15 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.
-
Dragon Night
Available from:Georgie is afraid of the night, and Dragon is afraid of the knight. Get it? Clever wordplay aside, this darling story of two friends helping each other overcome their fears is sure to be a new favorite in your house, especially if you have a little one trying to conquer their own fears.
Also available from: -
There’s an Alligator Under My Bed
Available 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.
Also available from: -
The Moonlight Zoo
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Orion and the Dark
Available 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.
Also available from: -
The Rabbit, the Dark, and the Cookie Tin
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Glow in the Dark Constellations
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Oscar and the Moth
Available 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.
Also available from: -
I’m Not Afraid
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Afraid of the Light
Available 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.
Also available from: -
The Berenstain Bears in the Dark
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Be Brave Like Batman!
Available from:Young superhero fans will love this book! When Batman was young, he was afraid of the dark, but now he knows there's no reason to fear. With strategies like deep breathing, asking for help, and using tools like flashlights, young readers can learn how to conquer their fears and be brave like Batman!
Also available from: -
Night Animals
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Little Owl’s Night
Available 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.
Also available from: -
What Was I Scared Of?
Available 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.
Also available from: -
Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?
Available 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.
Also available from:
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2019 and updated in 2023.