Families who loved Duck's Not Afraid of the Dark! by Ethan Long often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is beginning to experience bedtime nerves but insists they are brave enough to handle the dark on their own. This interactive story follows an overly confident Duck who claims he is not scared at all, even as he begs the reader not to flip the light switch. It is a perfect choice for children who use humor as a defense mechanism or those who feel embarrassed by their natural fears. By turning the 'bravery' into a funny, shared game between the reader and the character, the book lowers the stakes of nighttime anxiety. It normalizes the fact that even big, 'brave' ducks get the jitters when the lights go out. Ideal for preschoolers, it provides a gentle, laugh-out-loud way to address the transition to sleep without being overly clinical or scary.