Books About Fears for Children
 Authors: Giselle Goetz with Judith A. Myers-Walls, PhD, CFLE

It is often easier to read about other people’s fears than to talk about your own. Reading books with children about specific kinds of fears can be helpful. It can also help to go the library and ask for books on fears. Or, you may want to go the bookstore or look for books on the Web.

Here are some books about specific fears that you can read with children:

Brown, M. W. (1970). Goodnight Moon. New York, NY: Harper Collins. (Sleeping; ages 2-5)

Brown, M. W. (1972). The Runaway Bunny. New York, NY: Harper Collins. (Separation; ages 4-8)

Edwards, P.D. (1999). The Worrywarts. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. (General worries; ages 4-8)

Fitzpatrick, M. (2000). Lizzy and Skunk. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc. (General worry; ages 4-8)

Hendry, D. (1999). The Very Noisy Night. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (Dark; ages 3–8)

Henkes, K. (2000). Wemberly Worried. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. (General worries; ages 4-8)

Hest, A. (2001). Kiss Good Night. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. (Dark; ages 4-8)

Mayer, M. (1968). There’s a Nightmare in My Closet. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (Dark; ages 4-8)

Mayer, M. (1987). There’s an Alligator Under My Bed. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers. (Dark; ages 4-8)

Penn, A. (1993). The Kissing Hand. Washington, DC: Child and Family Press. (Separation; ages 4-8)

Stevenson, H. (1997). Big, Scary Wolf. New York, NY: Clarion Books. (Dark; ages 4-8)

Also, series like the Berenstain Bears (visit the dentist, go to camp, new baby), Franklin (has a sleep over) and Little Bill (and the big storm) all have stories that deal with different fears. These books can be found at bookstores or the local library.

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For more information, contact Judith A. Myers-Walls, PhD, CFLE at jmyerswa@purdue.edu or at 765-494-2959

Please feel free to link to, print off, redistribute, or reprint  any of these materials as long as the original credits remain intact.

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