Way Past Worried

by Hallee Adelman, Sandra de la Prada (Illustrator)

Sometimes being worried can keep you from having fun.

Brock is worried. Way past worried, with his heart thumping and his mind racing. Today is his friend Juan's superhero party and he’s going all by himself. What if nobody plays with him? What if everyone laughs at him? Brock doesn’t feel like a superhero, but...what if he can save the day and find a way past worried all by himself? This engaging story speaks to kids’ emerging emotional intelligence skills and helps them learn to manage worry.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Emotion, Mental Health, Fiction, Psychology

32 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2020

Reviews

[Doe Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For young readers with a tendency toward worry or social discomfort--and for young readers who want to learn how to help someone who struggles--Way Past Worried offers simple skills, easy tips, and great hope! In simple language that respectfully recognizes that fears can overwhelm a worrier, Way Past Worried demonstrates that deep breathing, finding a friend, confiding the worry to someone safe, focusing on the positives (like cake and dancing!), and knowing that you can always circle back to a friend for an extra dose of "Be Brave" will really get you waaaay past worried.

[umut · Rating 4 out of 5]

teaching my 6th graders who went through horrible earthquakes using this series of books. i know they’re not specific to their feelings around worry or fear or sadness, but these examples might help them understand it’s okay to feel. i hope.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about a boy who is going to a party and his worrying starts to take control.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the sort of book I'd mainly hand to a parent looking for a story about social anxiety for their preschooler, rather than as a book for pleasure reading together. I know that these books are useful, and this one has enough of a story line to keep it tolerable. It also, you will note, oh helicopter parents, allows a kid to try and deal with this on their own. That is what grants it that third star.

[Eileen R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heart-tugging “Way Past” book about little people and big feelings from author Hallee Adelman. Adelman brilliantly puts into words the anxious feeling that can grow and grow until you are way past worried, the kind of worry that can stop you from going into your friend’s superhero party. The story is sweet, but the message is powerful. This book helps kids to acknowledge feelings of anxiety, realize that they are not alone, and strive to be brave. I loved this book! It's on my shelf next to Adelman's Way Past Mad. Can't wait to read the next Way Past book!

[Kristin Guay · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this story we meet a little boy named Brock who is getting ready to go to his friend’s birthday party. It is a superhero party and Brock is all set to go in his superhero costume. Unfortunately, Brock does not feel like a superhero. He is very nervous about going to the party and is afraid of so many things--people will not like his costume, kids will laugh at him, and no one will want to talk with him or play with him. The worry starts to grow so much that Brock feels his heart thumping and his mind racing. When he gets to the party, he misinterprets the children laughing at a puppet show as laughing at him. He retreats to the seclusion of a tree and there he meets a young girl who is also worried about being at the party. They then decide that they will be brave friends together and join the others at the party.

What I really liked about this book is that Brock was trying very hard to remain calm--taking three big breaths as his father had taught them. I think it is very important to show this to young children--how he was nervous, but he was trying to be brave and do something that made him a little uncomfortable. It was also important that he met a young girl that was feeling the same way because I think this shows children that they are not alone in feeling worried.

[Tammy Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way Past Worried is the second book in the Way Past book series by Hallee Adelman. I have been looking forward to this book since I found out that Adelman's Way Past Mad would not be a stand-alone but a series. These books are not only visually stunning but the concept for this series is so strong. I love the dual meaning; Our emotions can get "way past" our control, but by book's end we find our "way past" those uncomfortable emotions to feeling better.

What I like best about this book (and what I suspect with be the theme of future books in the series) is empowering children to feel, acknowledge and process their emotions with a variety of strategies. Brock takes his time, confides in a new friend, feels empathy and when he is ready, finds his own way to be brave, even if he isn't completely over his unease.

