Personal experience of anxiety inspire debut children’s book
“The Girl Who Was Scared of Everything”
Written and Illustrated by Emma Pascoe
Elaine feels scared of everything, and she doesn’t always know why . . . but she doesn’t want to miss out on all the exciting things her friends get to do.
Luckily for Elaine, her best friend Lou is here to help!
“The Girl Who Was Scared of Everything” is based on debut author and illustrator Emma Pascoe’s personal experiences of anxiety and depression. Originally created as an outlet for her feelings, feedback and encouragement from her friends and family inspired Pascoe to turn her work into a children’s book.
Pascoe says that keeping busy is one of the best ways to manage her mental health. Facing her fears has also been a major step forward in handling her anxiety and depression. Pascoe’s dream is for her book to introduce children to the concept of exposure therapy, by focusing on how enjoyable life can be when we face our fears head on. She hopes this will be empowering for Kiwi kids.
The Girl Who Was Scared of Everything includes a DIY section for parents and children to fill in together – making a list of the support people in that child’s life. The aim of this is to start a conversation about who children can look to for support when they feel scared or anxious.
“Elaine’s story about having anxiety is one that will resonate with many young children and their parents. This book illustrates in a gentle and fun way that facing our fears is not as scary as we might think, especially when we share our worries with someone else who can support us. The book deals with ‘what if’ thoughts and generalised anxiety, and shows children that it’s normal to feel anxious about things but they can overcome their fears by being brave and facing them. The book is beautifully illustrated and approachable for young children and their parents to read together.”
“The Girl Who Was Scared Of Everything is an encouraging book with clear, important messages for young people. It highlights how common anxiety is and emphasises seeking support while confronting fears. This book will likely be useful in various settings to start conversations about various ‘what if’ thoughts and fears, physiological symptoms and the benefits of acting bravely.
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Emma Pascoe was born and raised in Auckland, and is 23 years old. She attended St Mary’s College and graduated from AUT with a degree in Graphic Design in 2018. Emma now lives in Mt Albert with her partner Lewis and flatmates, in a house full of music, art and library books.
The Girl Who Was Scared of Everything
Written and illustrated by Emma Pascoe
Published by Little Love; 30 July 2020; RRP: $19.99
Emma Pascoe is available for interview / book extracts and images are available on request
Media contact: Sarah Thornton / Thornton Communications / 021 753744 sarah.thornton@prcomms.com