The Little Book of Big Fears

Whether it's raccoons, the dark, math, or whatever lurks in the bathtub, everybody is afraid of *something*. Big or small, common or quirky, fears are normal — and maybe even a little *less* scary when brought to light (and made light of). This book introduces 16 fictional children, named in alphabetical order, along with something each fears. There's Claire, who recoiled from legumes; Drew, who was scared of raccoons; Quinn, horrified by needles; and Will, unsettled by beetles. Darkly playful illustrations show each fear as magnified and real as a child would imagine it. Rhyming text and complex, interesting vocabulary make this book an enriching read. In a twist on your typical alphabet book, *The Little Book of Big Fears* skips several letters along the way. An endnote suggests that looking to these letters — which spell GUTSY and BRAVE — will help children face their own fears.