‘Puppy Day Jitters’ Captures a Growing Movement in Children’s Books Tackling Anxiety and Emotional Wellbeing
Exploring emotional literacy in children's books, 'Puppy Day Jitters' delivers comfort and support through a warm narrative fostering empathy.
Nervousness on the first day of school is a universal thread woven through childhood. Increasingly, parents and educators are recognising the value of addressing these common emotions early – not by brushing them aside, but by equipping children with the language and confidence to talk about them. Across the shelves of bookshops and the reading lists of schools, children’s books focusing on emotional wellbeing and anxiety have moved from niche curiosity to centre stage. As awareness about children’s mental health deepens, so does demand for stories that offer comfort, empathy, and reassurance.
Into this warm and thoughtful space steps ‘Puppy Day Jitters’, the second book in Shannon Mori’s Pawsome Pals series, published worldwide on 7 May 2025. The book finds Dolce the puppy wrestling with those all-too-familiar first day nerves, and gently models how friends can support each other through wobbly moments. Mori’s approach reflects a wider publishing trend: stories that are not just fun, but help children see themselves and their feelings with kindness, building empathy and resilience from page one.
Why Children’s Books About Big Feelings Matter
As conversations around children’s mental health become more open and frequent, experts and parents alike are welcoming the surge in books that tackle subjects like anxiety and school transitions. Stories like ‘Puppy Day Jitters’ do more than entertain; they spark vital discussions at home and in classrooms, helping children recognise that nervousness is part of being human. ‘The first day of school can bring uncertainty, but reassurance can be found in knowing that we are not alone. This is what unfolds in the heartwarming children’s book by internationally sold author Shannon Mori,’ the press release notes, underlining the author’s commitment to fostering understanding and connection.
This mission is especially timely, with mental health concerns among young children reported to be on the rise. According to data compiled by the Children’s Society, at least one in six children aged five to 16 experienced a mental health problem in 2021, and issues around anxiety have shown a marked increase since the pandemic. Books addressing these themes offer a gentle but powerful tool for adults to start conversations children may find difficult to begin.
A Growing Market Segment: Stories With Heart
The surge in books exploring emotions reflects broader shifts across publishing. According to Publishers Weekly, titles exploring emotional literacy themes have seen a notable uptick in both demand and critical attention. Picture books helping young readers handle transitions, such as starting school or making friends, have consistently ranked among bestsellers since 2020. These stories serve dual duties – entertaining and equipping children with essential life skills. Mori’s ‘Puppy Day Jitters’ adds to a growing bookshelf that includes recent successes such as ‘The Colour Monster’ and ‘Ruby’s Worry’, each demonstrating that stories about big feelings are not just wanted but needed.
Literary agents and publishers are actively seeking manuscripts rooted in themes of anxiety, resilience, and friendship. These books are increasingly recognised not just as ‘issue’ books for when something is wrong, but as part of regular bedtime reading, providing everyday tools for navigating worries and changes.
What Sets This Story Apart?
Mori’s approach is especially accessible. The Pawsome Pals series revolves around pets with problems and the pals who help them. In Puppy Day Jitters, Dolce finds gentle reassurance from Sophia, her best friend, modelling exactly the sort of support every child deserves. Mori herself has woven her twin loves of animals and writing into stories meant not just to be read, but to be discussed and shared. The series’ premise invites adults to open conversations with children about nerves, friendship, and self-acceptance – without feeling preachy or prescriptive.
Puppy Day Jitters as Part of a Broader Publishing Pattern
The book’s release is perfectly timed within a cycle where children and parents are increasingly seeking resources around new school years and transitions. Industry analysis from BookTrust points to the long-term impact of developing emotional vocabulary early. Books that invite children to name and talk about their feelings offer lifelong advantages – building better relationships, greater self-esteem, and a stronger foundation for learning. The Pawsome Pals series, now two volumes strong, is positioned not just as a source of comfort for those facing first day nerves, but as a reminder that compassion and support are worth celebrating every day.
In a crowded marketplace, authenticity and warmth go a long way. Puppy Day Jitters will be available in both paperback and hardcover globally, through popular retailers including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart. As Mori continues to build her series, readers can expect further adventures rooted in empathy, encouragement, and, above all, inclusivity.
The Future of Emotional Wellbeing in Storytelling
As long as new experiences leave children wide-eyed and a little anxious, books like Puppy Day Jitters will have a vital part to play. The ongoing conversation around mental health in childhood is not a passing trend – it’s becoming a lasting element of good storytelling. Parents and educators searching for meaningful books to help children step bravely into new situations can now choose from a growing shelf of titles devoted to kindness, emotional language, and gentle reassurance. If a story about a nervous puppy and her comforting friend helps one child feel a bit braver tomorrow, that’s a publishing success worth celebrating.
