The right book at the right time has immeasurable value. Books allow readers to explore troubling or confusing feelings without judgment. The reader can linger, wonder, reflect, and consider—and is always welcome to return. What is crucial is that the right book is accessible when the reader needs it. I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared is an ideal read-aloud for young children in the early days of the school year.

Why read aloud?

We gather to share a book. We settle into a safe space. We talk and reflect, exchanging thoughts, exploring concepts, building background knowledge—and community. When read-aloud sessions are routine, children become comfortable voicing their perspectives. They grow in active listening skills and learn to respect the thoughts, feelings, experiences, and beliefs of others. When we (educators, parents, and caregivers) select age-appropriate, length-appropriate stories based on needs and abilities, we offer children the opportunity to see themselves, see others, find validation, and contemplate solutions to conflicts and challenges that they may not have considered.

Read-aloud sessions are inclusive: there is no reading skills or level barrier, and learning obstacles are mitigated by preparation prior to reading the book aloud. In a read-aloud session there is immersion as well as the comfort of distance from the challenges the characters encounter.

Reading aloud engages listeners, offering a positive, secure, stress-free “learning without struggle” experience grounded in a book, the value of which cannot be overestimated.

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.” ~  James Baldwin 

Why this book? Why will it matter to kids?

According to CASEL, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide. As young children begin school, they often feel intimidated by what’s ahead, uncertain of how to meet challenges, and afraid of the unknown. I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared is an accessible, affirming picture book offering gentle advice to young children for meeting and overcoming fears. The back matter includes tips to share with children, along with a message to parents and caregivers. The author explains how her experience overcoming nervous feelings led to the creation of this book, which follows her previous book on the topic of facing fears, It Will Be OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship.

Levels and Layers of Learning

Grade level: K-3

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

Acceptance, compassion, concern, connection, courage, creativity, curiosity, dedication, empathy, empowerment, encouragement, fortitude, friendship, generosity of spirit, gratitude, helpfulness, hope, inspiration, kindness, perspective, resilience, respect, responsibility, relationship skills, self-assurance, self-awareness, self-management, self-reliance, social awareness, understanding

Content Area Connections: Social-Emotional Learning

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared Educator Guide

Read Lisa’s interview in Psychology Today

Learn more about Lisa Katzenberger and her books on her website.

Illustration © Hannah George

Write Away! Ideas to prompt writing

Trying something new can be scary. The author says that on the inside it can make you feel like your “tummy tumbles” or your “heart hiccups,” or make your “fingers fiddle.” Describe what happens to you when you are afraid.

Describe The Brave You. What does the Brave You look like? What does the Brave You feel like? What does the Brave You sound like? How does the Brave You act? What does the Brave You say?

Tell about something that scares you. How can the Brave You help you overcome your fear?

Tell about something you were once afraid of that no longer scares you. How did you overcome your fear?

What is your favorite illustration in the book? Why?

Poetry Break Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into the framework of the school day. These brief moments can signal change, smooth or frame transitions—from beginning or ending the day to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to shifting from one subject to the next. Poetry breaks can reset mood or tone, providing a moment to pause, reflect, and breathe. Reading a poem aloud typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, provide clarity, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, spark imagination, or simply summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes and strengthens the spirit.

“Poetry builds resilience in kids and adults; it fosters Social and Emotional Learning. A well-crafted phrase or two in a poem can help us see an experience in an entirely new way.” ~  Elena Aguilar

Following is a selection of recently released poetry books:

• Fast Cheetah Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites by Bette Westera and Mies van Hout, illustrated by David Colmer; a recommended book to add to poetry collections; this volume of paired poems is useful when studying animals, building vocabulary, and exploring opposites as well as emotions. For example, “Strong” and “Delicate” contrast a moose and a deer; “Mean” and “Friendly” highlight the lantern fish and the clownfish, “Relaxed” and “Busy” consider the sloth and the ant, and “Contented” and “Adventurous” contrast the house sparrow and the swallow, respectively.
• Windsongs: Poems about Weather by Doug Florian; an excellent collection; especially of interest during the Fall season are the concrete poems, “Hurricane” “Tornado,” and “Weather.” Includes a glossary. See also Great Gusts: Winds of the World and the Science Behind Them by Melanie Crowder and Megan Benedict; illustrated by Khoa Le; (highlighted previously in the June Children’s Book Corner post) fourteen poems feature winds found across the world from Japan to Italy; sidebars share the science behind each wind’s formation and effect.

And Then There’s This…
Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared Activity Guide

Book Collection Suggestions

The following related books of interest explore facing fears and anxiety:

• After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat; Grades K-3
• Big Papa and the Time Machine by Daniel Bernstrom. illustrated by Shane W. Evans Grades K-2 (Find Children’s Book Corner blog post featuriing the book here.)
• Finnegan Fox by Katie Gilstrap, illustrated by Lori Nichols; Pre-K-Grade 2
• If I Never Forever Endeavor by Holly Meade; Pre-K-Grade 2
• I’m Not Scared, YOU’RE Scared by Seth Myers, illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr.; Grades 1-3 and up
• Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Waber; classic for Grades K-2
• It Will Be OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship by Lisa Katzenberger, illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett; Grades K-3
• Santiago’s Dinosaurios by Mariana Ríos Ramírez, illustrated by Udayana Lugo; Grades K-2
• Sometimes We Fall by Randall de Sève; illustrated by Kate Gardiner; Grades Pre-K-2

Find Children’s Book Corner posts featuring books centering on overcoming fears for middle grade students here and here.

