Hanna Asks for Help: A Big Bright Feelings Book

By Author / Illustrator

Tom Percival

Genre

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Age range(s)

Publisher

Bloomsbury Children's Books

ISBN

9781526673978

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-07-2026

Synopsis

An uplifting book about learning how to ask for help, from the bestselling creator of Ruby's Worry. Be open, be honest, be you! Big Bright Feelings for little people.

This reassuring and funny book is the perfect springboard for talking to children about asking for help - because we're all good at different things, and giving and receiving help can be one of life's greatest joys.

Hanna LOVES playing sports. But she finds maths a real puzzle! Nothing she tries works. . . until she finds the courage to ask for a little bit of help. Soon, Help arrives - and nothing will ever be the same again!

Tom Percival's bestselling Big Bright Feelings series is the ideal starting point for discussions about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence and managing feelings. Every child's bookshelf should contain his books.

Also available in the Big Bright Feelings series: Ruby's Worry, Perfectly Norman, Ravi's Roar, Meesha Makes Friends, Tilda Tries Again, Milo's Monster, Finn's Little Fibs, Bea's Bad Day and Sammy Feels Shy. Collect them all!

Reviews

Louise

Tom Percival's Hanna Asks for Help is a warm and reassuring picture book that explores the importance of asking for support when things feel difficult. Hanna loves sports and is confident in her physical abilities, but she struggles with maths and becomes increasingly frustrated when she cannot solve problems on her own. When she finally finds the courage to ask for help, she learns that everyone has different strengths and that accepting support can make challenges feel much more manageable.

Through relatable experiences and engaging illustrations, the story promotes resilience, self-confidence and the value of working together.

This book is an excellent resource for home as well as a Key Stage 1 classroom (ages 5+) because it helps children see that everyone finds some things challenging and that asking for help is something to be proud of, not something to be embarrassed about. Hanna's experience is one that many young children can relate to, making it a valuable starting point for conversations about perseverance, confidence and managing difficult feelings. In literacy lessons, children can explore Hanna's emotions, retell the story, write advice for the character or share their own experiences of being helped by others.

I feel the book also contributes positively to classroom culture, encouraging pupils to support one another and recognise that learning is often easier and more enjoyable when we work together.

Picture book / Reviewed by Louise Gahan, teacher