The Pain in my Chest By Áine Murray, Illustrated by Bronagh Lee

Editor’s Choice - [Murray’s] narrative engages readers by capturing what anxiety feels like … the gentle rhyme scheme is soothing for readers and is a delightful addition to the text … Lee’s vibrant illustrations dance across the page … a perfect addition to libraries and classrooms, this beautiful and heartwarming story is a treasure for readers of all ages 

while it may break our hearts to see little ones struggle with their feelings, showing them that it’s ok to not feel ok is vitally important … a sweet rhyming tale, following a young narrator as she finds herself in some stressful situations

a problem shared is indeed a problem halved, and though it does not instantly mean being able to take that starring role in the school play, it does help to ensure anxiety is less likely to define you, when “the more you talk, saying loud and far, that the pain in your chest is not who you are”. With expressive illustrations by Dublin-based artist Bronagh Lee, The Pain in My Chest is a positive picture book perfect for opening conversations to help young children deal with feelings of anxiety

an excellent book for explaining what anxiety is in simple terms

an insightful debut on anxiety, exploring how focusing on the ‘what ifs’ can keep us from experiencing life at its fullest. Featuring eye-catching illustrations, we follow a little girl who is constantly held back from trying new things by the pain in her chest. A useful story for little readers who can find their worries overwhelming

realistic and age appropriate … give opportunity for discussion and scope for making connections … as a teacher, the story gave plenty of scope to develop a lesson plan around the theme. Although the theme of the story was quickly picked up by the older pupils, I think this book, due to the ages in the timeline is best suited to an audience of infants to second class. The theme is topical and important in today’s society and so I feel that it is a book that needs to be explored more than once with a class/child … beautifully illustrated … The pictures also give ample opportunities for discussion and hypothesising … This book would provide an excellent resource in any school and for any parent who wants to teach their child(ren) about anxiety

This rhyming picture book follows a young girl who gets a pain in her chest when she worries about things like making new friends. Her mother explains that lots of people feel like this and encourages her daughter to share her problems. Written in rhyming verse, with attractive illustrations, this is a useful book for sharing with anxious children

The gentle rhyme scheme is soothing for readers, while Lee’s vibrant illustrations dance across the page and give a range of attributes to the emotions and sensations associated with anxiety. A treasure for readers

Áine Murray’s picturebook explores the world of anxiety from the perspective of a child, taking readers on a journey towards healing, friendship and self-acceptance. Her narrative engages readers by capturing what anxiety feels like, beginning with the main character describing the pain in her chest and the various situations that make her feel anxious. As she learns to speak about her anxiety, it becomes more manageable, prompting readers to refl ect on their experiences. By sharing her feelings, she feels less alone and her relationships with her loved ones and friends grow. Murray’s gentle rhyming scheme is soothing for readers and is a delightful addition to the text. Although anxiety can often feel overwhelming and isolating, Murray and illustrator Bronagh Lee depict anxiety in ways that children can understand and relate to. In the opening pages, Lee portrays anxiety as a storm cloud; her use of colours reflects the mood of the story throughout. Lee’s vibrant illustrations dance across the page and give a range of attributes to the emotions and sensations associated with anxiety: from storm clouds to monsters to fuzzy pink creatures. The book’s themes are supported by Lee’s use of grey, pale pink, and rainbow tones to indicate healing and friendship, each of which convey pathways towards hope and meaningful connection. A perfect addition to libraries and classrooms, this beautiful and heart-warming story is a treasure for readers of all ages (four +)

Áine Murray’s picturebook explores the world of anxiety from the perspective of a child, taking readers on a journey towards healing, friendship and self-acceptance. Her narrative engages readers by capturing what anxiety feels like, beginning with the main character describing the pain in her chest and the various situations that make her feel anxious. As the main character learns to speak about her anxiety, her anxiety becomes more manageable, prompting readers to reflect on their own experiences. By sharing her feelings, she feels less alone and her relationships with her loved ones and her friends grow. The gentle rhyme scheme is soothing for readers and is a delightful addition to the text. Although anxiety can often feel overwhelming and isolating, Murray and the illustrator, Bronagh Lee, depict anxiety in ways that children can understand and relate to. In the opening pages, Lee portrays anxiety as a storm cloud; her use of colours reflects the mood of the story throughout. Lee’s vibrant illustrations dance across the page and give a range of attributes to the emotions and sensations associated with anxiety: from storm clouds to monsters to fuzzy pink creatures. The book’s themes are supported by Lee’s use of grey, pale pink and rainbow tones to indicate healing and friendship, each of which conveys a pathway towards hope and meaningful connection