Everyday conversations about fear, worry and upsetting experiences can be difficult with young children, especially when they do not yet have the words to explain what has happened inside them. Once I Was Very Very Scared is a trauma-informed children’s picture book about a scared squirrel and a group of animals who begin to share what made them frightened and what helped them feel safe and calm again.

The story is especially suited to early years and primary-aged children who have experienced stressful, frightening or traumatic events, including children in foster care, adopted children, children affected by family disruption, loss, violence, accidents or other overwhelming experiences. Parents, carers, social workers, play therapists, counsellors, teachers and child mental health practitioners may find it useful as a read-aloud story for helping kids talk about big feelings without being pushed into direct disclosure.

The visible pages introduce the book through soft animal characters, a woodland group scene and simple repeated phrases such as “Once, I was very very scared” and “Me too.” That repetition makes the story accessible for younger children and supports emotional literacy, trauma recovery conversations, safety planning and reflective discussion. It can also help adults notice how children respond to different characters, body language and feelings in the illustrations.

Rather than presenting fear as something a child should simply stop feeling, the book normalises scared feelings and opens space for talking about what helps bodies and minds settle. It may be used at home, in therapy sessions, in school nurture work, in children’s social care, or as part of psychoeducation for children recovering from adverse experiences, toxic stress or trauma.

The book is written by Chandra Ghosh Ippen, with illustrations by Erich Ippen Jr., and is designed to support young children who have experienced stressful or traumatic events through a gentle story format.