About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is caught between wanting to feel like a big kid and feeling genuinely intimidated by the intensity of growing up. While it centers on Halloween, it is really a story for any child who has ever bought into a persona that felt a little too heavy to carry. Jim wants the scariest mask in the store to prove his bravery, but once he has it, he realizes that being truly 'scary' might not be as fun as he imagined. It is a perfect choice for navigating the delicate balance of peer expectations versus internal comfort levels. Miriam Cohen captures the authentic voice of second grade with humor and empathy, making it an excellent tool for normalizing the anxiety that often accompanies childhood milestones and social holidays. It helps children understand that it is okay to scale back and be themselves when things get too intense.
