2022
WISE Score
A monster who's more afraid of losing a tooth than he is of scaring people, perfect for kids who need to know that being brave doesn't mean being fearless.
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Scaredy Monster is the anti-scary monster book. It’s a sweet, functional series that treats childhood anxieties with respect rather than making them the punchline.
If you have a kid who overthinks the 'firsts'—the first loose tooth, the first night away from home—this is a low-pressure way to talk through those feelings. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it does its job well, especially for families looking for wholesome, high-confidence early readers.
Perfect for the 4-to-7 crowd. It's a great read-aloud for preschoolers and a solid 'I can read it myself' win for first graders.
Mommy Monster is the gold standard for supportive parenting, modeling how to validate a kid's fear without letting it paralyze them.
It’s a fun flip on the 'monster under the bed' trope, though the plot points—losing a tooth, riding a bike—are very standard childhood milestones.
As safe as it gets. No hidden snark, no scary surprises, and the 'monsters' are intentionally designed to be cuddly and approachable.
Excellent for social-emotional learning, specifically around naming anxieties and finding practical ways to feel safe in new situations.
Scaredy Monster is part of the Epic! Originals line, which means it was developed specifically for the popular digital reading platform. This matters because the pacing and visual style are optimized for kids who are used to digital interfaces—short chapters, clear emotional beats, and bright, high-contrast illustrations. If your kid is already an Epic! power user, they’ve likely seen this pop up in their recommendations.
What sets this apart from other 'don't be afraid' books is that Scaredy doesn't just suddenly become fearless. He finds specific strategies to manage his fear. In the sleepover story, it's about finding ways to feel safe in a new environment. This is a subtle but important distinction in reading science: it builds language comprehension by giving kids a vocabulary for their own internal states.
If your kid liked the Mercy Watson books for their humor but needs something a bit more focused on emotional growth, Scaredy Monster is a great middle ground. It’s less chaotic than Fly Guy but more character-driven than a standard leveled reader from a big publisher. It’s the kind of series that builds reading confidence because the vocabulary is predictable and the 'monster' world is essentially a mirror of a preschooler's own life.
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