11 October 202119 December 2022 Kirsten

Picture Books about Facing Fears with Courage

Children’s Books About Facing Fears With Courage

Fear appears in many shapes and sizes. Children’s books about facing fears with courage will help your students recognise they are not alone in their worries and anxieties.

Facing Fears and Anxiety with Courage

Fear appears in many shapes and sizes, such as the dark, separation from parents and going to the dentist. There are even more when thinking about school-related fears, anxieties and worries.

I did a quick brainstorm of school-related fears, many of which you will find in the suggested children’s books about facing fears:

speaking in front of the class
the unknown
change
making new friends
starting a new school
noisy places
older children
looking foolish
language barriers
separation from parents
moving to a new home/country
breaking the rules
conflict with others
judgement
being teased/bullied
social interactions
standing up for yourself
thinking “what if…?”

Why Read Children’s Books about Facing Fears

We become fearful when we feel threatened. These feelings keep us safe from danger, but can also prevent us from trying new things. In the suggested children’s books about anxiety, your students will see characters who:

Show a growth mindset despite worries and fears
Realise the reality is not as bad as they first thought
Build confidence and self-esteem
Understand they are not alone and they can ask for help
Understand worries and fears will always be there, but they have strategies to help them deal.

Questions for Children’s Books about Facing Fears

How could your friends help you overcome your fears?
How could you help a friend overcome their fears?
Can fear ever be a positive emotion? Explain your answer.
Why did [character] find it difficult to _______?
How did [character] overcome their fears?
Did they use any strategies you could use in the future?
How did another character help [character] overcome their fears? Why was this important?
Do you agree with the advice [character] gave [character]? Explain your answer.
What advice would you give [character]?
Was it brave of [character] to _____? Why/Why not?

FREE Overcoming Fears Graphic Organizers

Before you check out the picture books about resilience below, I have made a pack of graphic organisers and activities to use with After the Fall by Dan Santat. This is a great book to use when teaching resilience and a growth mindset.

I have a freebie that is part of this larger resource so you can try it out before buying anything!

Fill in the form below to get access to the FREE pack.

If you already have access to the free resource library, you will find the freebie in the Reading section.

Children’s Books about Facing Fears

AAAlligator! by Judith Henderson

A boy overcomes his fears to get to know and make friends with a lonely alligator. The townsfolk are not so accepting and the mayor insists it is driven out of town. Once the community sees the kind and helpful side of the alligator they help it hide from the mayor. Use to discuss social justice, empathy, kindness, loneliness, acceptance and inferring.

After the Fall by Dan Santat

A retelling of Humpty Dumpty from the egg’s perspective. Promotes perspectives, a growth mindset, perseverance, and courage as Humpty Dumpty conquers his fear of heights.

Black Dog by Levi Pinfold

A family is afraid of a large black dog outside their home. As they each spy a dog through their window, it grows in size and menace. It is the smallest member of the family who discovers the dog is not what the rest of the family imagined. A book to promote a growth mindset, open-mindedness, risk-taking and courage.

The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leather

A fearful rabbit doesn’t understand why a big, scary rabbit is always chasing him. It is only when the rabbit runs into a dark wood that the sinister rabbit disappears only to spot some glowing eyes concealed in the trees. Will Rabbit overcome his fears?

The Dark by Lemony Snicket

The dark frightens Lazlo. When his nightlight goes out the dark beckons him to come to the basement. Lazlo tentatively goes into the basement where he thinks dark lives, and the dark leads Lazlo to a drawer full of light bulbs.

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies

A girl returns home to find is a bombed-out hole. Alone, she follows a stream of refugees to an immigration camp. She visits a school but is turned away because there is no chair for her. That evening she is visited by a boy who brings a chair with him - a chair to sit on and learn. Reinforces themes of courage, fears, immigration, perseverance and tolerance.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The Day You Begin considers the difficulty of entering a room where you don’t know anyone. In these situations, we are “an only” until we share our personal stories. Woodson reminds us that we are all outsiders and it takes courage to be ourselves.

