The best books about being brave do not show a fearless hero. They show a child who is scared and does the thing anyway, in small steps. That is the version of courage a three-year-old can copy. Below are well-loved picture books sorted by the fear they help with, and a few ways to read them so the lesson lasts beyond bedtime.
Brave at bedtime and in the dark
- There's a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer (ages 3 to 6). The monster turns out to be more scared than the boy. A classic for the "something is in my room" phase.
- Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (ages 2 to 4). About the panic of being left alone at night and learning that mama is still close.
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell (ages 2 to 4). Three owlets wait for their mother in the dark woods. Short, calm and perfect for toddlers.
Brave at school and with new things
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (ages 3 to 6). A gentle way to talk about the first days of school or daycare.
- Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (ages 3 to 7). A boy climbs the diving board, finds reasons to wait, and finally jumps. Very true to how children actually work up to something scary.
- Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes (ages 3 to 6). For the child who worries about everything, ending with a first day at school that goes fine.
- Scaredy Squirrel by Mélanie Watt (ages 4 to 8). Funny, with lists and diagrams. Older kids love that the hero over-plans for disasters that never come.
Brave about big feelings
- Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival (ages 3 to 7). A worry grows bigger the more Ruby ignores it, and shrinks when she talks about it.
- After the Fall by Dan Santat (ages 4 to 8). Humpty Dumpty, afraid of heights after his fall, climbs again. A favorite for children who have had a scare.
- Courage by Bernard Waber (ages 3 to 7). Short examples of everyday courage, from trying a new food to saying sorry. Great for starting a conversation.
Brave in a big adventure
- Brave Irene by William Steig (ages 4 to 8). A girl carries a dress through a snowstorm for her sick mother. Old-fashioned, beautifully written, and the real deal for older preschoolers.
- Sheila Rae, the Brave by Kevin Henkes (ages 4 to 7). The bold sister gets lost, and the shy one leads her home. Shows that courage looks different in different people.
How to read them so courage sticks
Pause at the scared moment. Before turning the page, ask "how do you think she feels?" and "what could she do?" Children rehearse the brave choice in their heads before they see it.
Connect it to their own week. "Remember when you were nervous about swimming? That is like Jabari on the diving board." The book becomes a story about them.
Name small steps. Most brave moments in these books are a series of tiny steps, not one leap. Point them out: looking, trying, waiting, trying again.
Reread. Repetition is the point at this age. The tenth reading of a brave book is when a child starts saying the brave line before you do.
When the hero is your child
Children connect fastest with a brave character who looks like them and has their name. That is the idea behind a personalized story: your child is the hero who feels nervous, takes the small steps and finds the brave choice. In a TaleOfYou book you pick "being brave" (or "being brave at the doctor") as the lesson, add your child's name and looks, and the story is written and illustrated around them. You can see a whole sample book first.
Looking for more ideas? See our personalized book gift guide by age.
Want your child to star in a brave story of their own? Try these ideas for creating their own superhero, or make a book where the family dog comes along.
FAQ
What age are books about being brave for?
From about 2. Toddlers respond to simple stories about the dark and being apart from a parent; by 5 or 6 children enjoy longer adventures and characters who fail before they succeed.
Do books about courage really help anxious kids?
They give children words and a picture of what to do, which helps many kids talk about fears. If anxiety gets in the way of daily life, talk to your pediatrician as well.