There's a Big, Beautiful World Out There! by Nancy Carlson

32 pages. Viking, 2002.

Although there are a lot of scary things and situations in the world, if we hide from them, we miss positive aspects of life also. The author acknowledges - in detail - that there's a lot to be scared of, including mean-looking dogs, thunderstorms, crawly things, frightening stories in the newspaper, public speaking, and even people who don't look like you. She acknowledges the wish to hide under your covers when you're scared. But she also points out all that you'd miss if you hid under the covers. For example, if you hid from a thunderstorm, you'd also miss the rainbow that comes afterward. You might even miss learning important things about yourself, or making new friends. She encourages kids to allow themselves to experience the world, in spite of their fears. The courage and optimism she writes about are all the more meaningful in light of a note saying that she wrote this book on September 12, 2001. Children can learn from this book that while their fears are legitimate, it's still possible that they're outweighed by positive experiences in life.

Ages: 3-8
Cultural Context: multicultural