Families who loved Friday the 13th from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler 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 spiraling into 'what-if' thinking or expressing anxiety about a social event not being perfect. It is the ideal choice for a child who equates a single setback with total catastrophe. This story follows Hubie as he prepares for his birthday party, only to realize the date falls on Friday the 13th, triggering a comical avalanche of superstitious fears. Through Hubie's over-the-top imagination, the book explores themes of social anxiety and the fear of being left out. It uses humor to de-escalate the intensity of childhood worry. Parents will appreciate how the story validates a child's internal drama while showing that things usually turn out much better than the 'worst-case scenario' we build in our heads. It is a light, funny read for the early elementary transition into chapter books.
