Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book. Post contains affiliate links; I may earn commission if you make a purchase. Opinions shared are mine.

My mom and stepdad visited this weekend, and I learned something about her I never knew before. She’s afraid of cats! Since we have two cats, I’m surprised she’s never mentioned it to me. She survived despite their ferocious ways.

Her cat-fearing confession reminded me of the book Frankie’s Scared of Everything by tattoo artist Matthew Franklin. I failed to post about this book for Halloween, but I know you’ll love it just as much as a Christmas gift!

Kids of all ages will relate to Frankie’s anxiety about the sounds and thoughts that come during the night. Poor Frankie even has dark shadows around his eyes from his exhaustion! The illustrations are vivid and fun. You can almost see them moving across the page!

Frankie’s Scared of Everything contains loads of onomatopoeia examples that will have kids re-enacting Frankie’s great escapes. Simple, predictive rhymes such as “wailing, flailing” encourage young readers to engage with the text. Best of all, Frankie’s mom empowers him by reminding him that an imagination is a gift with so much positive potential.

About the Book: 

You would be scared too if your own brain was out to get you!

The world can be a dark place. More and more we find ourselves and our children feeling overwhelmed by the unknown and the pressures of society. This book helps instill early on the fact that our fears can be our greatest strengths.
Follow Frankie as their imagination runs wild creating robots, beasts, sea creatures, and even a mole man on this technicolor adventure.

Being afraid has never looked so fun.

About the author/illustrator

Mathew Franklin is a tattoo artist, painter, graphic designer, and musician. After receiving degrees in painting and photography from Miami University he immediately became a staple in the art scene in Columbus, Ohio where he currently resides.