How Sarah Fought Her Scary Thoughts
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
Introducing How Sarah Fought Her Scary Thoughts – a captivating children's book about anxiety. Join Sarah, a brave girl, on her journey to conquer anxiety while facing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Written by Dr. Mahgoub, a licensed clinical psychologist, this enchanting rhyme educates young readers about anxiety symptoms and evidence-based techniques. Featuring culturally diverse characters, it aims to destigmatize mental health within communities of color and encourages seeking help from mental health professionals. A heartwarming tale that promotes empathy and empowerment, serving as a valuable resource for parents, teachers, and caregivers.
Age
5-9
Length
25 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Sarah felt when she had scary thoughts, and how did she handle them?
Can you tell me about a time you felt like Sarah? What helped you feel better?
What are some ways we can help each other when we're feeling scared or anxious?
Why do you think it's important to talk about our fears?
How did Sarah's friends and family help her? What does that teach us about helping others?
Tip: Role play these questions
Create a comfortable and quiet reading environment to make your child feel safe discussing personal topics like fears or anxiety.
Validate your child’s feelings before diving into each question to show that it’s okay to feel scared sometimes.
Use the book’s illustrations to guide the conversation, asking your child to describe what they see and how it might relate to the story’s emotions.
Encourage your child to come up with their own ending or alternative scenarios where Sarah faces her fears, promoting creative thinking and problem-solving.
After discussing, engage in a calming activity together, like drawing or writing a story about overcoming fears, reinforcing the themes of the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and Managing Fear
Explanation: The story portrays Sarah’s journey as she confronts and learns to manage her fears, demonstrating techniques and coping strategies.
Real-World Application: Children can understand that it's normal to feel scared and learn practical ways to face their own fears, whether at school, home, or in social situations.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving Skills
Explanation: Sarah uses creative thinking and problem-solving skills to handle situations that scare her, which are illustrated through engaging and relatable scenarios in the book.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and develop solutions for challenges they encounter, fostering independence and self-reliance.
Example Lesson: The Importance of Seeking Help
Explanation: The book shows that it's okay for Sarah to seek help from adults like parents and teachers when her own efforts to manage her fears are not enough.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of communicating their feelings and seeking support when needed, which can be applied in their interactions with trusted adults.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: As readers see the world through Sarah’s eyes, they gain an understanding of how fear affects others, fostering empathy.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children recognize when their peers are scared and how they can offer support, promoting a supportive and understanding community among children.
Example Lesson: Building Resilience
Explanation: Through overcoming her fears, Sarah builds resilience, showing readers that they too can overcome obstacles and grow stronger from the experience.
Real-World Application: Children learn to persevere through their own difficulties and understand that overcoming challenges is part of growth and development.