Suggest a title to add to this list in the Comments section at the end of this post.

Also by Lisa Katzenberger

Meet the Author

Lisa Katzenberger is the author of several books for children, including It Will Be OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship; A Love Letter to My Library; Croc & Gator: Swamp Ranger School; I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared: Finding The Brave You; and It Belongs to the World: Frederick Banting and the Discovery of Insulin. Lisa is on the faculty of The Writing Barn where she teaches picture book writing courses including “Writing Social Emotional Learning Picture Books” and “Write. Submit. Support.” She lives in La Grange, Illinois with her husband and two children. Visit Lisa on her website to learn more.

Backstory: Q & A with Lisa Katzenberger

Judy Bradbury: Tell us about this project: What seeded its creation?

Lisa Katzenberger: The idea for this book came straight out of a therapy session. I was learning about the Cognitive Behavior Technique “act as if.” According to Psychology Today, this technique “encourages clients to adopt the mindset and behaviors of the person they want to become, even if in the midst of self-doubt.”

JB: How did you conceive of the book’s format?

LK: I connected the idea of “acting as if” to children playing pretend and envisioning that they are something else. And after many revisions–40 of them–I landed on the structure to show children how to picture they are brave, pretend to be brave, then put their brave selves into action.

JB: The characters in the book are animals. Was that your idea or the book illustrator Hannah George’s idea?

LK: When I was writing this story, I pictured a single child going through the activities that scared them. But Hannah and the art department at Sourcebooks Kids chose to create three different animal characters who were facing three different fears. And I think it turned out so cute!

JB: I agree! Tell us about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared: Finding the Brave You or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the writing of the book.

LK: Sourcebooks Kids acquired this book with my title, The Brave You. But when they did brainstorming and testing, they found the concept of the book became clearer when they included the problem (being scared) in the title. I really wanted to keep The Brave You somehow, because it’s such a core component of the narrative. So we agreed on the longer title of I CAN DO IT EVEN IF I’M SCARED: Finding the Brave You

JB: What is one unexpected joy that came from the creation of I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared?

LK: For me it was sharing more about my experiences in therapy and having other people say, “yeah, therapy has helped me a lot too.” It was helpful for me to be more transparent about my mental health struggles through my stories. And it has made me feel proud of the work I am doing instead of feeling embarrassed that I need help.

JB: An Author’s Note in which you share a personal story about anxiety is found at the beginning of the book. Tell about the decision to place this at the front of the book.

LK: The publisher chose to put the author’s note at the beginning. It wasn’t anything I ever discussed with them, but when I saw it up front during the design stage I felt like it made perfect sense to set the stage for the story.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you “finding the Brave Lisa”?

LK: I teach creative writing classes online, and when I share stories about my anxiety challenges, my students are often surprised. You seem so natural, they’ll say. But what they don’t see is the time leading up to the class where I am swallowed in self-doubt, worrying if they will learn anything from me or like me. Yet once I get into the swing of things, The Brave Lisa comes out, my love for teaching writing takes over, and all is well. But it’s the anticipation of failing that still gets me, although it is lessening over time.

JB: Who do you perceive the target audience to be for I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared and why?

LK: I see my target audience as young children who are still playing pretend. Through my previous title It Will Be OK, I have also found that many school counselors and therapists use this book to teach about anxiety, showing empathy, and being a good friend. I hope I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared connects with this community as well.

JB: What do you hope young listeners and readers will take away from I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared?

LK: I want them to know that fear and self-doubt are normal emotions, and even adults face them. I also want them to learn that these emotions do not need to paralyze you and prevent you from doing what you enjoy.

JB: How do you see I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared connecting to curriculum or being used in schools or learning settings?

LK: Sourcebooks Kids created an Educator’s Guide for this book, which includes pre- and post-reading questions and activities, a visualization exercise to find The Brave You, and more. I also think this book can tie into standards in Social Emotional Learning curriculum. I hope educators can use this guide as a way to encourage their students to follow the steps to find their brave self included in the book.

JB: The back matter offers both concrete suggestions directed toward young readers and a note to parents, guardians, and caregivers written by Dr. Heather Davidson, a child psychologist. Tell us about the importance of the back matter to this book.

LK: In the backmatter, I wrote an activity to encourage children to talk about their fears or self-doubts with a trusted adult to encourage a discussion. I always say a story doesn’t end when you close the book. Picture books can be stepping stones to more conversation between a caregiver and a child. Then my editor suggested we provide information from an expert in the field to support my experiences as a patient in therapy. She reached out to Dr. Heather Davidson, who is the author of CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) Workbook for Kids, to share some of her expertise.

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

LK: What scared you about writing this book?