As a school librarian, I am excited to build this collection not just for my students and to recommend to parents, but to utilize with my building's counselors and behavior specialists. In addition, Adelman's online supporting materials for these books are exceptional and add other very approachable opportunities to help children process their emotions. With the added stressors impacting schools during the pandemic, I am grateful for these resources.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know of an anxious child, a worrier, (and who doesn't?) this is an important book to keep on hand. In fact, it is an important story to share with many children, helping to make them aware of and empower them to deal with their own worry, and with the sometimes confusing behaviors of peers.
There are plenty of kids who are instinctively risk-takers, but even they may have concerns and worries about specific possibilities in their lives. The proactive approach of worrier Brock allows him to recognize and reach beyond his own nagging, never-ending "what if"s to recognize similar patterns in another child. The text is very straightforward and manageable, the illustrations convey a diverse peer group at a super-hero-styled party, and the resolution is realistic, not magical.
Physical ARC provided by Albert Whitman & Company with October, 2020 scheduled.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superheroes are strong and brave, and they help other people. In WAY PAST WORRIED by Hallee Adelman, these three attributes are the key to overcoming anxiety. Brock has been invited to a superhero party, but his brother won’t be there. And that makes Brock a little worried. Dad reminds him to take three deep breaths. But that doesn’t help much. What if the other kids laugh at Brock’s costume? What if they don’t play with him? By now his heart is thumping and his mind is racing. It seems like he’ll never be able to enjoy the party, until he makes a new friend who is as worried as he is, and they overcome their anxiety together. Adelam’s first-person narrator describes this all-too-common experience in vivid, relatable terms, and Sandra de la Prada’s expressive, multi-ethnic characters bring this instructive, engaging story to life.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brock is invited to a costume party, but his brother and super-hero sidekick isn’t going with him. Brock is worried. About a lot of things. Will the kids laugh at his costume that’s a bit too small? Will the party be terrible without his brother Bax? What if nobody wants to play with him?Will the kids make fun of him? Brock gets so worried he hides behind a tree, watching the party from afar. He meets a girl hiding in a tree who is new in town and worried too. Talking to each other about their worries helps them feel better and gives them courage.

This book is a perfect introduction for young readers on how to deal with worry. The positive message of talking about feelings and that it is okay to feel worried is a good one for young people of all ages. Knowing that when we share big feelings with others they become more manageable, will help kids work through their own big feelings.

[Escape Into Fiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as Digital ARC

Overall I really Like the book and feel more of these types of books are needed.
The one thing i will say is some of the verbiage used was a little older than the kids in the images, but with a parents help, it can be further explained. That does lead into bigger discussion opportunities with a parent.

I liked how the main boy character was able to sense others fear and anxiety, and help put them both in a more comfortable state in order to enjoy the party. Together they worked through the fear.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the "coping with anxiety" list (I feel like there are quite a lot of these releasing these days--which I'm sure is beneficial to kiddos like my little niece who deals with worrying a lot). A little boy heads off to a birthday party, but is concerned about if he'll know anybody there and if they'll have a good time. Luckily he meets a friend hiding up in a tree who is just as nervous as he is. Some good coping mechanisms and a nice message about being "brave like superheroes!" even for day-to-day worries (it was a superhero party, so the messaging worked well!).

[Joy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAY PAST WORRIED addresses that fear all kids face at some point - "What if nobody wants to play with me?" (And that adults face in its grown up guises - "What if I don't fit in? What my date doesn't like me? What if they don't hire me?") Adelman does a good job of verbalizing the anxiety kids face with her character, Brock, when showing up at a birthday party alone. And she does a good job of showing kids how to overcome it.

[Glenda Armand · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAY PAST WORRIED is a great Back to School book. Having taught grades pre-Kinder through third, I see this as a book I would read on the first day of school, and any time a new child entered the class. The book gives teacher and students permission to share their own feelings, or how they used to feel in similar situations. The Super Heroes theme and light-hearted illustrations will appeal to little ones trying to find a way to fit in. This charming little book shows them that there is a way.

[Alexandra Alessandri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hallee Adelman's WAY PAST WORRIED is a timely book about big feelings with a sweet ending. As someone who worries a lot and faces anxiety, I really connected with Brock as he tries to brave his friend's party without his brother and how the worry and anxiety hold him back--until he meets Nelly and the two work through their worry together. WAY PAST WORRIED shows readers that it's okay to be worried and that talking about it will help to "be brave."

