Nervous Nellie Fights First-Day Frenzy

A parent might reach for this book when their child is expressing escalating fears or physical symptoms of anxiety about an upcoming first day of school, camp, or any new situation. Nervous Nellie Fights First-Day Frenzy follows Nellie, a girl whose worries about second grade spiral into hilarious, worst-case scenarios involving pirate bus drivers and T-rex librarians. Through the support of her practical best friend, Gus, Nellie learns to use her powerful imagination not for worrying, but for reframing her fears into exciting possibilities. This accessible chapter book normalizes anxiety for early elementary readers, modeling a concrete coping strategy in a lighthearted, empowering way.