THE FEARS YOU FEAR

What’s there to be afraid of?

This picture book follows two Black children along with a supporting cast that is racially diverse and includes one brown-skinned child who uses a wheelchair. The unnamed characters, along with readers, learn about different kinds of fears, ways to handle and understand fear, and how fear can sometimes be helpful. The language will validate young children’s concerns, explaining that fears are different for everyone and that they can involve real or imaginary things. The book is written in rhyming verse; the rhymes are comfortable, and the meter, while occasionally imperfect, is smooth enough for reading aloud without awkward pauses. The cute, colorful illustrations are intentionally childlike, which will make them relatable to youngsters, though they lack emotional expressiveness or depth. Still, this is the kind of pedagogic book that is meant to be read as a jumping-off point for dialogue and emotional growth, and its succinct and accurate exploration of the topic serves that purpose well. It would be helpful to young children who particularly struggle with fear and anxiety or as a more general lesson in emotional awareness. It also includes guidance for adult readers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An excellent tool for prompting discussion around fear.