Gretel the Wonder Mammoth: A Story About Overcoming Anxiety

Big Feelings, Brave Heart

Gretel is a mammoth with a very big problem. Not big like a mammoth — big like a feeling that grows and grows until it feels impossible to manage. Gretel worries. About new places, about what might go wrong, about all the things that other animals seem to find so easy. But with a little help, Gretel begins to discover that even the biggest worries can be faced — one small, brave step at a time.

Gretel the Wonder Mammoth is a warm, reassuring picture book by Kim Hillyard, written to help young children understand and talk about anxiety. With accessible storytelling, gentle humour, and kind, colourful illustrations, this is a book that opens conversations rather than closing them down — the kind of story children ask for when they're feeling wobbly, and the kind of book grown-ups are so glad exists.

Why This Book Matters

• A gentle, accessible picture book about anxiety for children aged 3–7
• Warm, colourful illustrations that make big feelings feel manageable
• A wonderful conversation starter for parents, carers, and early years educators
• Written to help children recognise, name, and gently challenge anxious feelings
• Recommended for home reading, school libraries, and therapeutic settings

Rent Gretel the Wonder Mammoth from BookJoy and give your child a story that says: whatever you're feeling, you are not alone.