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Adventures with Daddy: At the Circus: A Children's Book about Overcoming Anxiety Paperback – August 21, 2024
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Does your child struggle with anxiety, shyness, self-doubt, or stage fright? Do they avoid situations and challenges that scare them or make them nervous? Help your child build confidence and overcome anxiety with this delightful children's book.
Renee worries about everything. She’s about to perform in her first circus show with her dad, but her worries are out of control. Her heart is racing, and her mind is spiralling.
What if I trip over my clown shoes?
What if I fall off the pyramid?
What if people laugh at the wrong time?
What if I forget all my tricks?
Join Renee and her dad in this magical circus adventure with elephants, lions, and acrobats. Can Renee face her fears and have fun, or will her worries take center stage?
This uplifting picture book will inspire children to be authentic and confident. Encourage your little one to dream big, face their fears, and have fun—just like Renee does at the circus! Start open conversations about anxiety with the help of this book, so your child feels seen and understood.
- Reading age6 - 10 years
- Print length40 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches
- Publication dateAugust 21, 2024
- ISBN-109887647527
- ISBN-13978-9887647522
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From the Publisher
A Children's Book about Overcoming Anxiety

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Activity sheets available to download from the author's website

Check out the author's other books

Product details
- Publisher : Little White Flowers Publishing (August 21, 2024)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 40 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9887647527
- ISBN-13 : 978-9887647522
- Reading age : 6 - 10 years
- Item Weight : 4.3 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,054,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15,447 in Children's Self-Esteem Books
- #22,596 in Children's Books on Emotions & Feelings (Books)
- #68,521 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Y. Y. Chan is a multi-award-winning author from Hong Kong. Can You Hear Me, Daddy? is her debut picture book and winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award. She is passionate about creating stories that are authentic, emotional, and pull at the heartstrings, not shying away from difficult topics such as death or grief. Her personal experience of losing her father to terminal cancer led her to embark on this journey to help and inspire others to embrace their grief and find creative ways to express themselves.
With a background in education, Chan has taught English for over fifteen years and was a panel chairperson as well as the head of the English department in elite primary schools in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. She currently tutors English for learners of all ages, conducts creative writing workshops, and works freelance as an editor and proofreader.
When she is not teaching or writing, she enjoys reading all kinds of books and is always looking for more books to add to her overflowing bookshelf.
Follow on social media: @yychan_author / @yychanauthor
Customer reviews
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Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this children's book helpful for overcoming anxiety, explaining the difference between nervousness and anxiety, and one customer notes it teaches children how to manage performance anxiety. The book is well-illustrated and engaging, with one customer describing it as a cute father-daughter story. Customers appreciate the supportive dad character, and one mentions the book includes questions at the back for discussion.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book entertaining and inspiring for children, with one mentioning it's a fun story at the circus that teaches an important life lesson.
"...The illustrations are bright, colorful, and exciting, which is perfect for kids and so representative of the circus...." Read more
"...She describes a fun experience with her dad playing as a clown in the circus...." Read more
"...This is an excellent book for kids that will entertain and help them learn excellent skills for dealing with the pressures of life." Read more
"I enjoyed reading this book. Its an inspirational kids book with great life lessons...." Read more
Customers appreciate how the book helps children understand and manage anxiety, explaining the difference between nervousness and anxiety, and encouraging them to face their fears.
"...end of the book, there are discussion facts and tips to help children with managing fear/anxiety. Such a great book." Read more
"I really liked the message in this book. For any child who has issues with anxiety, self-doubt, or self-confidence, this book will be beneficial...." Read more
"...It is a lovely book that kids can relate to." Read more
"...Dad offered great advice on how to deal with her nervousness, such as breathing exercises and visualization exercises...." Read more
Customers praise the illustrations of the book, describing them as adorably illustrated and wonderfully written, with one customer noting that the pictures were right on target for the work.
"...The illustrations are bright, colorful, and exciting, which is perfect for kids and so representative of the circus...." Read more
"...Each page is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. My biggest concern with the book is that, in parts, it is actually difficult to read...." Read more
"...It is a lovely book that kids can relate to." Read more
"...I loved the illustrations. They are colorful and help one visualize and see what is happening in the story...." Read more
Customers enjoy the storytelling in this children's book, with one review highlighting its colorful and engaging narrative, while another notes its heartwarming and relatable content.
