumb, in my opinion. Removing the religious tone of the book would really help push the message further, and it doesn't throw off readers that aren't Christian. For readers like myself, the religion makes the other (good) points of the book not matter as much. However, if you are really dead-set on including it, make that apparent in the title. Please. Lastly, the thing I liked most about this book were the drawings. They were so detailed and beautiful, making the book feel joyful and whimsical. Kudos to the illustrator.
June 5, 2025
This book is a useful guide in helping kids begin to understand that they are in charge of their thoughts AND not the other way around. Whether it’s anxiety, sadness, or whatever. Kids need help understanding feelings are valid and there are ways to help! Jennie guides readers through what it means to have feelings and know what them feelings are.
What I appreciated was the book offers some tips/tricks for kids to try when they feel overwhelmed with their emotions. These aren't just ideas for kids to try they are exercises that kids can grasp easily and know how to help themselves.
I teach kids k-5th grade and they loved the book! They loved how colorful and how smoothie the story flows. They grasped the techniques easily and wanted to read the book a second time.
I also loved the fact that is Christian based as well and so do lot of my children’s parents. I high recommend this book for anyone honestly who is dealing with big emotions! Thank you so much for the ARC
What I appreciated was the book offers some tips/tricks for kids to try when they feel overwhelmed with their emotions. These aren't just ideas for kids to try they are exercises that kids can grasp easily and know how to help themselves.
I teach kids k-5th grade and they loved the book! They loved how colorful and how smoothie the story flows. They grasped the techniques easily and wanted to read the book a second time.
I also loved the fact that is Christian based as well and so do lot of my children’s parents. I high recommend this book for anyone honestly who is dealing with big emotions! Thank you so much for the ARC
June 10, 2025
"What to Do with Your Whirly Swirly Thoughts" is a stunning new release by author Jennie Allen and illustrator Nadia Gunawan. It's a resource that beautifully aligns with the values of faith-based families, making it a perfect addition to your home library.
It's a delightful journey that helps children understand the intricate function of the brain. With a fun and important message, it teaches us that we have the power to decide what we think about and what stays in our minds. Jennie Allen has done a masterful job of sharing that God has created us with a beautiful brain, and he made us the boss of it!
With scriptures at the end and a note to parents at the beginning, this book is more than just a read; it's an interactive experience. It's a perfect choice for a shared reading session with your little ones. I highly recommend it!
Thank you, Tommy Nelson, for sharing a copy with me. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.
It's a delightful journey that helps children understand the intricate function of the brain. With a fun and important message, it teaches us that we have the power to decide what we think about and what stays in our minds. Jennie Allen has done a masterful job of sharing that God has created us with a beautiful brain, and he made us the boss of it!
With scriptures at the end and a note to parents at the beginning, this book is more than just a read; it's an interactive experience. It's a perfect choice for a shared reading session with your little ones. I highly recommend it!
Thank you, Tommy Nelson, for sharing a copy with me. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.
July 8, 2025
What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen illustrated by Nadia Gunawan is a delightful picture for ages 5-8. The book walks you through all the emotions, thoughts, and feeling you have and what you can do with them. The story talks about what to do if your thoughts get too big and start to take over, you have a choice on what thoughts stay in your head, and some concrete activities for kids such as being thankful or physical activities.
I found this book so delightful. What a wonderful way to talk to kids about their thoughts and start great conversations with them. I love the honesty and beauty of this book. This would be perfect for elementary health, Sunday School, or to start conversations between parents and kids. The pictures are stunning, engaging, and add to the beauty of the book.
I highly recommend What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen illustrated by Nadia Gunawan. This will be one of my favorite picture books of 2025.
I found this book so delightful. What a wonderful way to talk to kids about their thoughts and start great conversations with them. I love the honesty and beauty of this book. This would be perfect for elementary health, Sunday School, or to start conversations between parents and kids. The pictures are stunning, engaging, and add to the beauty of the book.
I highly recommend What to do with your Whirly Swirly Thoughts by Jennie Allen illustrated by Nadia Gunawan. This will be one of my favorite picture books of 2025.