The Dreadful Fluff by Aaron Blabey

Serenity Strainer fights her fears to save her family from the dreadful (belly button) fluff, along with courage and a vacuum cleaner. The Dreadful Fluff promotes confidence, courage, and overcoming our fears.

Flight School by Lita Judge

A determined penguin joins a flight school. He gets help from the other birds and a few extra feathers to realise his dream. Promotes determination, following our dreams, perseverance and a growth mindset.

Garmann's Summer by Stian Hole

As Garmann’s summer comes to an end he experiences anxiety about starting school. He talks with his family and discovers he is not the only one who has to face their fears. Reinforces the themes of anxiety, confidence, courage, fears and risk-taker.

The Grotlyn by Benji Davies

The first of two children’s books about facing fears from Benji Davies. Items are being stolen in Rubi’s town. Everyone has heard the tales of the Grotlyn and wonder if it is to blame for the missing items. Rubi’s curiosity leads her to discover why they were stolen and their greater purpose. Reinforces themes of creativity, fears and curiosity.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

Gustavo is a shy and timid ghost who is invisible to others, no matter how hard he tries to make friends. He overcomes his fears and makes new friends by inviting everyone to his violin concert on the Day of the Dead.

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

Henry Brown, a slave, overcomes many challenges, including been torn from his family who were sold as slaves. Working at a warehouse he comes up with the idea of achieving his dream of freedom by mailing himself to the North. Reinforces themes of freedom, overcoming adversity and resilience.

I Go Quiet by David Ouimet

In a dystopian looking place, a shy girl struggles in the world of noise. She sees herself as insignificant and finds solace in the pages of books. ‘When I read, I know there is a world beneath my branches.’ In her imagination, her words are powerful and she realises that when she finds the courage her words will have meaning in the real world.

I Will Be Fierce by Bea Birdsong

A young girl with a determination to be fierce puts on her armour (a rainbow shirt). She stands up to dragons (dogs), climbs the Mountain of Knowledge (the library), walks with giants (older children) and by the end of the day builds new bridges (making friends). Promotes courage, fears and confidence.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is determined to jump off the diving board but his confidence wanes as he nears the ladder. His patient father reassures Jabari that it is okay to be scared. With new determination, he climbs the ladder and jumps.

The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright

Kevin the Koala hates change as the consequences scare him. It is only when a woodpecker disturbs his steady way of life that Kevin has no choice but to make a big change, beginning an exciting new chapter in his life. A book about self-management, courage and perseverance.

Lenny & Lucy by Philip C. Stead

Peter moves to a new house in a dark, unfriendly wood. He makes imaginary protectors, Lenny and Lucy, from a tall pile of pillows, blankets and string. Feeling safer, Peter meets his next-door neighbour, Millie, and discovers that his new home is not as dangerous as imagined.

Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou

Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou is a poem about bravery and confronting our fears and finding the courage within. Told from a child’s perspective. Use in the classroom to teach how words and art tell a story, fears, confronting challenges and self-management.

Little Mouse and the Red Wall by Britta Teckentrup

Little Mouse, Scaredy Cat, Old Bear, Laughing Fox, and Lion Who Had Lost His Roar live in a grey village surrounded by a large red wall. The thought of what is beyond the wall fills cat, bear and lion with fear. Mouse filled with curiosity and courage, steps beyond the wall, finding a world of beauty and freedom.

Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna

A girl’s fear and anxiety grow when she moves to a new country. She feels isolated and worries about making new friends because of the language barrier. When she finds a new friend who has his own fears, her anxiety eases. Use to discuss coping with change and anxiety, immigration, fears, and making friends.

My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain

A big, furry, yellow monster follows a little boy everywhere. It has an enormous impact on the boy as it stops him from doing so many things. One day, he confides in his grandma about his worries and the monster shrinks. The more he shares his fears, the smaller it gets, setting the boy free to live his life. Promotes overcoming fears, seeking help, wellbeing and self-management.

