Silly Billy

œSilly Billy is an atmospheric and emotionally insightful picture book by Anthony Browne, exploring childhood anxiety and creative coping strategies. Billy worries about almost everything, especially staying overnight at someone else's home. On visiting his grandmother, he is introduced to tiny worry dolls that magically absorb his fears-illustrating a powerful metaphor for managing anxiety. This paperback edition offers over 200 words of gentle reassurance, imaginative narrative and richly detailed illustration. Browne's award-winning artistry ensures that children relate to the emotional journey and learn that imagination-and externalising worries-can be an effective coping tool. Highly acclaimed; Browne has received the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award (2000), and œSilly Billy was praised by Otago Daily Times as "a cure for young worriers." It is ideal for social-emotional learning in classrooms, offering a safe space to talk about feelings.

Educational Benefits:

• Teaches emotional regulation strategies, including expressing and externalising worries.
• Supports discussion of fears, anxiety and problem-solving through imaginative play.
• Promotes vocabulary linked to feelings, coping mechanisms and creativity.
• Enhances visual literacy via metaphor-rich artwork and symbolic imagery.

Classroom Ideas:

• Provide worry dolls or tokens for children to place their worries into.
• Create a class œworry box where children can anonymously share concerns.
• Draw or write imaginative solutions alongside Billy's worry dolls.
• Discuss difference between realistic and silly worries, guided by teacher.

Information:

• Ages: Suitable for children aged 4+¯years
• Paperback format; standard size
• Suitable for classroom sharing and reflective sessions