Book Review: It’s Alright To Be Scared

(Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.)

Learning is now multi-dimensional, incorporating traditional tools like print books with cutting edge technologies such as videos and apps. For our children to develop new skills, it helps to give them a variety of tools. Based on this premise, mom and dad team Ulli and Benedict Coulter developed Baby’s Brilliant—interactive apps, read-along books, and print books for young children to enjoy. Seeking quality entertainment for their own three children, they decided to create their own tools that are safe, practical, fun, and filled with valuable life lessons.

This month is all about guiding our children to feel, communicate, and manage their emotions. It’s Alright to Be Scared, written by Benedict Coulter, is an adorable and meaningful book for children of all ages that addresses fear. This book is just one of the many amazing tools that you can explore from Baby’s Brilliant.

It’s Alright To Be Scared

It’s Alright to Be Scared is a story of a young boy named Jack who is enthusiastic about attending his new school after summer vacation. However, before school starts, he needs to visit the doctor and get a shot. This, of course, makes him very scared and he dreads the appointment. The trip to the doctor reminded my children of their own experience a few months ago. This scene really grabbed their attention; it was so easy to relate to since they have been in that exact same situation.

Fortunately, the shot was over so fast that Jack couldn’t believe it. I love the part right after his shot: “All that time he had worried, it had all been for nothing!” We can all relate to that! (I can’t begin to tell you how many times my husband has uttered those same words to me.)

The next day Jack goes to school and is so thrilled because his all-time favorite hero, an astronaut, was visiting the class. He had an important question to ask his hero, so he was brave and raised his hand. This part of the story demonstrates the importance of being confident and teaches children to not be afraid to speak up when they have something to say.

Jack asked the astronaut if he was ever scared when he traveled to space. I love how his hero is the one who explains to him that it is alright to be frightened. The astronaut taught, “You don’t have to pretend that nothing ever scares you. What’s important in life, is to be honest and true.”

This is an excellent book for you to read with your children to jumpstart a conversation about fear and anxiety. It is presented in a way they can easily understand and relate to, with colorful illustrations that clearly convey the characters’ emotions and rhyming stanzas that make it fun to read.

Benedict Coulter has written several other children’s books that present important lessons, with more to come in the future:

It’s Alright to Look Different
There is Nothing Like Sharing!
Nigel The Pug
A Huggly-Wuggly-Pug

More Amazing Tools From Baby’s Brilliant

Baby’s Brilliant has an app designed to soothe and engage babies and toddlers with musical and educational videos. It provides a fun and friendly learning environment, where your little ones can safely explore even if you are in the other room cooking dinner.

What makes Baby’s Brilliant app so special?

• Safe. Unlike other sites that contain inappropriate videos and are loaded with advertisements, Baby’s Brilliant only includes pure and wholesome content.
• Soothing. Classical music and inspiring images make learning also a relaxing time, which can be calming before nap or bedtime.
• Educational. It introduces babies to the world around them in an enriching and playful way, teaching them concepts like letters, numbers, and colors.
• Versatile. It helps keep your children engaged and learning at home or on the go by offering a variety of program choices.

The app contains several different types of tools to explore:

Read-Along Books

The read-along books provide a traditional reading option for families to help increase children’s comprehension. There are no electronic distractions like animation or sound effects. The books are simply read the old fashioned way by a narrator with a soothing voice who is also a mother of two. The recordings are lightly orchestrated and presented at a comfortable pace for children to enjoy. Read-along books are a great way for babies and toddlers to get engaged in reading and for older children to start to learn how to read by following along with the narrator. In addition to their own books, Baby’s Brilliant is now collaborating with several other authors to create read-along versions of their books.

Videos

Videos include beautiful images and scenery from around the world and are accompanied by classical music in the background. Babies and toddlers are introduced to language in a fun and meaningful way. You can select the movies you want your child to watch and arrange the order of play. Movies are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, German, and French.

Music

The music section includes lullabies, inspirational music, popular children’s songs, and classical music from composers like Mozart and Bach.

Night Lights

This tool is a gentle combination of music and visuals that help your child fall asleep quickly. You can customize the order of play, create your own playlist, and loop it for up to 90 minutes.

How To Download The App

All Baby’s Brilliant materials can be downloaded to iPads and iPhones using the specially designed Baby’s Brilliant app. The app is free and each download is only 99 cents.

*This post was sponsored by Baby’s Brilliant.