Me and My Fear - Hardcover

by Francesca Sanna (Author)

"With its warm palette and gentle scenes of the worried child being comforted, this book could function as a sequel to Sanna's astounding debut picture book, The Journey, which recounted a family's dangerous flight from their home in a war zone. Sanna provides an empathetic exploration of the adjustment to a new land that all migrants experience."--New York Times Book Review

"Authentic and immediate, the first-person narration draws in readers and reveals just how easily fear can become overwhelming and isolating, but can also be controlled when feelings are shared and through comfort found in friendship. ­Like Sanna's The Journey, this book about an immigrant's experiences tackles a tough topic with honesty, empathy, and a sense of hopefulness."--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"This follow-up to The Journey about a refugee family fleeing a war-torn homeland, focuses on the young daughter's apprehension as she adjusts to life in a new country and a new school."--The Horn Book Review

"[...] this creative depiction shows how friendship, empathy, and connection can help bring the overwhelming down to size for all."
--Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

"A universal book that can be used to explain fear to readers and give empathy to those in a new environment."
--Kirkus Reviews

"It will be a familiar story for many children, but the girl's specific fears about language and difference might make this useful for discussions about newcomers as well."
--Booklist


When a young immigrant girl has to travel to a new country and start at a new school, she is accompanied by her Fear who tells her to be alone and afraid, growing bigger and bigger every day with questions like "how can you hope to make new friends if you don't understand their language?" But this little girl is stronger than her Fear. A heart-warming and timely tale from the bestselling author and illustrator of The Journey, this book shows us the importance of sharing your Fear with others--after all, everyone carries a Fear with them, even if it's small enough to fit into their pocket!

Author Biography

Francesca Sanna is an Italian illustrator and graphic designer who moved to Switzerland to follow her dream to work as an illustrator. They graduated in 2015 from the Lucerne School of Art and Design with a Master of Design with focus on Illustration. The Journey is their first picture book.