May 30, 2025
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I grew up in a generation that did not talk about emotions. What to do with your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts will be a great book for young children (and their parents) as it identifies specific emotions and provides some practical things to do when you have those emotions. Jennie Allen mentions God and Jesus throughout her book and includes several Scriptures. She lets children know you have a choice with how you react to others even when you have some emotions you are not sure what to do with. Included are some fun facts about your brain and the ways it helps you daily. Allen ends her book by sharing that God loves you, sees you, and wants to help you with all your whirly, swirly thoughts. In my opinion this is a much needed resource for any generation.
I grew up in a generation that did not talk about emotions. What to do with your Whirly, Swirly Thoughts will be a great book for young children (and their parents) as it identifies specific emotions and provides some practical things to do when you have those emotions. Jennie Allen mentions God and Jesus throughout her book and includes several Scriptures. She lets children know you have a choice with how you react to others even when you have some emotions you are not sure what to do with. Included are some fun facts about your brain and the ways it helps you daily. Allen ends her book by sharing that God loves you, sees you, and wants to help you with all your whirly, swirly thoughts. In my opinion this is a much needed resource for any generation.
June 17, 2025
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
YAY! A book from Tommy Nelson that publishers that talks about God!. I can give it 5 stars!
I have been reviewing various books from Tommy Nelson for a while and have been highly disappointed that in most of them God isn't mentioned even though Tommy Nelson products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while pointing them to a personal relationship with God.
As for the book itself- I liked the letter the author writes in the beginning. I think the illustrations are great. And most of all I appreciate that the author directs them to God to help them with their thoughts. Giving the children a foundation that God will help them deal with their thoughts will also help them to understand that God will help them deal with other things in their lives.
YAY! A book from Tommy Nelson that publishers that talks about God!. I can give it 5 stars!
I have been reviewing various books from Tommy Nelson for a while and have been highly disappointed that in most of them God isn't mentioned even though Tommy Nelson products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while pointing them to a personal relationship with God.
As for the book itself- I liked the letter the author writes in the beginning. I think the illustrations are great. And most of all I appreciate that the author directs them to God to help them with their thoughts. Giving the children a foundation that God will help them deal with their thoughts will also help them to understand that God will help them deal with other things in their lives.
February 28, 2025
This is such a beautifully illustrated book to help kids navigate the difficult emotions such as fear and anxiety. Beautiful illustrations, short and beautiful words easy for the kids to follow through. Also I loved that it's not very preachy and also advises the parents from the introduction to the parents:
"Sometimes anxiety, depression, or the effects of trauma are beyond our control. Please read these words with great compassion. Sometimes we need more help than redirection! Praise God for the help of counselors and doctors."
It's definitely important to add these but if you feel your child needs professional help, do not shy away from it. Thank you netgalley, author, illustrator and the publishers for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.
"Sometimes anxiety, depression, or the effects of trauma are beyond our control. Please read these words with great compassion. Sometimes we need more help than redirection! Praise God for the help of counselors and doctors."
It's definitely important to add these but if you feel your child needs professional help, do not shy away from it. Thank you netgalley, author, illustrator and the publishers for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2025
As a mom I was so happy to find this book. So thankful to NetGalley and the publishers for being able to enjoy this book.
This wonderful book helps show kids that we can let go of those feelings and emotions that can weigh us down. They are those thoughts that swirl around and can upset us and our lives. I love how the author shows us that God created us and He wants to help us with those scary, anxious and mean thoughts that swirl around in our minds. She shows them that God gave them the ability to get rid of those thoughts.
So wonderfully written with bright, engaging illustrations. Such a creative way to show our littles, and adults, that God can help them and that those thoughts can go away.
A great story to share with your family. A MILLION STARS
This wonderful book helps show kids that we can let go of those feelings and emotions that can weigh us down. They are those thoughts that swirl around and can upset us and our lives. I love how the author shows us that God created us and He wants to help us with those scary, anxious and mean thoughts that swirl around in our minds. She shows them that God gave them the ability to get rid of those thoughts.
So wonderfully written with bright, engaging illustrations. Such a creative way to show our littles, and adults, that God can help them and that those thoughts can go away.
