Lucy the Firefly, Roary the Lion, and a bunch brave characters in between, these 15 books about overcoming fears for kids are a must-read for kids who need a little help facing their fears

Did you know that fear is actually a natural part of childhood? 

Whether it be fear of the dark, monsters under the bed, starting school or even making a new friend - being afraid of these things is normal. But while these fears are common, they could sometimes be holding kids back from exploring the world with courage and confidence.

And if left unaddressed, it could lead to more serious things like anxiety, decreased self-esteem, and missed opportunities for personal growth. Confronting one’s fears is an important part of a child’s development (and let’s face it, ours too - nothing scarier than being a parent…)

This is where our hand-picked selection of books about being brave can be super helpful. These powerful tools present kids with relatable scenarios and courageous characters, and through these stories, kids can learn that being brave doesn’t mean not being scared - it means taking action despite feeling afraid.

Let’s get started.

15 Books About Overcoming Fears for Kids

The Map of Good Memories

By:
Fran Nuño, Jon Brokenbrow, Zuzanna Celej

There are places that remind us of happy moments. Zoe, a little girl who has to flee from her city with her family because of a war, remembers them before she leaves. She uses them to draw a “map of good memories,” knowing that they will always be with her.

Madam Hortensia

By:
Carmen Gil, Jon Brokenbrow, Miguel Cerro

Madam Hortensia followed her routine to a tee, until one day everything went wrong… what a disaster! A wonderful story, full of humor, about the importance of tackling new challenges. Do you dare to change?Madam Hortensia lives life in a straight line, never straying a step out of her daily routine. Was she finicky? Not quite, she just liked everything to be perfectly to her liking. Her alarm clock rang every day at 07:18 sharp. Not one minute before, or one minute after. Then her planned routine would begin in extreme detail, and nothing could possibly go wrong. But one morning, her alarm does not go off on time and her life spins into a whirlwind. Suddenly, she finds herself doing entirely new things she has never tried before.

Read 
Madam Hortensia
 now

We Walk Through the Forest

By:
Lisa Ferland, Yana Popova

The magic of the forest is calling and it sounds like birds singing and twigs snapping underfoot. What is that up ahead? Is it a butterfly or another animal behind that tree? We Walk Through the Forest follows a spirited young girl and her playful pup as they create wondrous adventures together in the great outdoors.Imaginations run wild as they walk, hop, and sing through the forest. Just how many woodland creatures will they encounter?

Ayobami and the Names of the Animals

By:
Mar Azabal, Pilar López Ávila

Ayobami dreams of going to school. But to reach the schoolhouse, she has to take a dangerous path: the one that leads through the jungle.This is a tale about the importance of education, the difficulties that many children have to overcome to go to school, and the perseverance and enthusiasm of those who want to learn.

The Squiggle Wiggles

By:
Erna van der Merwe, Danelle Kritzinger

Little Ant's Big Plan

By:
Candice Dingwall, Steven McKimmie, Telri Stoop

This is a story about a little ant with a big plan, and how his love for reading saved the day.

Pink

By:
Lynne Rickards, Margaret Chamberlain

"What's a penguin to think when he wakes up PINK?" Patrick wakes up one day to find he's turned pink overnight. But boys can't be pink! Feeling teased and left out, poor Patrick runs away in search of pink playmates. He crosses the ocean where he finds some pink flamingos - but will he fit in with them any better? Patrick soon learns that friendship is never black and white, but that real friends will accept you just as you are.

Read 
Pink
 now

Tobey the Business Mouse

By:
C.S Fritz, Elinor Shklaz

Join Tobey the Business Mouse on a journey of discovery and glimpse into the infinite realm of possibilities that lie ahead.Tobey, with his little suit and tie, proves that no matter how small you are, there is no limit to what you can achieve.

Ann-Nem-Oh-Nee

By:
Jessica Bosworth Smith, Lauren Nel, Matthew Griffiths

Ann-Nem-Oh-Nee is stuck on her rock all alone. She’s looking for adventure and wants to see the world! But how?

Read 
Ann-Nem-Oh-Nee
 now

Grobblechops

By:
Elizabeth Laird, Jenny Lucander

Amir is worried about the little monster lurking under the bed. What if it tries to eat him up?! And what if that monster has a dad and a mum too? As Amir’s father tucks him in, he wonders if the monster might become a friend instead...

Read 
Grobblechops
 now

Facing the Wave

By:
Vaughan Duck, Rebecca Marshallsay

Trying new things can be scary.But, with a little push and a lot of paddling, even the biggest waves can be conquered.A story about facing fears and how a few words of encouragement can change someone’s day.

Read 
Facing the Wave
 now

Mariama Different But Just the Same

By:
Nívola Uyá, Jerónimo Cornelles, Jon Brokenbrow

Everything is new for Mariama after a long journey by car, train, boat, and plane from Africa. She is going to discover a world where the streets, her school, and the food are all different. However, what about the people? A beautiful tale about identity, the process of integration, and solidarity. Are you ready to meet Mariama and play with her?

Mister Yes

By:
Carmen Gil, Miguel Cerro

Mr. Yes could do a lot of different, funny things…but he’d never learned how to say no. Even though it made him unhappy, he would reluctantly agree to do things because he would say yes even though he really wanted to say no One day, the unexpected happened and Mr. Yes found a powerful, new voice.So what about you? Have you ever smiled and said yes when what you really wanted to say was no?This is a fun story for readers of all ages about the importance of communication and being assertive.

Read 
Mister Yes
 now

Lucy's Light

By:
Silvia Álvarez, Margarita del Mazo

Lucy is the youngest member of a family of fireflies. She wants to shine like all the others, but she’s too little. Finally, one night, it’s Lucy’s turn. She can head off to light up the forest, but something is stopping her.This is a tale all about how important it is to shine as brightly as you can, with the light that we all carry within us and makes us unique.

Read 
Lucy's Light
 now

Roary the Lion

By:
Rory H. Mather, Patrick Corrigan

All Lions roar, right?Not Roary and he’s supposed to be the King of the Jungle!Try as he might, poor Roary has trouble finding his voice. Can his friends help him find his bellow or will he be left with a tiny squeak?

Read 
Roary the Lion
 now

With the turn of every page, kids will discover that they are not alone in their feelings and that they can be heroes in their own lives. From little Lucy and her family of Fireflies to Roary the Lion who’s struggling to find his voice, to conquering the big wave and facing your fears, these stories will inspire courage and encourage confidence.

You can also check out our super helpful guide about How to Select Books for Your Child.

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