Big Chickens

Reach for this book when your child is caught in a cycle of what-ifs or feels paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake. While it features four chickens running from a wolf, it is truly a mirror for the anxious mind that imagines the worst possible outcome in every new situation. As the chickens encounter mud, deep water, and dark woods, they realize that the things they feared are often manageable, and that they are sturdier than they think. This story uses slapstick humor and rhythmic, repetitive language to take the sting out of anxiety. It is an ideal choice for preschoolers and early elementary students who need to see that being a chicken is okay, especially when you keep moving forward anyway. Parents will appreciate how it reframes bravery not as the absence of fear, but as the act of stumbling through it with friends.