"...colorful, and exciting, which is perfect for kids and so representative of the circus. The story itself is wonderful too...." Read more
"...It’s a cute father-daughter story told within the setting of a circus performance. Each page is accompanied by beautiful illustrations...." Read more
"...I loved the illustrations. They are colorful and help one visualize and see what is happening in the story...." Read more
"...Bright, fun illustrations bring the big top to life as clowning around teaching us about trust, overcoming challenges, creating the right emotions,..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's discussion points, with one mentioning the questions at the back and another noting the included facts.
"...At the end of the book, there are discussion facts and tips to help children with managing fear/anxiety. Such a great book." Read more
"...I also liked that the author included some questions at the end that tests knowledge of the story." Read more
"...As an added bonus, there are questions at the back of the book - questions to ensure your child understands the story, as well as questions for your..." Read more
Customers appreciate the supportive dad character in the book.
"...The story itself is wonderful too. First, "Daddy" is both supportive and kind, he's sharing his life with his daughter, and he helps his daughter..." Read more
"...The dad is very encouraging and always assures his daughter that people will love her silly act, which boosts her self-confidence and helps her deal..." Read more
"...through a fun story at the circus and a very understanding, and supportive dad...." Read more
Reviews with images

Overcome anxiety!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025I absolutely love "Adventures with Daddy: At the Circus: A Children's Book about Overcoming Anxiety." The illustrations are bright, colorful, and exciting, which is perfect for kids and so representative of the circus. The story itself is wonderful too. First, "Daddy" is both supportive and kind, he's sharing his life with his daughter, and he helps his daughter learn how to control her very real fear through his own very real experience with it. At the end of the book, there are discussion facts and tips to help children with managing fear/anxiety. Such a great book.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024I really liked the message in this book. For any child who has issues with anxiety, self-doubt, or self-confidence, this book will be beneficial. It’s a cute father-daughter story told within the setting of a circus performance. Each page is accompanied by beautiful illustrations. My biggest concern with the book is that, in parts, it is actually difficult to read. The font with thin lines set against an uneven-colored background is hard to see at times. On some pages, because the letters are set against a light background, it is very easy to read. But that is not consistently the case. Had it not been for this readability issue, I would have given it five stars.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025This is a fun book about the author's adventure with her dad at the circus. She describes a fun experience with her dad playing as a clown in the circus. The dad is very encouraging and always assures his daughter that people will love her silly act, which boosts her self-confidence and helps her deal with her anxiety. It is a lovely book that kids can relate to.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2024Adventures with Daddy: At the Circus: A Children's Book about Overcoming Anxiety was excellent. I loved the illustrations. They are colorful and help one visualize and see what is happening in the story.
It was good to see the loving interchange between father and daughter as she worked through her nervousness to perform in the circus as a clown. Dad offered great advice on how to deal with her nervousness, such as breathing exercises and visualization exercises. These are tried and proven methods that anyone can use to reduce anxiety and stress.
I appreciated how the book was geared toward helping children deal with these issues. This is an excellent book for kids that will entertain and help them learn excellent skills for dealing with the pressures of life.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2025I enjoyed reading this book. Its an inspirational kids book with great life lessons. I also liked that the author included some questions at the end that tests knowledge of the story.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2025Short and sweet. A great find. Happy I picked it up. Published in Hong Kong and fun to read. Pictures were right on target for the work. Fun and entertaining. Gladly Recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025Surprised at the perspective, this isn't about attending a circus but rather being part of the show. Bright, fun illustrations bring the big top to life as clowning around teaching us about trust, overcoming challenges, creating the right emotions, and commitment. Discoveries abound in a relatable way, a fun time which sparks the imagination while teaching an important life lesson.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2024Adorably illustrated, wonderfully written picture book to help your littles overcome anxiety. Readers will relate to little Renee (I know I do) who worries about making mistakes and has big time stage fright before her first circus performance. She imagines all the things that could go wrong and then doubts her own abilities and doesn't want to perform. How does she face her fears and go on? How can she calm herself down when her heart is racing so fast? Great for parents to see how Daddy helps Renee, too.
