🙈 12 books
Books for children who are afraid to try new things
The child who watches from the edge of the party. Who only draws the thing they already know they can draw. Who wants a guarantee they'll be good at something before they'll start.
These books are about the brave first step: jumping off the diving board, heading into the dark, saying yes to something new. None of them pretend the scary feeling goes away. They show children it's allowed to come along for the ride.
For the kids 🎨
Ada Twist, Scientist
Andrea Beaty
A picture book for relentless question-askers, curiosity as a superpower.
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What If…
Samantha Berger
For the child who says “nope” to anything new, a gentle nudge to try.
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You Choose
Pippa Goodhart
An imaginative, no-wrong-answers book for sparking conversation and decision-making.
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The Lion Inside
Rachel Bright
A tiny mouse finds the courage to speak up — perfect for nervous, shy moments.
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Jabari Jumps
Gaia Cornwall
About working up the courage to do something scary — and feeling proud either way.
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Don't Worry, Little Crab
Chris Haughton
A sweet, brave-the-big-wave story about facing something new together.
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The Dark
Lemony Snicket
Being brave doesn't mean not feeling scared — it means trying anyway.
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Almost Anything
Sophy Henn
For the child who's too scared to try something new in front of their mates.
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Lost and Found
Oliver Jeffers
Changing your mind isn't giving up. Knowing when to adjust is its own skill.
Buy on Hive →I Am Not An Eggbox: The Recycling Project Book
Sara Stanford
Ten things to do with an eggbox, for when you're out of ideas and they're bored.
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A Great Big Cuddle
Michael Rosen
Poems short and funny enough to win over any poetry-sceptic. No 'doing it wrong'.
Buy on Hive →Three things to try alongside the books
- Make it small: one go, one bite, five minutes.
- Let them watch first, then try, without an audience.
- Celebrate the having-a-go, whatever the result.
More on the thinking behind these in what is growth mindset?
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