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The Tallest Bridge in the World: A Story for Children About Social Anxiety

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Are they staring at me because I look weird?
Does my voice sound funny?
What if I mess up in my presentation—will everyone laugh at me?
What if I fail at swim tryouts?
I’ll be so embarrassed!

Thomas has always been a bit shy, but recently his nervousness has been getting in the way of the things he would like to do. He realizes it may be time to talk to someone. With the help of his parents and a therapist, Thomas learns how social anxiety affects his brain, and everyday tools and strategies to cope with and combat it.

Includes a Note to Readers with more information on social anxiety in preteens, and the cognitive-behavioral strategies you can use to cope with it.

From the Note to

If you have social anxiety, you probably know that all that worrying about what other people might think of you can be pretty exhausting. It can hold you back from joining in on some pretty cool activities. You might be super focused on all the embarrassing things that could happen if you join a club or a team, and that might make you want to avoid those social events altogether. This can lead to a spiral effect where you choose not to participate in social activities because you’re afraid of what might happen, but then you don’t get the benefits of participation in those social activities, like building relationships with friends, opportunities for fun, and learning experiences that take place in those social activities. You might also be left feeling disappointed in yourself for not taking part.

64 pages, Hardcover

Published July 17, 2017

7 people want to read

About the author

Ellen Flanagan Burns

5 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Profile Image for Behzad.
668 reviews129 followers
September 27, 2021
کتاب بسیار جالبیه با نقاشی های قشنگ و داستان های فهمیدنی برای بچه ها که بهشون یاد میده چطور بر اضطراب اجتماعی غلبه کنن.
ایدۀ جعبۀ ابزار و ابزارهای مختلفی که در اون قرار میدیم (قطعات دومینو، ذره بین، موج سواری، همینه که هست...) میتونه خیلی کمک کننده باشه.
به زودی از نشر ارجمند
Profile Image for Erin.
2,495 reviews41 followers
November 7, 2017
Very short, straightforward therapy book for middle grades. Some of it was a bit too stiff to be enjoyable, per se, but provided real cognitive behavioral tactics to use to combat anxious thoughts.
Profile Image for Andy.
98 reviews2 followers
June 28, 2019
I'm a fan of this book. Really focuses on the relationship between the child and his therapist and their conversations about social anxiety and strategies for living with it.
Profile Image for Heather McC.
1,085 reviews8 followers
April 10, 2026
An excellent, brief, practical book for kids (and adults - all people!) who need a little extra reinforcement with social situations.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews