Hannah and Sugar

Reach for this book when your child expresses a specific, paralyzing fear that makes them feel different or isolated from their peers. Whether it is a fear of dogs, the dark, or trying something new, this story serves as a gentle mirror for the physical and emotional experience of anxiety without making the child feel 'wrong' for their feelings. The story follows Hannah, a young girl who watches her friends play with a neighborhood dog named Sugar but remains too frightened to join in. When Sugar goes missing, Hannah's empathy for the lost dog eventually outweighs her fear, leading to a quiet moment of bravery. It is a perfect choice for children ages 3 to 7, offering a realistic depiction of how courage does not mean the absence of fear, but rather the choice to act in spite of it.