The Kidnapping of Suzie Q.

A parent might reach for this book when their child feels overwhelmed by a new responsibility, especially an anxious older sibling who worries constantly about a new baby. The story follows Fergus, who is briefly left in charge of his baby sister, Suzie Q. When she vanishes from the garden, his worried mind invents a series of wild kidnapping scenarios involving spiders, aliens, and giant birds. This chapter book is a gentle, humorous mystery that masterfully explores childhood anxiety, familial love, and the way a child's imagination can run wild with fear. It's a perfect choice for validating a child's big feelings while showing them that scary thoughts are not always reality.