Cousin John is Coming!

A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling anxious or resentful about an upcoming visit from a family member they find annoying. The story follows a boy who, upon learning his dreaded Cousin John is coming, lets his imagination run wild. He pictures John not just as a pest, but as a literal toy-eating, room-wrecking monster. This humorous take on catastrophizing validates a child's big feelings of worry and frustration without being preachy. For ages 6 to 8, it's a perfect tool to open a conversation about jealousy and anxiety in a lighthearted, relatable way, showing kids that their worries are normal.