Being scared isn\u2019t a weakness\u2014it\u2019s part of being human. These stories will show how each character reveals a unique fear and their path to find bravery.<\/p>\n
Fear: Roller coaster\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bravery: Sharing feelings and asking for help<\/p>\n
Vera is muy valiente\u2014she climbs like a mountain goat, she defends her amigos like a lion. But when her teacher announces a trip to Rocking Roller Coasters, Vera trembles \u201clike a chick being chased by a wolf.\u201d She hides her fear, practices bravery\u2014but nothing works.
While on the line for the Green Monster Loopy Roller Coaster, she spills out her words, many words about her fears. Ms. Rodriguez praises her courage to express her feelings. Classmates share their fears. With support, Vera takes a brave first step\u2014not on the biggest coaster, but on the little one. For now.
Relatable emotions and fun similes make this a great book to discuss fears and expressive language.<\/p>\n
Fear: A giant slide
Bravery: Helping her lion with his fears<\/p>\n
A young girl faces fears with her loyal lion. \u201cNo matter how fast I go, or where I end up, my brave lion sticks with me!\u201d But at the top of a slide, they\u2019re both scared. She must summon her courage to help her lion find his bravery. Then\u2026 again and again\u2014up they climb, down they go.
Relatable fears and vibrant art show that we can find the lion within\u2014or be the lion for someone else.<\/p>\n
Fear: Being lost
Bravery: Accepting help from her little sister<\/p>\n
Sheila Rae feared nothing, not even stepping on the cracks. But when she gets lost, she\u2019s truly scared. Louise, her little sister,\u00a0 the \u201cscaredy cat,\u201d appears and leads her home, stepping on every crack in the sidewalk.
A funny, relatable story showing that bravery can mean accepting help\u2014and even the littlest ones can be brave.<\/p>\n
Fear: Singing a solo
Bravery: Saying hello to the butterflies in her stomach<\/p>\n
Piper sings to the sun, moon, and frogs. But when asked to sing a solo, she tells her N\u01cei Nai, \u201cButterflies were having a dance party in my belly.\u201d N\u01cei Nai shares her own story\u2014how h\u00fadi\u00e9 (butterflies) are a sign of exciting things happening.
So Piper smiles and says, \u201cHello, h\u00fadi\u00e9.\u201d And she sings\u2014her voice \u201cfluttering up and out into the world.\u201d
Kids will relate to Piper\u2019s fear and learn to embrace the butterflies.<\/p>\n
Fear: First day of school
Bravery: Persuading her shoes to go<\/p>\n
Lena\u2019s ready for kindergarten\u2014except her shoes are nervous. She tries everything to persuade them. Only when she considers slippers do her shoes find their courage and agree to go. A funny story and fun art about finding bravery by persuading your shoes and yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fear: New school, new language
Bravery: Sharing fears through art<\/p>\n
This girl always lived with her companion named Fear. But after moving to a new country, Fear grows\u2014stopping her from trying new things.
When a boy shares a drawing, they become friends, and Fear shrinks.
Fear is something we all carry\u2014and sharing it makes it easier to manage.<\/p>\n
Fear: Climbing trees
Bravery: Trying\u2014not achieving yet\u2014but willing to try again<\/p>\n
Lou and her friends are brave adventurers. But when their game involves climbing a tall tree, Lou offers excuses and tries to steer them elsewhere.
When they call for a pirate rescue, Lou tries. She struggles. She can\u2019t do it\u2014not yet. Her friends understand and choose a different game. Lou promises to try again another day.
Being brave doesn\u2019t mean being able to do it, but being willing to try.<\/p>\n
Fear: Getting lost, Monsters<\/p>\n
Bravery: Facing fear to find her parents<\/p>\n
Esi \u201cloved monsters and ghosts and things that went bump in the night.\u201d But at the Kakamotobi Festival in Ghana, surrounded by scary masks and unable to find her parents, Esi\u2019s heart goes \u201cBump! Bump!\u201d
She takes a deep breath, stomps and stamps, until she finds bravery and her Mummy and Daddy.<\/p>\n
Fear: Diving board
Bravery: Taking a deep breath and trying again<\/p>\n
Jabari sees kids jumping off a diving board and thinks it\u2019ll be easy. But halfway up the ladder, he gets tired and climbs down. Daddy suggests a rest.
The next day, Jabari takes a deep breath, thinks of the surprise, and jumps. Again and again.
A fun book about discovering the surprise of being brave, with a supportive dad who helps Jabari face his fears at his own pace.<\/p>\n
By Lu Fraser and Sarah Warburton\u2019<\/p>\n
Godwin Books 2024<\/p>\n
Fears: of everything.<\/p>\n
Bravery: \u201cThere is a spark of bravery inside us all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marvis, the chicken, finds anything scary.<\/p>\n
\u201cNighttime and Daytime and anything hairy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLoud things, Fast things,<\/p>\n
And anything whizzy!<\/p>\n
She can\u2019t turn on her bravery until a thief steals Sandra the sheep. Then Marvis finds a spark of bravery deep inside and rescues Sandra.<\/p>\n
Ana Siqueira is a Spanish teacher and award-winning children\u2019s book author who writes tales bursting with brujas, astronautas, and supercapas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her books include:<\/p>\n
Bella\u2019s Recipe for Success (Beaming Books 2021), If Your Babysitter is a Bruja (S&S 2022), Abuela\u2019s Super Capa(HarperCollins 2023), Our World Brazil (Barefoot Books 2024), La Mala Suerte is Following You (Charlesbridge 2024), Vera La Valiente is Scared (Beaming Books 2024), Sticky Hermana (Charlesbridge 2025), If Your Abuelo is An Astronauta (Simon & Schuster 2026), Mami\u2019s Heart (HarperCollins 2026) among others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For more books, activity guides, and aventuras, check anafiction.com<\/a> and her YouTube channel @AnaTeacherWriter.\u00a0<\/p>\n