THE NOT-SO-SCARY DOG

A child’s cynophobia eases after learning how to control it.

Tommy should be delighted to receive an invitation to a friend’s birthday party, so imagine Mom’s surprise when Tommy begs her not to go. The friend has a dog, and Tommy is terrified of canines of all kinds. After confiding to her child that she used to be afraid of dogs, too, Mom makes a plan with Tommy. Rather than allowing her child to avoid pups, Mom instead guides Tommy through the steps of exposure therapy. By the time the party rolls around, Tommy’s anxiety has decreased significantly. While Tommy’s quick and easy path may set high expectations for readers, the practical information it’s rooted in could prove beneficial to families. The text, alas, rhymes needlessly and clumsily, coming up with odd turns of phrase (“It’s like you’re in a fog”) for the sake of the rhyme alone. Somewhat more successful is the inclusive cartoon art (Tommy and Mom have light-brown skin and interact with a diverse array of other children). A lengthy note aimed at adults at the end not only explains exposure therapy, but also shows caregivers how to reach its benchmarks with their own children’s worries. Thankfully, the book also notes that caregivers should consult their children’s primary care physician “for guidance and for a referral if needed.”

A fear of dogs is no match for serviceable practicality.