My Name is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin

When Bilal moves he worries about being teased for being Muslim. He thinks about telling his new classmates he is called Bill and not telling them about his religion. A Muslim teacher helps Bilal and his sister settle in by giving them a book about Bilal Ibn Rabah, another Bilal who struggled with his identity.

Parachute by Danny Parker

Toby has a great fear of heights and he always carries a bright orange parachute. When his cat gets stuck in a tree Toby follows and uses the parachute to rescue it. The problem is that Toby is now stuck in the tree. Can he face his fears and get down? Parachute promotes self-management, facing our fears, courage and self-esteem

Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

Ruby has a Worry. It wasn’t very big, but it stayed with her all day so she stopped doing the things she loved. She finds discussing her worry makes it gets smaller until it was almost gone. Though a Worry appears every now and again Ruby knows how to get rid of them. Ruby's Worry promotes adaptability, self-awareness, self-management and self-esteem.

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex

Frederick Douglass Elementary School is feeling nervous about opening its doors for the new term. The school finds out it is not the only feeling worried about the first day back at school.

Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward

A brave girl narrates how she walks a mile to the school bus stop every day. She travels through the morning darkness, with sights and sounds that frighten her. Instead of being afraid, she sings away the dark and her fears. Use to discuss courage, fears and, resilience.

The Story of Fish and Snail by Deborah Freedman

Fish and Snail live together in the pages of a book and can travel from book to book. Snail stays and waits for Fish to describe the stories from the other books. They argue when Snail refuses to join him. Fish swims away into a new book and Snail confronts her fears to reunite with Fish.

Tad: A big story about a brave minibeast by Benji Davies

The second of two children’s books about facing fears from Benji Davies. Tad is the smallest tadpole in the pond. His siblings embrace their inevitable change into frogs, but Tad is scared. He soon learns that it may be difficult to face our fears, but things will work out in the end.

The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashley Spires

Lou procrastinates and makes excuses rather than face her fears. With the support of her friends, she develops a growth mindset to overcome the challenges she faces.

The Tunnel by Anthony Browne

The first of two children’s books about facing fears from Anthony Browne. Two siblings discover a tunnel. The brother rushes in, dismissing his sister’s fears. When he doesn't return she finds the courage to follow him. Promotes themes of facing our fears, cooperation, curiosity, responsibility and being a risk-taker.

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole

A girl is frightened when she discovers a slave hiding in a barn. Her compassion takes over when she saw the fear in their eyes and she cares for them even when slave hunter come looking for the escaped slave. She is rewarded with a doll as a token of gratitude. Use this wordless story promotes themes of slavery, civil rights, courage, compassion, inference, prediction and asking questions.

The Visitor by Antje Damm

One day a blue paper aeroplane flies through Elsie's window. This event leads to a knock at the door which she opens to a boy who asks for his plane. An unexpected friendship develops and brings colour and light to Elsie’s lonely life. Promotes themes of loneliness, fears, cause & effect, relationship skills and risk-taking.

The Wall in the Middle of The Book by Jon Agee

A knight protects himself from the dangers on the other side of a wall. But he is too busy worrying about the unknown that he doesn't see the dangers on his own side of the wall.

Wallpaper by Thao Lam

A young girl is too shy to approach other children when she moves to a new house. She picks at the layers of wallpaper in her bedroom and discovers a mysterious world. She plays with imaginary friends and is chased by a monster who she finds is not to be feared. Back in her bedroom, she has the courage to say hello to the children playing outside.

What If…? by Anthony Browne

The second of two children’s books about facing fears from Anthony Browne. Joe is nervous about attending a birthday party and he imagines all sorts of “what ifs” scenarios. As he arrives he realises he had nothing to worry about. This book reinforces the themes of overcoming our fears, confidence and being a risk-taker.

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What Next?

The NHS Trust has anxiety related resources you could use in the classroom. Scholastic offers an ‘Ages & Stages’ about children’s and their fears.

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