TINY BEAR GOES MISSING

The diminutive hero introduced in Small Knight and the Angry Prince (2023) returns for a more personal adventure.

Pale-skinned, brave Small Knight (who uses they/them pronouns) and their trusted companion, Tiny Bear (plush but seemingly sentient), explore a cave aglow with shining crystals but wind up falling asleep. Some taller knights bring the little human back to the palace, where the queen is waiting, but where is Tiny Bear? As Small Knight frets, a jar breaks, and the Anxiety Monster (captured offscreen at the beginning of the book) emerges. Small Knight stands up to the monster, depicted as coalesced ink scribbles with horns. But as Small Knight unsuccessfully looks for Tiny Bear, their fears mount and the monster grows. The child decides to search the cave and commands the beast to accompany them. But the Anxiety Monster begins to worry, too, and Small Knight reassures it. This back-and-forth defines the youngster’s relationship to the monster and to anxiety itself—at times it can be overcome, but sometimes it’s in control. When all are safe again, the Anxiety Monster shrinks, and Small Knight finds a cozier yet still secure home for it. In the author’s note, Kasha discusses the challenges of coping with anxiety. Accompanied by quaint, atmospherically fantastical watercolor-and-ink illustrations, her story offers an accessible depiction of doing so, which many readers will find validating. Small Knight and the queen are light-skinned; the other knights are darker-skinned.

A charming and creative take on adapting to life with anxiety.