Mr. Worry: A Story about OCD

This is a good simple read for children with OCD. It helps them understand that they can "overcome" or change their thought patterns, most of the time. It offers advice for parents and chilren and helps parents and other family members realize that it's not something to "just get over!".

My son who just turned 6 LOVES this book. He has asks me to read it over and over to him. I think it is something he can relate too. It's kinda long but the message is clear and gives various different examples of things the boy has worries about because of his OCD. There is a reference to a telephone call that the boy should hang up the phone when Mr. Worry calls in to remind him to keep checking on things. The only thing about this is my 6 yr old doesn't answer the telephone very much and I'm not sure he understands what it means to hang up on Mr. Worry when he calls but the concept is a good idea. I'm sure as he gets older he will understand better.

I have a son 9 years old diagnosed with OCD 6 months ago. We have had a terrible time to get him to even go to therapy much less open up and participate. He has had much embarrassment and shame. I got him this book and at first he would not let me read it to him. Finally after much thought he decided to go for it. After reading this book he totally opened up to me and we talked for over a hour about his OCD. He said for the first time he didn't feel alone. He read this book 6 times the first day and even slept with it. He couldn't quit talking about how it is the best book he ever read. We were able to use this little boys struggles and compare them to my sons. It was like the first time that someone actually understood what he was going through. I was hesitant to buy it because it seemed to be for younger kids, but I sure am glad now!!

I bought this book shortly after my 5 y.o. daughter was diagnosed with OCD. At the time, she had a very severe case and was more or less baffled by not just her own thoughts and actions, but by the cognitive behavior therapy we were going to weekly. I was trying to find something to help her understand what she was dealing with. And it did that. She identified with the boy, she saw that their shared some of the same fears and rituals. BUT, then she started to worry that maybe there was something wrong with her because she did not share ALL of the same fears and rituals. She started to ask if I was an alien and had "bad thoughts" about the illustrations in the book. I had to stop reading it to her. I think it was unfortunate and I hope an experience that only my child had with this book. I think there is a need for children's books about OCD and I applaud the author for writing what I think is a very entertaining, well-told, and realistic story with beautiful illustrations. I also applaud the author for writing a book geared for the younger crowd (there are not many). I think parents of young children with OCD should buy this book and read it themselves first. You know your child best. Read it too them once and see how they take it. At the time I read it to my daughter, she was having OCD thoughts every ten minutes or sooner. Anything could set her off - including a book I thought would help. I think now that she has been symptom free for over three months, I could read it to her again without any problems and I am sure she would like it. I also think this would be a wonderful book for a young child who has a family member or friend suffering from OCD. It really does explain the disorder in terms a young child can easily grasp.

Though the subject of OCD certainly deserves exploration, the joy of this book is not simply that it promotes understanding through its compassionate telling. It also has a full satisfying plot, thoughtful character development and as with all great stories, a hero who bravely faces a challenge. The colorful illustrations are beautifully rendered and both children and/or their adult readers will finish with a new appreciation of the common courage with which we must all face our difficulties. A must for every school (and home) library!