Embracing Emotional Challenges

A journey from fear to courage

“When we have relational safety, we are more likely to be curious and able to establish emotional regulation.”

As an author and Child Clinical Psychologist, I am thrilled to share the magic of my newly published book, Even Lions Get Scared. This book is the first in a five-book series that addresses ordinary and unexpected emotional challenges faced by children and their families. Through these stories, I hope to provide tools to help children and parents reconnect with the normal human emotions of fear, worry and nervousness, which are often misunderstood as obstacles rather than opportunities for growth. I wanted to create a story that reassures them that fear is normal and that courage is not in the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward despite it.

The inspiration for this book emerged during the COVID lockdowns when I began working with children and families online. We were all thrust into a scary and uncertain world where many of the safety strategies we rely on as humans, like physical touch and connection, were suddenly labelled “unsafe”. Whilst we are slowly making our way towards rebuilding a sense of what “safe” means, many children are still struggling with ordinary challenges such as separating from their parents and attending school.

Even Lions Get Scared follows the adventures of Scout, a mischievous lion who believes he has it all: courage, strength and absolutely NO fear - that is, until he faces something new at school; his body and mind react with uncertainty and he tumbles into an unknown world of fear. Help comes from an unlikely friend, with whom Scout discovers the value of togetherness, and that courage comes from within. The book introduces the concept of a “brave heart button,” which changes as Scout learns to navigate the ups and downs of fear and courage.

This story isn’t just for children. It’s for parents, caregivers and anyone who has ever faced the uncertainty of big emotions. By normalising fear, Even Lions Get Scared helps reduce anxiety around challenges by conveying the idea that connection and bravery are key to making fear manageable, no matter what you have to face. Being aware that something is normal helps us know we can survive the moment to eventually get on with our day.

At its core, this book teaches that resilience is built by taking brave steps, even when it feels uncomfortable. Scout’s story is about having the courage to take that first step, knowing that fear is a natural response when we face doing anything new or something that is important to us. This principle is vital not just for children, but for adults as well. Supporting children through their fears helps them develop the mindset that they can overcome obstacles with time, effort and the belief that “You can if you think you can.”

In addition to its emotional and educational value, Even Lions Get Scared introduces children to the science behind big emotions. It explains how our brains and bodies react to fear, and how understanding these responses can help manage them. A vital part of this process is having a safe person you can trust, someone who can

“sit in the yuck” of the big feelings without trying to fix them. When children feel relationally safe, they are better equipped to move through their big feelings and tackle the challenges they face.

I hope this book offers families the opportunity to talk openly about fear and courage, making it easier for children to share their emotions and feel supported in their growth. When children are encouraged to be brave, they learn that challenges can be faced and overcome. This story reinforces the message that courage lies within us all and that we are capable of managing more than we know.

For me, this book is not just about writing stories to support children, it is also about giving back to the community. A percentage of the profits from the book will go to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation Australia, supporting critical research to find a cure for the deadliest kind of childhood cancer.

Even Lions Get Scared is a reminder that courage isn’t about being fearless; it’s about facing fear, taking that next step and knowing that we are never alone on the journey.

DR MARCELLE MOORE MA; MPhil(hons); DClinPsych; Dip Systemic Practice; MAPS Clinical Psychologist, Author and Director of Family Jigsaws