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Orion and the Dark is on this list - a year 1/2 text that teaches

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When I was a kid, there was little my parents could do to help me not be afraid of the dark. An overactive imagination led me to think that all kinds of terrible things were going to happen to me once the lights went out. Luckily, my own toddler doesn't seem scared of the dark at all, but I know we still have time for her imagination to grow, which is why I'm filling her library with books for kids who are afraid of the dark.

It's a parenting rite of passage, right? You have to battle the monsters under your kid's bed, you have to tuck them in with flashlights, and you have to leave the hall light on so they can see their bedroom. I'm not even going to pretend that as an adult, I've banished all of my darkness fears. It probably doesn't help that I'm a horror movie fan, but I also still have the same overactive imagination that imagines an entire list of horrible things that could happen as soon as the lights go out.

The darkness is mysterious, it's something we don't often navigate through, and we're conditioned to think that's when the terrible, horrible, awful things happen. But you can help ease your little one's fears with these 21 books for kids who are afraid of the dark. Whether their fear is of a monster or they simply prefer the light of the day, there's at least one story sure to make them feel brave and safe in the dark.

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21 Books For Kids Who Are Afraid Of The Dark

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When I was a kid, there was little my parents could do to help me not be afraid of the dark. An overactive imagination led me to think that all kinds of terrible things were going to happen to me once the lights went out. Luckily, my own toddler does...

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The Beowulf story has a basic blueprint which is an overcoming the monster story. Not all overcoming the monster stories are about literal monsters. Sometimes these monsters can be our fears. A Guardian list of stories overcoming the fear of burglars

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Young children are especially prone to nightmares and Father Christmas' easy entering of homes across the world last month hasn't helped! So the Book Doctor hunts down the books to calm the nerves

My four year old daughter is having nightmares about burglars. She was always a little bit nervous but ever since we allowed Father Christmas to visit she has got very agitated about how easy it might be for a burglar to get into the house. Are there any stories that might help?

The idea of your home being invaded is scary for us all! In fairy stories, keeping your home safe is essential for survival. Think of The Three Little Pigs. It is very frightening that the wolf can not only enter by the front door be he can also blow the whole house down or come down the chimney! And just when children have been told it never happens Father Christmas arrives. It is easy to see why any child might be frightened.

In terms of child development, children between three and six are apparently especially prone to nightmares. Most grow out of them. However, no one wants to wait years for something to pass and, when any child wakes up with a night fear, it needs to be taken seriously.

There are some good stories about seeing off a burglar but they all have the same problem: the burglar is clearly in the house which might just increase levels of anxiety.

In Janet and Allan Ahlberg's wonderfully entertaining picture book Burglar Bill, the baddy turns out to be misguided as much as bad and is easily reformed by the love of Burglar Betty. So much so that both Burglar Bill and Burglar Betty give up their burgling ways and live happily ever after.

In John Burningham's strongly based family story about the weedy Hargreaves family who are so determined that their baby won't be as feeble as them that they feed him a diet of avocados, it is the Avocado Baby himself who does many remarkable things including seeing off a burglar.

In Mog the Forgetful Cat, the first of Judith Kerr's stories about a very special family pet, Mog who is usually in trouble on account of all the bad things that happen because he is so forgetful, does something very brave that saves the family's possessions when a burglar turns up.

In all of these, the outcome of the story - that the burglar is seen off - is reassuring but they don't disguise the truth that a stranger has been in the house.

Another way would be to look at other unexpected arrivals and see if they have a more positive impact - although I am not sure that they do! The most obvious is the eponymous Tiger in Judith Kerr's classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea. Although the Tiger does some rather terrible things - like eating all the food and drinking all the water - children seem to regard him as endearing as a the source of excitement on a boring day well as frightening. Maybe that is because the Mother in the story is so very matter of fact about it; Mother shows no fear of this over-large visitor - and the end result is that the family go out for supper!

Photograph: PR

Equally dangerous in a different way is the visit of the Cat in Dr Seuss's The Cat in the Hat. Unlike the Tiger, the Cat comes when Mother is out and therefore brings an extra level of anxiety - although he does also create a lot of fun. The Cat is a kind of day-time burglar- even though he doesn't take anything away. That might just create a new fear - of visitors at any time! - but it might reassure your daughter that if you are there, all will be well.

Do you have a question for the Book Doctor? Emailchildrens.books@theguardian.com or pose it on Twitter@GdnchildrensBks using #BookDoctor. If you are under 18 and not a member of the Guardian children's books join here, we're packed full of book recommendations and ideas.
Topics

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Wanted: books to overcome fear of burglars!

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Young children are especially prone to nightmares and Father Christmas' easy entering of homes across the world last month hasn't helped! So the Book Doctor hunts down the books to calm the nerves My four year old daughter is having nightmares about burglars.

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A book for children to read on their own.

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beowulf (young reading (series 3)) (3.3 young reading series three (purple))

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children's / teenage: true stories told as fiction

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traditional stories (children's / teenage)

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Beowulf (Young Reading (Series 3)) (3.3 Young Reading Series Three (Purple))

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Buy Beowulf (Young Reading (Series 3)) (3.3 Young Reading Series Three (Purple)) by Rob Lloyd Jones, Victor Tavares (ISBN: 0787721941361) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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Probably the best retelling of the story (IMHO) and a great one to read to the class. This website has a guided reading session for the book. http://justimagine.co.uk/resource/beowulf/

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children's / teenage fiction: traditional stories

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juvenile fiction / fairy tales & folklore / general

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traditional stories (children's / teenage)

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Buy Beowulf New Ed by Kevin Crossley-Holland, Charles Keeping (ISBN: 9780192723697) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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A retelling to read to the class that is fairly true to the original. Beautiful illustrations by Michael Foreman

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children's / teenage fiction: traditional stories

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traditional stories (children's / teenage)

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Buy Beowulf by Sir Michael Morpurgo, Michael Foreman (ISBN: 9781406348873) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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the story of Beowulf told by the poet Brian Patten. The book is very desirable being small with thick cream paper and beautiful language and sentence patterning. Part of the very brilliant Little Gems series.

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children's / teenage fiction: general fiction

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The monster Grendel has awoken and the townspeople are terrified. Even the King has abandoned his great Hall. Hero after hero comes to slay the monster, but no one can outwit Grendel. Only Beowulf has a chance. But when Beowulf finally triumphs, an even greater horror awakens. Grendel's mother, t...