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy is experiencing some serious anxiety and worry about attending a friend's birthday party. I love how it addresses and validates what he is feeling and provides real solutions for what a child can do to control their anxiety in these situations. I think this book would be a great conversation starter for a child that may be experiencing excessive worrying and help them know they aren't alone.

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book addresses realistic anxiety situations everyone finds himself/herself in, including being accepted, doing new things alone, and being laughed at. The author gives coping skills to fight back against the worries through a delightful and fun story told in a child-friendly way. I really enjoyed the ending in which the characters realize they are not alone in their worries and can rely on friends to help them through anxious times.

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brock is worried about attending Juan's birthday party by himself. On the way to the party, he frets and imagines horrible scenarios. When he arrives, he is nervous and hides...and finds someone else who is worried! Together, they talk about their fears and eventually join the party.

Focusing on fear and worry, this is a book I would share one-on-one with a child. The text lends itself to an older child, so if you have a younger child, paraphrase the story and use it as a discussion starter.

[FM Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one did a good job of portraying worries and how they can overwhelm fun, but as well how sometimes just having someone understand and accept your worries can be all you really need. Set at a birthday party, which is a very relatable time for my 4 year old kid to feel that struggle between excitement and nervousness. I feel like this story doesn't do as unique of a take as something like Captain Starfish, but it's still a valuable and relatable story that could open up a good conversation.

[Kristin Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was just exactly right. It brought up realistic worries and feelings that our MC Brock was having and showed a few different ways that he worked through his big worries. The storyline made this a pleasant read. It teaches without being didactic. (And if you follow my reviews, you know that's important to me!) My 3s and 4s were very engaged as I read it, which kind of proves my point!

[Angie Quantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for any child who is nervous about attending social events like parties. Or school. Or gatherings. Which, as we all know, is not happening too much right now. Loved the characters, story, and illustrations. Well written for the intended age level. Would also be helpful for older children who struggle with worry. Great story!

[Dedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about what it feels like to worry and how to move past the feeling. Brock's feelings are described clearly, and readers will find techniques to help them deal with their worried feelings. The characters in the illustrations are diverse. This would be a great purchase for elementary libraries.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I WANTED to love this book, but it just doesn't hit right for the target audience. Looking at this picture book, you think it's aimed at kids ages 3-6... but the text is so long that I'm not sure they'll grasp all of the story. There's a nice nod here to social anxiety for kids, but I think it could have been done better, with fewer words, maybe normalizing more of the physical symptoms.

[Addia Ochweri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is great for kids to learn and understand what the feeling of worried is like. I also think it does a great job of talking about how to deal with these feelings which is great. Also it could help kids who may feel alone in the feeling of being worried when they really are not the only worried kid.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read by Halle Adelman. I enjoyed the simplistic nature and kid friendly language. I think it is going to be a great book to share with counselors and behavioral teachers. “Sometimes, your worry can get in the way of everything else.”

[Lori Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish this book had been around when my kids were young (heck, when I was young). It addresses social anxiety in a straightforward but very powerful way. Now I want to read the author's other book, WAY PAST MAD...

[Aimée Bissonette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very kid-relatable story about the worry that comes with new experiences and new settings, and the fear of not being accepted but with a wonderful twist: the worrier looks beyond himself to help out someone else. Lovely!

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy is worried/anxious about going to a birthday party. He envisions all sorts of bad scenarios. When he gets there, he hides in a tree. There he finds a girl in the same situation. They talk about their worries and together decide to participate in the activity.

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great bibliotherapy book for the kid who worries or has a little anxiety. I felt the tips by his dad were great and the ending was too. All in all, not too heavy or wordy, but I don't think it's a fit for storytime.

[Susan Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and authentic story for PreK - 1 story hour. Having the young reader process emotion viscerally and coming out with understanding and insight is a goal, and this book does it. So many SEL books fall short or are pedantic. This is authentic. Bravo to the author and illustrator.