Story by Jean-François Sénéchal
I WILL NOT BE SCARED
Art by Simone Rea
I dedicate this book to any child who is a victim of war. Everyone has the right to live in a world at peace.
—J.-F. S.
To all of the people who, despite knowing full well the harms they commit, sacrifice the lives of children and others for a few years of power.
—S. R.
I Will Not Be Scared
Text copyright © 2025 Jean-François Sénéchal
Illustration copyright © 2025 Simone Rea
Copyright © Milky Way Picture Books
All rights reserved.
Translation by Nick Frost and Catherine Ostiguy
Art direction by Nadine Robert
Book design by Nadine Robert
Proofreading by Nick Frost
The illustrations for this book were rendered in gouache. The text for this book was set in Biobabble.
This edition published in 2025 by Milky Way Picture Books, an imprint of Comme des géants inc. Varennes, Québec, Canada.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior written consent of the publisher or a license
The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec and Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: I will not be scared / Jean-François Sénéchal; illustrations, Simone Rea; translation, Nick Frost, Catherine Ostiguy.
Other titles: Demain, je n’aurai plus peur. English
Names: Sénéchal, Jean-François, 1976- author. | Rea, Simone, 1975- illustrator. | Frost, Nick, translator. | Ostiguy, Catherine, translator.
Description: Translation of: Demain, je n’aurai plus peur.
Identifiers: Canadiana 20230079296 | ISBN 9781990252372 (hardcover)
Classification: LCC PS8637.E5226 D4613 2025 | DDC jC843/.6—dc23
ISBN: 978-1-990252-37-2
Printed and bound in China
Milky Way Picture Books
38 Sainte-Anne Street
Varennes, QC J3X 1R5
Canada
www.milkywaypicturebooks.com
We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada.
We gratefully acknowledge for their financial support of our publishing program the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada.
Story by Jean-François Sénéchal
I WILL NOT BE SCARED
Art by Simone Rea
Mama…
You’re not sleeping, bunny?
No. I’m thinking.
What are you thinking about?
Our life from before.
The war… Do you think about it often?
Yes. There were people in the streets. Hurt people. Dead people.
That war is far from here. We’re safe now.
Yes, but yesterday…
What happened yesterday?
Yesterday, something happened at school.
Do you want to talk about it?
I don’t know…
Don’t worry. You can tell me when you’re ready.
Mama…
Yes, bunny?
Do you think I’m brave enough?
I think you’re just the right amount of brave.
But how much is the right amount of brave?
However much you need.
I wish I was braver.
Why is that, bunny?
Then I wouldn’t cry.
Just because you cry doesn’t mean that you’re not brave.
End of browsing...
End of browsing...
Some conversations are difficult but necessary. War is still with us. It’s terrifying — but courage and hope endure.