Answer: I was afraid to put more of myself out there in the public eye and talk frankly about my mental health challenges. Although I’ve been in therapy for many years, I still feel shy sharing about it. But I’ve found that people are understanding and supportive, which is a great feeling.

JB: What project(s) are you currently working on?

LK: I am working on potential follow-ups to I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared. But my bigger and more intimidating project is a middle grade novel, where a young artist strives to find her voice and self-confidence.

Illustration © Hannah George

Meet the Illustrator

Sidebar Spotlight New releases of note

Each month I receive several boxes of books to review from various publishers. As I read and peruse the books, I place them in two piles: those that I will consider featuring on the blog, and those that don’t fit the mission or theme of Children’s Book Corner blog for whatever reason. I highlight some of the books in the “possible” pile on Mondays (most weeks) on Instagram. Ultimately, I choose the one new release I will feature on my monthly blog post. Yet there are many terrific books I wish I could give a shout-out to, even if I can’t write an entire post about each one. So, Sidebar Spotlight is a means of giving a nod to new releases that, in my opinion, are noteworthy. I’ve linked each title to Bookshop so you can learn more. Happy reading, friends! And feel free to comment on these or other new books below.

Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Erin Stead; utterly enchanting, expertly crafted picture book perfect for reading aloud

Clever Crow by Chris Butterworth and illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill; an absorbing informational picture book for Grades 1-4 about these seemingly plain and unremarkable (but truly smart and playful) birds found across the globe

Danté Plays His Blues by Allen R. Wells and illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice follows a young boy as he learns to play away his sadness and blues with the help of his uncles—and practice at turning “his blues into his muse.” Recommended for Grades 2-4.

Imagine Counting All the Stars by Raewyn Caisley and illustrated by Gabriel Evans; a sweet, affirming story about the joy of friendship grounded in common interests and imagination, and encouraged by a wise and loving dad.

Ocean illustrated by Gail Armstrong; with forty flaps to lift and learn, this bright, oversized book is interactive, immersive, and informative.

Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice by Kari Lavelle and illustrated by Bryan Collier; a stunning biography celebrating perseverance and pluck about a master in his field, illustrated by a master in his field. Highly recommend for middle graders.

Sam and Lucy by MaryJo Scott; a gentle and tender picture book that addresses how love supports and bolsters, also explores aging and loss; an age-appropriate, reassuring, and inspiring tale featuring a boy and his favorite chicken. Highly recommend for primary grades.

Sweet and Sour by Brian Yanish, illustrated by Stacy Ebert; a ticklish, picklish friendship story about two, yes, pickles, who find enjoyment in being friends despite their differences. An entertaining read with bright, comical illustrations that draw the reader in right from the endpapers. And the word play is inspired. Pickle Power! Recommended read-aloud for Pre-K—2.

Two Homes, One Heart by Jessica Young and illustrated by Chelsea O’Byrne; minimal text that manages to offer a deeply satisfying message about growing toward happiness after parents split up. Accessible for the youngest of listeners and readers. Highly recommended as the right book for the child who needs it. Bibliotherapy at its best.

News, Updates, & Items of Interest

Whole Foods Whole Kids Foundation offers a variety of grants to schools and other organizations. Check out this latest. Applications open on September 4.

If you are in the Buffao, NY area, stop by the 2nd Annual Elmwood Village Artfeston Saturday August 24th! You can find me in the VIP area at the City of Light Publishing booth from 1-3pm. This popular family-friendly outdoor event supports local artists, musicians, performers, businesses, and the community as a whole. Art, music, food, and fun!

You can always find where my books and I will be on my Events page.

This summer I enjoyed participating in school district days of learning, or professional development. Here’s a note I received after presenting “SEL-Related Children’s Books with Curriculum Tie-Ins” to teachers and librarians in Grades Pre-K—Grade 6:

Thanks so much for presenting! I heard wonderful things about your workshop! One person mentioned to me that you were so organized and passionate. They also loved seeing all the children’s books you brought with you!

I’m now booking school visits and professional development sessions for 2024-25! Find information and contact me to discuss a visit tailored to meet your school’s needs.

A note from a teacher whose students I recently visited:

Thank you so much for coming to meet with my students. You were wonderful, answering their questions and explaining how you wrote the book. We all loved it! Here are some illustrated thank you notes the students made for you. Thank you again!

Read-aloud of a portion of Cayuga Island Kids Book 2, The Adventure of the Big Fish by the Small Creek

Readers Theatehttps://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncbr, complete with props! 

Find my books packaged as a series at your favorite bookshop or purchase directly from the publisher and receive a gift with purchase! Individual titles are also available in hard, softcover, and e-book versions.

Kindness tip: If you read and like a book, consider posting a review on GoodReads, social media, or on Amazon (if you bought it there). Authors and illustrators appreciate the shout-out. Even a one-sentence comment increases visibility of a book. Also consider placing a request with your local library to purchase a copy–another free way to support a book you recommend! 

Over to You…

Join the conversation! Offer your thoughts on this featured prompt related to this month’s post:

What book about overcoming fears do you recommend for young readers and listeners? Share the title, author, and illustrator in the comments section. 

You are also welcome to post a general comment.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Final Thought