WhenIWasAfraidoftheShark!

About the book

• share
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Dear Parents, 

Has your child ever experienced a fear that seemed exaggerated to you? 

Louay spotted a small shark at the beach, and from that moment on, his fears began to grow. His imagination took over, and he started to picture sharks everywhere: in the garden, at home, even in the bathroom! But with the help of his wise grandfather, Louay learns to understand and accept his feelings, freeing himself from fear and stepping confidently into new adventures. 

This story gives us an opportunity to talk with our children about their different fears—whether it’s fear of the dark, monsters under the bed, or even sharks… Who among us doesn’t feel afraid sometimes?
It’s important to remember that most of these fears are not realistic and are often magnified by a child’s imagination. When emotions mix with imagination, a small worry can grow into a big fear. 

The grandfather teaches us that fear is a natural feeling that everyone experiences. But when we express our fears and accept them, they lose much of their intensity. So let’s give our children the space to express themselves, listen attentively, and support them in understanding and embracing their feelings—so they can take their first steps toward new adventures! 

Follow the text with your child and explore what is real and what is imaginary in the events

• share
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Let’s Talk 

About Louay’s experience 

What was Louay afraid of in the story?
Would the shark really have eaten him?
Follow the text with your child and explore what is real and what is imaginary in the events—
For example: Could a shark actually bite him on the swing? 

About similar experiences 

What scares you?
Have you ever imagined something that wasn’t real? What was it?
Share with your child some fears you had when you were young and how you overcame them. Who helped you? 

About coping with fear 

How did the grandfather help Louay overcome his fear?
What happened to Louay once he understood and accepted his fear?
What can we do when we feel afraid? 

Learn new terms from the story such as: raises his doubts, unlikely, I cope with it. 

• share
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Let’s Enrich Our Language 

Learn new terms from the story such as: raises his doubts, unlikely, I cope with it.
Explain them and practice using them in sentences. 

The shark appears with Louay on every page—search for it together and invite your child to describe its location using expressive language. 

Encourage your child to draw the thing they fear, and then transform the drawing into something funny.

• share
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Let’s Create 

Encourage your child to draw the thing they fear—such as a thief or a monster—and then transform the drawing into something funny. Adding humor can greatly reduce fear and help the child approach their worries more rationally. 

Explore different types, sizes, and shapes of sharks.

• share
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Let’s Discover 

Explore different types, sizes, and shapes of sharks. Gather information together and learn interesting facts about them.