Scaredy Sam

Mathilde Stein & Mies van Hout

Publication date: October 2018

Perhaps Scaredy Sam is braver than he thinks?

Scaredy Sam is scared of absolutely everything, from wearing his favourite flowery dungarees in public to the ghost he thinks lives under his bed. Sam makes an appointment with the Magic Tree to become less cowardly, but first he must travel through the woods, where all the wild creatures live. Step by step, Sam becomes less afraid. He politely and boldly confronts a dragon, a giant spider and a gnarled witch. By the time Sam reaches the Magic Tree, he’s no longer afraid. Scaredy Sam has become Brave Sam.

A quietly inspirational story to help children realise they are braver than they think. Atmospheric and cheerful illustrations with a distinctive painterly style help create a world of magical adventure and self-discovery.

Scaredy Sam

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Reviews

‘While the fun and quirky text will keep readers and listeners engaged, the illustrations truly bring the story to life. Irresistibly detailed cartoon characters in black outlines pop out of the fuzzy, rich-toned background paintings, creating pages that readers will want to pore over. … [Sam’s] story is a delightful one.’
–School Library Journal

‘[V]isually striking. … [T]he double-page paintings will read well from a distance, with elements that garner both goosebumps and giggles (a dragon wears a Band-Aid; a witch sports pink house slippers). Try this in the context of classroom discussions of emotions.’
–Booklist

‘Muted watercolors full of quirky details. … Wry… with a nice lesson.’
–Chicago Kirkus Reviews

‘Easy words and concepts blend well here.’
–Midwest Book Review, The Children’s Bookwatch