‘When You’re Little, Things Are Scary’: A Must-Read for Anxious Kids

When you’re small, the world can feel very big.

A barking dog sounds louder. A dark hallway feels longer. Even a funny-looking fruit on your plate can seem… suspicious.

That’s exactly the space Canadian children’s author, mom, and educator Shelby Moore steps into with her newest picture book, When You’re Little, Things Are Scary. It’s a gentle, thoughtful story that helps young children understand fear without feeling embarrassed about it.

And it’s a book many families will be grateful to have on their shelf.

Kids get scared. A lot.

They’re scared of the dark. Of loud noises. Of new food. Of trying something for the first time. Of going to school. Of dogs. Of shadows. Of the unknown.

As adults, we sometimes say, “It’s nothing to be scared of.” But for a child, it is something. This book doesn’t dismiss fear. It respects it. 

In When You’re Little, Things Are Scary, we follow a young child who meets everyday fears: a strange fruit, a dark room, a barking dog. Instead of running away or melting down, the child pauses and asks a simple question:

“What would a giant do?”

That small shift changes everything.

The idea is simple and powerful. When something feels scary, the child imagines how a giant would handle it. Giants are brave. Giants are calm. Giants see the whole picture.

Suddenly, the barking dog doesn’t seem quite as overwhelming. The dark room feels a little less mysterious. The fruit doesn’t look so dangerous anymore.

It’s not magic. It’s perspective. And perspective is a skill.

What makes this book special is that it gives children something practical to try. Not just “be brave.” Not just “don’t be scared.” But an actual step they can repeat.

Pause. Take a breath. Ask, “What would a giant do?” That’s it. 

And because the story is told in soft, gentle rhymes, the idea sticks without feeling like a lesson.

This isn’t Shelby Moore’s first book focused on emotional growth.

Her debut, When You’re Little, Things Are Big, helped children manage overwhelming feelings by teaching a simple five-count breathing technique. It showed kids that even very big emotions can settle.

Now, with When You’re Little, Things Are Scary, she focuses on fear.

Together, the two books quietly form a toolkit. One for big feelings. One for scary moments. Both are built around repeatable, easy-to-remember steps.

One of the most comforting things about this book is its rhythm. Each fear rises. Then it settles. Nothing dramatic. Nothing overwhelming. Just small, repeatable episodes.

That structure matters. It mirrors how fear actually works. It spikes. It peaks. And with support, it calms. Children begin to see that being scared doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means they’re learning. And the story makes space for that learning without pressure.

Sometimes we don’t know what to say when our child is scared. We want to fix it. Or distract them. Or reassure them quickly because we’re tired. This book gives parents language.

Instead of “Don’t be scared,” you can say, “Hmm… what would a giant do?” Now you’re on the same team. You’re solving it together. It turns a meltdown into a moment of connection. That’s powerful.

At first glance, it’s a sweet picture book. But underneath, it’s teaching:

And it does it without heavy words or complicated explanations. Just a child. A fear. A pause. A question.

That’s why books like this stand out among kids. They don’t just entertain. They equip.

After reading, you might try asking:

The answers may be small. Or surprising. Or funny. But they matter because when children feel heard, their fears shrink even more.

When You’re Little, Things Are Scary is available now on Amazon.

If your child struggles with nighttime worries, new experiences, or everyday anxieties, this might become a favorite. Not because it promises a fearless child, but because it shows children that fear is normal and manageable. And sometimes, all a little one needs is the reminder: You may be small. But you can think like a giant.