Way Past Afraid

Van is already way past scared of the storm outside. Then the power goes out! Abbi and Van are having a sleepover at Grammy and Pop's. Should be fun! But there's a storm, with loud thunder and bursts of lightning. The lights go out. Van is way past afraid. What can make him feel better?

Sometimes being worried can keep you from having fun. Brock is worried. Way past worried, with his heart thumping and his mind racing. Today is his friend Juan's superhero party and he’s going all by himself. What if nobody plays with him? What if everyone laughs at him? Brock doesn’t feel like a superhero, but...what if he can save the day and find a way past worried all by himself? This engaging story speaks to kids’ emerging emotional intelligence skills and helps them learn to manage worry.

Sometimes being mad is more than a feeling. Keya is way past mad. Her little brother Nate messed up everything―even breakfast. She heads to school kicking rocks and sticks. When her best friend Hooper tries to help, Keya shouts, "I don't even like you." It's not true, but Hooper storms off, kicking rocks and sticks too. Keya gave him her mad! Now it's up to Keya to find a different way past mad and to make things right. A relatable story that speaks to kids' emerging emotional intelligence skills.

Sometimes, being sad can make you feel all alone, even when you're not. James is sad. Way past sad. His best friend, Sanj, is moving away. James feels all alone, and even hugs from Mom don't take away all his sad. But it helps to talk about it. Nothing can change the fact that Sanj is moving, but James learns that he can get past his sad.

Sometimes, being jealous can make everything feel worse.

Macy is way past lonely. What will she do? It's a weekend. Two whole days. Dez is away, Keya and Hooper can't play. Her mom is busy and her brother Luke doesn't need her help. Even Princess Paws rushes away. What will Macy do?

We live in a time where we seem more afraid than ever. The rise of populism, polarization and aggression in politics, the media and popular culture, and the climate crisis have coincided with the collapse of previously cherished norms and expectations about economic stability, community life, and even the future of the planet. And all this before the pandemic struck. No wonder we are overwhelmed by anxiety. Popular speaker, storyteller and activist Gareth Higgins exposes the root causes of fear and shows how we can break its power through life-giving stories, simple spiritual exercises and practical steps to take as individuals and communities. He contends that it’s time to tell ourselves new stories about the world in which we live, stories that will liberate the greater forces of love, courage and joy. Reflecting on his experience of growing up during the Troubles in Ireland, he shares authentic wisdom that can enable us not only to find calm in the storm, but even to calm the storm itself.

Children often feel afraid. This book, with its comforting words and illustrations, will help children address those fears and learn some new ways to cope with being afraid. First, a little bear describes some of the things that frighten him, like bad dreams or big, tall slides, or when his mother goes away. Sometimes, he just feels scared and doesn't know why! But he learns there are things he can do to make himself feel better. A "Note to Parents and Teachers" reinforces the positive messages in the book.