Anne Haubert, LMFT
Cover Designer: Emerald Lake Books
Publisher: Emerald Lake Books
Publication Date: July 8, 2025
ISBN: 978-1-945847-72-1
Book Description
Charlie has a BIG problem—his anxiety. It keeps him up at night and makes everything feel scary. But with help from his mom (and a little imagination), Charlie learns that even the biggest problems can become small and gentle with the right perspective.
This beautifully illustrated story helps kids understand big feelings—and how to face them with courage, color and creativity.
Perfect for parents, teachers and little readers learning how to talk about emotions. Conversation starters included!
What Others Are Saying
As an educator with thirty-six years of experience and a former assistant principal of a PreK–5 school, I can confidently say that Charlie’s Big Problem belongs in every classroom library. This beautifully written and illustrated story normalizes anxiety in a way that is both accessible and reassuring for young children. The illustrations are not only vibrant and engaging, but they also bring emotional depth to the story—capturing the subtle expressions and feelings of the characters with remarkable sensitivity. This book can also be powerfully linked to validating children’s emotions, integrating classroom SEL tools, and supporting mental health in early education. It’s a must-have resource for fostering resilience, empathy and open conversations around feelings in the classroom.
—Louise Hanrahan, former K–8 teacher and assistant principal
Charlie’s Big Problem is a friendly, colorful story that helps children understand and manage anxiety. I appreciate Anne Haubert’s thoughtful use of sensory descriptions and her ability to reframe worry into something more manageable and empowering for young readers. As a registered play therapist who works with many young children, this book will definitely become a valuable part of my bibliotherapy collection.
—Maria Aresco, LCSW
Charlie’s Big Problem is a wonderful story teaching children about coping with anxiety in a creative, kid-friendly way! I recommend this book to families and teachers to explore big feelings and mindfulness techniques with their little ones.
—Rachel Kaczynski, kids yoga teacher and creator of the “Mindful & Magical Me” kids inspiration deck
I worked in my mom’s pediatric dental office for over twelve years, and during that time came to know children of all ages from all different walks of life. A book like Charlie’s Big Problem would be beneficial in the reception area of any pediatric dental practice and all elementary schools. I myself have suffered with anxiety and always felt it had to be dealt with silently. Reading this book will show children they are not alone and can find comfort in their parents or any trusted adult.
—Kelly Carta, CDA
As a mom of three young kids and a daycare teacher, I think Anne Haubert’s book, Charlie’s Big Problem, would be a wonderful story to share at circle time. We see many different behaviors throughout the day, and this book shows how to bring light to situations that might feel scary. Even if it helps just one child in our center, it’s worth it.
—Jennifer Pons, parent and daycare teacher
As a forty-year kindergarten and first grade teacher, Charlie’s Big Problem is a must-have book! A huge THANK YOU to Anne Haubert for presenting a solution to a very necessary and needed subject matter for children… anxiety. It’s a charming story with beautiful illustrations!
—Diane Lambert, former K–1 teacher
Project Info:
Anne Haubert is new to writing stories, but she’s not new to helping children and families navigate difficult emotions. When she first came to us with this charming story, it resonated with both Mark and Tara since they each have loved ones who deal with anxiety.
While we had multiple false starts, trying to get the conceptualization of anxiety “just right,” we’re very pleased with the outcome, and hope that you are too!
In the News:
New Children’s Book Helps Kids and Parents Navigate Anxiety Together
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Readers’ Favorite Review
Have you ever felt worried at bedtime, like something big and scary was keeping you awake? That’s exactly what Charlie faces in this gentle and empowering story, Charlie’s Big Problem by Anne Haubert, LMFT. From the very first page, the artwork hooks readers in with expressive and colorful scenes, which perfectly match the realistic descriptions of Charlie’s feelings. It begins with Charlie, a little boy who can’t sleep and doesn’t know why he feels so scared inside. His mom helps him name his fear (“Thunder”) and then lovingly and cleverly shows him a way to change it from being scary, like a roaring lion, to being soft, like a purring kitten, Sunny. With his mom’s help, he can turn any anxious situation into a manageable one.
Anne Haubert’s story tugged at my heart. I chose it because of the topic. I’m always searching for more resources on childhood anxiety since it seems like more and more children are anxious. This book is a helpful guide for parents and teachers to find ways to aid them in making those big feelings a little less scary. Charlie’s Big Problem stands out for its age-appropriate approach and warm conversation starters at the end, like ‘What was your favorite part of the story?’ and ‘Can you relate to Charlie’s problem in any way? If so, how?’ Kids will easily understand it, and the pacing is just right to hold their attention. They’ll also appreciate (as I did) how Charlie’s stuffed bear feels the same way he does. The illustrations by Reina Rey brought the feelings to life. The heaviness of the anxiety was conveyed through darker colors at the beginning, and hope emerged when he was able to manage his anxiety, resulting in the pages turning bright. This book is ideal for home use, but it could also be a valuable tool in classrooms when discussing feelings and emotions. I highly recommend it.
