Books To Help Kids Who Are Scared of the Dark
by Devon A. Corneal
A friendly bedroom can turn suddenly ominous when the lights go out. I’ll admit, even as an adult I sometimes get the creeps when I hear an unexpected noise or see a strange shadow on the wall. If you have a little one who worries about things that go bump in the night, try reading one or two of these reassuring, sweet, and helpful stories to make the dark seem a little less frightening.
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Molly, Olive, and Dexter: Who’s Afraid of the Dark?
Buy from:Molly, Olive, and Dexter are excited to watch the sunset together. But as the light fades, the three friends grow increasingly anxious. Thankfully, just as their fears get out of hand, they realize that they have nothing to worry about. This almost-scary yet cozy and reassuring book is perfect for toddlers.
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Good Night Thoughts
Buy from:When a child can’t fall asleep because their thoughts are racing, they take a step back and look at their anxiety objectively. Once they realize they are in no immediate danger, they calm down and can fall asleep. This sweet story from actor Max Greenfield will soothe children’s nighttime anxieties and help with runaway thoughts.
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Monster Hands
Buy from:Milo worries there is a monster under his bed, so he and his friend Mel use shadow puppets to scare it away. But no matter what they try, the monster refuses to leave. Finally, the kids realize that friendship and courage are the real antidote to fear. This award-winning book depicts a natural and positive use of ASL.
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Things that Go Bump in the Day
Buy from:When the sun rises, it’s time for Vlad, a little vampire, to go to bed. But daytime brings a lot of noises, and with each one, Vlad rushes to his mom for comfort. Kids will love this humorous spin on the traditional bedtime story.
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There’s an Alligator Under My Bed
Buy from:Fear of the dark often coincides with another fear, like having a monster under your bed. This follow-up to the classic There’s a Nightmare in My Closet uses humor and clever thinking to show children how to tackle their nighttime jitters. It has helped generations of children overcome their fear of the dark.
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A Sound in the Night
Buy from:A girl goes camping with her dog in this wordless picture book. At first, they have a wonderful time, but when the sun sets and strange sounds come from the woods, they get anxious. Together, they courageously investigate the source of the noise and discover there was nothing to fear after all.
(On sale: 10/21/2025)
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The Moonlight Zoo
Buy from:Children with big imaginations will appreciate this alternative to under-the-bed monsters. When Eva’s cat disappears, she looks everywhere, including under the bed. Instead of seeing a home for slippery creatures, Eva finds a magical wonderland filled with animals and adventure.
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Orion and the Dark
Buy from:To be fair, Orion is scared of everything, but the dark is particularly troublesome. One night, the Dark comes to visit and takes Orion on an adventure to overcome his fears. Just like that, the dark doesn't seem so bad after all.
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The Rabbit, the Dark, and the Cookie Tin
Buy from:Darkness comes to life and turns the common childhood phobia on its head in this picture book. Rabbit avoids bedtime when he traps The Dark in a cookie tin. At first, Rabbit thinks this solves his problem, but he soon realizes that The Dark is essential for a happy and healthy world.
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Glow in the Dark Constellations
Buy from:Even the smallest light can make a big, dark sky less frightening. Appropriate for beginner and experienced stargazers alike, kids can take this glow-in-the-dark book to bed and imagine a ceiling full of stars, or take it outside (with adult supervision!) to explore the night sky. Once they see the wonder of the constellations, they might even look forward to bedtime.
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Oscar and the Moth
Buy from:Understanding how light and dark are made can help some kids overcome their fears. In this picture book, a kitten asks a moth to teach him about light sources and how shadows appear. As kids absorb the information, it removes the mystery (and spookiness) from the dark.
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I’m Not Afraid
Buy from:Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog return in this charming story about dealing with fear and anxiety. The two adorable critters stroll through their neighborhood and discuss what they’re afraid of and how to overcome it. This charming story is an excellent book for children who need some strategies for dealing with fear.
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Afraid of the Light
Buy from:This humorous story is about a rabbit who fears the light and will have kids grinning from ear to ear. They’ll love the unexpected twist on traditional bedtime fears and get a giggle out of the rabbit’s antics. It’s the perfect book to break the tension and dissolve nighttime worries.
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The Berenstain Bears in the Dark
Buy from:You can always rely on the Berenstain Bears to help kids navigate life’s ups and downs. Brother and Sister Bear come through again in this one, helping the littlest readers face nighttime scaries.
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Night Animals
Buy from:You can’t be afraid of animals who live in the dark if you’re an animal who lives in the dark, right? Well, if so, someone forgot to tell Possum, Skunk, and Wolf. The playful illustrations in Night Animals will soothe children’s worries with silly antics and lots of laughs.
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Little Owl’s Night
Buy from:A big-eyed nocturnal owl is just the thing to show children how beautiful and wonderous the night can be. Who in the world would want to miss a full moon? Not your little reader, that’s who.
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What Was I Scared Of?
Buy from:I think I would be afraid of a pair of yellow pants following me around in the middle of the night, too. But as this classic Dr. Seuss story shows, sometimes the things we’re most afraid of aren’t really scary after all.
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Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?
Buy from:Soothing as a hug, this lovely book reminds kids that they can always rely on the adults in their lives when they’re feeling overwhelmed. A Parents’ Choice classic packed with love.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2025.