The Worry Monster
A gentle story about how worries can feel scary but can be turned into confidence.
5-7
The Worry Monster
1. The Morning of School
Lily wakes up bright and early, her heart beating fast as she thinks about her first day of kindergarten. She worries that she might not make any friends. She wonders if the teacher will be kind. She feels a little nervous about the big, new classroom. At the top of her mind, the feeling of worry grows like a small seed.
2. The Worry Monster Takes Shape
In her mind, the worry grows larger and sprinkles itself all over Lily’s thoughts like thunderclouds. Then, out of nowhere, a big, fluffy monster appears behind her bookshelf. The monster has many bright colors that change as Lily worries more or less. It growls softly and whispers, "I am made of your worries." Lily stands very still, her eyes fixed on the strange creature.
3. Learning About the Monster
The monster smiles and says, "I have no real claws, but I am heavy because of the things you fear." Lily thinks of her first day at school and realizes the monster was made of her own thoughts. She begins to tell the monster all her worries one by one. Each worry makes a sound in the monster's voice, and he turns a bit lighter. She starts to hear a new way to talk.
4. Turning Worries Into Tiny Lightbulbs
Lily pulls out her drawing book and draws the monster as a cloud of lightbulbs. She fills each lightbulb with a bright color and names them courage, patience, kindness, and curiosity. The monster glows brighter, and the cloud feels small and not scary. Lily takes deep breaths and says the words she drew one by one. Each breath takes a weight from the monster, and his fur turns shiny and friendly.
5. A Friendly Guide
The monster, now turned into a gentle guide, says, "When you feel scared, remember these lights." It shows Lily that even fears make her stronger. She nods, and the monster lifts to high in the room, gently humming music. Lily’s heart feels lighter, and she begins to smile at the possibility of new friends. She realizes that the monster is actually inside her, a teacher she can talk to.
6. The Big Day
On her day, Lily walks to school and feels the same friendly feelings humming in her chest. She tells a new classmate about the monster and the lights, and they both giggle. Together, they build a bright wall of curiosity that welcomes everyone. At the end of the day, Lily looks at the sky and tells her mom what she learned. She is proud because she knew how to turn worries into bright, kind ideas.
