GOD, I FEEL SCARED Book Review

“Scared happens to us all, and that’s okay. But God doesn’t want you to stay afraid.” This is the theme in the picture book GOD, I FEEL SCARED (Zonderkidz, p.30).

Three weeks ago, Hurricane Helene caused more destruction than anyone expected. As it swept through communities, it left behind inconceivable devastation and fear. Sadly, my daughter and her family experienced this in their Black Mountain/Swannanoa Valley community. Thankfully, they and their home are okay. Or, as she says, “We’re okay, but we’re not okay.” 

If your family has been affected by recent storms—figuratively or literally—then consider reading together GOD, I FEEL SCARED.

The Authors

Michelle Nietert and Tama Fortner teamed up to write the first book in this series: GOD, I FEEL SAD, which I reviewed last year. They make a great writing team, and I hope to see more books in this series.

Michelle Nietert has been a licensed professional counselor for over twenty-five years and is the co-author of the award-winning books Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls and Make Up Your Mind. A passionate speaker, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, including her own “Raising Mentally Healthy Kids.” She and her husband, Drew, have been married for almost two decades and have two school-aged children. Connect with Michelle at www.YourMentalHealthCoach.com.

Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling author with more than fifty titles to her credit, including Simply Christmas and Easter Is Coming!. She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced he’s people too. To learn more, visit www.TamaFortner.com.

About GOD, I FEEL SCARED

Published by Zonderkidz in 2023, the full title of this 32-page picture book is Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God: God, I Feel Scared. This is the first in the series.

The book begins by stating the facts:

When God made you, He gave you feelings.

Then, various examples of when children might feel scared are discussed—shadows, storms, surprises, and sickness. Also discussed are children’s fears of feeling alone, lost, or uncertain about a new experience, like the first day of school.

The authors do an excellent job of helping children identify what fear may look like in body language and what words they sometimes use to express their fears.

The authors affirm that it is okay to feel worried or scared, but God doesn’t want people to stay that way. The book then offers numerous suggestions on how to express those feelings of fear and how to overcome them.

Children discover different ways to begin feeling better. Talking with someone who cares about them, talking to God, expressing themselves through writing, playing games, music, and more.

Children are reminded of God’s love and how “He promises to stick by your side. He’s stronger than any fear you’ll ever face.”

Additional Note

The illustrator Nomar Perez does a beautiful job illustrating children of all colors in settings to which most children will relate. The colorful illustrations offer comfort and provide conversation-starters with little ones.

This book is written with a biblical worldview. It includes several references to God, including one verse (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV) at the end.

The back of the book includes a special note for parents. It mentions teaching children the difference between healthy fears and fears they need to face. Several more coping techniques are also given.

Recommendation and a Way You Can Help

I highly recommend this book for ages 3 – 7. In the next few months, my grandsons will turn 4 and 7, and they loved this book. Their parents have read it to them numerous times, and I think it’s also a comforting reminder to them of God’s great love and care.

In fact, my daughter recognized how helpful this book has been for her family and said, “We need to order a lot of these books for our area.”

We are hoping to do this. The authors have kindly donated several of these books to the children in western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. My family is donating as well and I want to share with you where I found a great deal in case, you’d like to donate copies of GOD, I FEEL SAD and GOD, I FEEL SCARED to children in your area.

As of writing this blog post, the lowest price I found for purchasing these books online is at Faithgateway.com. They’re offering a special price on the bundle set of these two books. Plus, they periodically offer additional discounts and free shipping, so I hope you’ll check it out. I’m not affiliated with them in any way—I’m just sharing with you the great deal I found there.

Consider getting a set for the young kids in your family and perhaps donating a set to one of the areas affected by the hurricanes in the Southeast.

Motivated by the power of story, history, and His Story, Sally Matheny’s passion is telling the next generation wondrous things.

Her nonfiction writing appears in worldwide, national, and regional publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, and The Old Schoolhouse.

She and her husband live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and are blessed with three children, two sons-in-law, and armfuls of grandbabies. Connect with Sally on several social media sites, but her favorite hangouts are at SallyMatheny.com and Pinterest.