Staff Pick
Fear is a complicated emotion. When overfed, it is stifling, isolating, and controlling. Me and My Fear is a gorgeous look at a young girl starting a new school in an unfamiliar place and her relationship with her growing fear. With Sanna’s empathetic gaze and imaginative illustrations this book reminds that anxieties come in all different shapes and sizes. In turn, it offers young readers an important lesson: fear may never disappear completely but that doesn’t mean it has to be in charge. Recommended By Sarah R., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
"With its warm palette and gentle scenes of the worried child being comforted, this book could function as a sequel to Sanna's astounding debut picture book, The Journey, which recounted a family's dangerous flight from their home in a war zone. Sanna provides an empathetic exploration of the adjustment to a new land that all migrants experience." New York Times Book Review
When a young immigrant girl has to travel to a new country and start at a new school, she is accompanied by her Fear who tells her to be alone and afraid, growing bigger and bigger every day with questions like "how can you hope to make new friends if you don't understand their language?" But this little girl is stronger than her Fear. A heart-warming and timely tale from the bestselling author and illustrator of The Journey, this book shows us the importance of sharing your Fear with others--after all, everyone carries a Fear with them, even if it's small enough to fit into their pocket!
Review
“A universal book that can be used to explain fear to readers and give empathy to those in a new environment.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Authentic and immediate, the first-person narration draws in readers and reveals just how easily fear can become overwhelming and isolating, but can also be controlled when feelings are shared and through comfort found in friendship. Like Sanna’s The Journey, this book about an immigrant’s experiences tackles a tough topic with honesty, empathy, and a sense of hopefulness.” School Library Journal (Starred Review)
About the Author
Francesca Sanna is an Italian illustrator and graphic designer based in Switzerland. She graduated in 2015 from the Lucerne School of Art and Design with a Master of Design with focus on Illustration. Her first book, The Journey, was endorsed by Amnesty International, and garnered many awards and much acclaim.