Families who loved Scaredy Bat and the Dragon Necklace by Marina J. Bowman 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 caught in a cycle of what-ifs or feels paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake. It is an ideal choice for the elementary-aged child who wants to be brave but feels that their anxiety makes them different from their peers. The story follows Ellie, a young bat who is much more cautious than her adventurous family, as she stumbles into a mystery involving a missing dragon necklace. Through Ellie's journey, the book beautifully illustrates that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the decision to keep going even when your wings are shaking. It is a gentle, age-appropriate mystery that validates anxious feelings while modeling how to manage them through logic and friendship. Parents will appreciate how it frames anxiety as a superpower of observation rather than just a hurdle to overcome.