A great story to share with your family. A MILLION STARS
April 22, 2025
Here "whirly, swirly thoughts" are those nasty, persistent, negative ones – doubt, anxiety, and anything else that makes us worried, sleepless or just plain cranky. But we can control our brain – we can talk these emotions away, or get them actively absent through physical activity, or demand of our brain it concentrates on what makes us thankful. This is definitely gaudy and colourful enough for a young audience, but it is only suitable for a heavily religious one – here, god has done nothing to give us these thoughts but all the powers to get rid of them and control our minds? Yup – his. It's done as well as could be achieved, and yet it's not something I would recommend. To the religiously-minded, it's definitely worth considering.
January 14, 2025
Jennie Allen is well known for her work in helping adults with controlling their thoughts in her book "Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts" and now she has done it again but for children. Jennie combines fun rhyming words and playful, imaginative drawings to help bring the big idea of controlling your thoughts down to a level that not only children can understand but also can enjoy. This will be an amazing tool for parents to pull out and read with their children in many different scenarios they may find themselves in. I give this book give 5 stars!
I received an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
I received an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
January 17, 2025
[Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my gifted e-copy in exchange for an honest review.]
Rating: 4.5
I loved the vibrant illustrations in this book! This title seeks to minister to children who are experiencing anxiety. Through rhyming words and lyrical writing, the author teaches children that these thoughts are something that everyone experiences but that we don’t have to stay stuck in our “whirly swirly” thought patterns. Instead, God can help us! The author goes over several other things that may help too, such as talking about our thoughts, getting outside, and moving our body. A very helpful resource!
Rating: 4.5
I loved the vibrant illustrations in this book! This title seeks to minister to children who are experiencing anxiety. Through rhyming words and lyrical writing, the author teaches children that these thoughts are something that everyone experiences but that we don’t have to stay stuck in our “whirly swirly” thought patterns. Instead, God can help us! The author goes over several other things that may help too, such as talking about our thoughts, getting outside, and moving our body. A very helpful resource!
February 2, 2025
This is a fun, preciously illustrated book that helps kids figure out what to do with their thoughts, specifically their anxious thoughts. Jennie Allen makes it known to kids that God designed our brain and it is filled with all kinds of thoughts. She teaches kids in a practical way how they can take captive their thoughts and get rid of those whirly, swirly thoughts. This book would be a great addition to a home or classroom library and is one that can be read over and over again.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
January 13, 2025
This is a very sweet, helpful book for a kiddo whose brain might feel like it's in overdrive! The author first explains how thoughts can make you happy, scary, worried, etc. and then explains how *you're* in control of your own brain. The concepts of gratitude, prayer, physical movement, and talking thoughts out with your loved ones are all explored, alongside adorable and vibrant illustrations.
(This is also a Christian book, so keep that in mind if it's not your jam. ♥)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
(This is also a Christian book, so keep that in mind if it's not your jam. ♥)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2025
Jennie Allen, known for her work Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts, has taken her research and created a child friendly accessible book on how to manage one’s thoughts. Through rhyming words and playful, imaginative drawings this book teaches kids that God created their amazing brains with a purpose and that they have the power to take their thoughts captive and use them for good vs. letting the whirly, swirly, thoughts rein. Both adults and children will be equipped to better talk about caring for one’s mental well being with Allen’s latest resource!
April 3, 2025
The book did a good job of describing the thoughts and obstacles that come with anxiety. Additionally, the underlying belief system and trusting God with your thoughts was clearly laid out in the book. The illustrations and the colors keep the book interesting and will catch the attention of the little ones this book is read to. The content was not too childish that this could not be used with adolescents. Understanding we are the boss of our bodies and leaning on something greater than ourselves can help us stop those negative thoughts from spiraling.
May 6, 2025
I enjoyed reading this story; it gives great tools for dealing with our thoughts. This book would be a great way to introduce mental health awareness and the importance of safely expressing feelings and thoughts. I love the illustrations; they are colourful and grab children's attention. I hadn't realized this was a religious book, so the aspects of God and Jesus caught me off guard. Having religion within the book makes it harder to recommend it to others and to use this book within the classroom.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
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