1. Anxiety
2. Book design
3. Communication
4. Courage
5. Decision-making
6. Fear
7. Friendship
8. Guilt
9. Isolation
10. Mental health
11. Narrative techniques
12. Perspectives
13. Sharing
14. Stories in rhyme

In today’s world it is easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed even physically ill from the many worries that assail us. The cost of living, climate change, political unrest, violence, and warfare seem to constantly surround us. Young people are not immune to this and many worry about all sorts of things—school, friends, or the lack of, bullying both live and online and some of the same big issues that affect adults.

This book takes a humorous yet insightful look at the impact worries, stress and overthinking has on your brain. It is already quite full of the knowledge it holds to work, study, play or just live. If you start to fill it with troubles and difficult issues your brain can feel full and overcrowded and begin to affect your mental and physical health. The solution is to set these problems free. Share them, don’t bottle them up and lay awake with your mind churning. Share them, ask for help and advice and while they may not disappear, they will shrink to a manageable size and become things not to fear but rather to learn from. So be kinder to yourself, don’t store your problems and anxieties up. Share them and ask for help.

Stress and anxiety in children and young people is increasing as is the incidence of mental health problems. This book is a light-hearted look at a serious issue. The clever use of rhyming text and the complimentary quirky Stephen Michael King artwork provide an easily accessible way to discuss this with young people

Josh Pyke is a successful Australian singer/songwriter and has written several children’s books. Award winning Stephen Michael King is one of Australia’s best-known and loved children’s book illustrators.

1. Mindful Journey Coaching video reading of ‘Your head’s not the place to store problems … in’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DJtywvPWhg
2. Reading Time 1 April 2024. Lynne Babbage reviews ‘Your head’s not the place to store problems … in’ https://readingtime.com.au/your-heads-not-the-place-to-store-problems-in/
3. Kids’ Book Review 14 September 2023. Sarah Steed reviews ‘Your head’s not the place to store problems … in’ http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2023/09/review-your-heads-not-place-to-store.html
4. Angela Lockwood blog 14 June 2022. ‘Reducing overwhelm for kids’ https://www.angelalockwood.com.au/blog/reducingoverwhelm
5. Let Grow 15 June 2020. ‘How to teach kids to solve their own problems’ https://letgrow.org/how-to-teach-kids-to-solve-their-own-problems/
6. Stephen Michael King website https://www.stephenmichaelking.com/