Books about being afraid of the dark

Books to gently allay children’s fears of the dark, while acknowledging them

Children are often fearful of the dark at bedtime, but these books will gently allay their fears, while acknowledging them. There are also books that show the benefits of the dark and the beauty of it.

  • George and His Nighttime Friends

    by Seng Soun Ratanavanh 

    2021 4 to 9 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Picture books

    George is a lonely little boy who is afraid of the dark and finds it difficult to get to sleep at night. This wonderfully reassuring tale is sure to become a favourite bedtime read.

  • Handa’s Noisy Night

    by Eileen Browne 

    2019 2 to 6 years 

    • Around the world
    • Picture books

    This is a lovely addition to the classic Handa stories, which are beloved by so many. In this, Handa is allowed spend the night with her friend Akeyo, when they hear some strange noises. Children will have great fun trying to mimic the animal sounds!

  • Emily Brown and the Thing

    by Cressida Cowell, illustrated by Neal Layton 

    2015 4 to 9 years 

    • Picture books

    Lying in bed, Emily can hear lots of household noises which she discovers are made by a Thing who is afraid of things.

  • The Rabbit, the Dark and the Biscuit Tin

    by Nicola O’Byrne

    2019 2 to 6 years 

    • Picture books

    It’s starting to get dark but Rabbit doesn’t want to go to sleep, so he traps the Dark in his biscuit tin. Can the Dark convince Rabbit about the benefits of night-time and to let him out? The perfect book for little ones who might be a bit reluctant to put down their toys and say goodnight. 

  • Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?

    by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Barbara Firth 

    2013 2 to 4 years 

    • Classics
    • Picture books
  • Sam Wu is Not Afraid of the Dark

    by Katie & Kevin Tsang, illustrated by Nathan Reed 

    2019 6 to 12 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Funny

    The quest continues for Sam Wu to prove that he is not afraid of anything. This time he is out to prove that he is not by any means afraid of the dark… This series is going from strength to strength and is a great accessible read.

  • Glow: The Wild Wonders of Bioluminescence

    by Jennifer N. R. Smith 

    2023 9 to 12 years 

    • Non-fiction

    This large-format book is packed with incredible facts about the different flora and fauna that light up our world, from fireflies to anglerfish and even glowing mushrooms!