As an added bonus, there are questions at the back of the book - questions to ensure your child understands the story, as well as questions for your child to reflect on their own feelings. The author also explains the difference between nervousness and anxiety and gives advice and tips on how to manage performance anxiety. This author is obviously a teacher!
Great book to read with your kids to show them they are not alone in feeling nervous or anxious. This is an easy way to start a conversation about what makes your littles doubt themselves and how to gain self-confidence. This book should be in everyone's library.
Adorably illustrated, wonderfully written picture book to help your littles overcome anxiety. Readers will relate to little Renee (I know I do) who worries about making mistakes and has big time stage fright before her first circus performance. She imagines all the things that could go wrong and then doubts her own abilities and doesn't want to perform. How does she face her fears and go on? How can she calm herself down when her heart is racing so fast? Great for parents to see how Daddy helps Renee, too.
As an added bonus, there are questions at the back of the book - questions to ensure your child understands the story, as well as questions for your child to reflect on their own feelings. The author also explains the difference between nervousness and anxiety and gives advice and tips on how to manage performance anxiety. This author is obviously a teacher!
Great book to read with your kids to show them they are not alone in feeling nervous or anxious. This is an easy way to start a conversation about what makes your littles doubt themselves and how to gain self-confidence. This book should be in everyone's library.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
- peter hobbsReviewed in Australia on October 16, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for anxious kids
The author Y Y Chan has used her own experience with anxiety to write for children who may feel fear, self doubt or anxiety. The story is about Renee whose father is a clown and introduces his daughter into the act. However Renee is nervous and afraid. The illustrations are colourful and the book has a lot of resources for parents, carers and teachers.
- AnnaReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful picture book
"Adventures with Daddy at the Circus" is a heartwarming picture book that captures the delicate emotions of a young girl about to embark on a thrilling experience. The story follows Renee, who is about to perform in the circus alongside her father. However, instead of being filled with excitement, Renee is consumed by worry and anxiety. Will she be able to overcome her fears and enjoy this special moment with her dad?
The book beautifully explores the theme of overcoming fear and embracing new experiences, making it relatable for young readers who might also struggle with similar emotions. The author does an excellent job of portraying Renee’s internal battle in a way that is accessible and comforting for children. The narrative gently encourages readers to confront their own fears and find courage in the support of loved ones.
The illustrations are nothing short of enchanting, bringing the circus to life with vibrant colors and whimsical details. Each page is a visual delight, perfectly complementing the story and capturing the imagination of young readers. The expressive illustrations also help convey the emotional journey Renee goes through, making it easy for children to connect with her character.
This book is a must-read for young children and their families. Renee’s journey is a reminder that even in moments of fear, there is potential for joy and growth.
AnnaA beautiful picture book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2024
The book beautifully explores the theme of overcoming fear and embracing new experiences, making it relatable for young readers who might also struggle with similar emotions. The author does an excellent job of portraying Renee’s internal battle in a way that is accessible and comforting for children. The narrative gently encourages readers to confront their own fears and find courage in the support of loved ones.
The illustrations are nothing short of enchanting, bringing the circus to life with vibrant colors and whimsical details. Each page is a visual delight, perfectly complementing the story and capturing the imagination of young readers. The expressive illustrations also help convey the emotional journey Renee goes through, making it easy for children to connect with her character.
This book is a must-read for young children and their families. Renee’s journey is a reminder that even in moments of fear, there is potential for joy and growth.
Images in this review
- Loads of BooksReviewed in Canada on August 22, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A heartwarming story about overcoming anxiety.
This sweet and heartwarming story, featuring a little girl named Renee and her Daddy, helps children control their anxiety and teaches them mindfulness. Renee is about to perform in her first circus act and is feeling a little nervous. Her heart starts racing, and she can't help but think about everything that can go wrong. What if she trips over her big clown shoes? What if she forgets what to do? What if people laugh at the wrong time? Renee's Daddy helps by showing her different calming techniques to relieve her anxiety, such as deep breathing or closing her eyes and counting. The story's soft and gentle tone has a calming effect and bright and beautiful illustrations. At the back of the book are questions and discussion points to help enforce learning. This book is perfect for parents and educators to help teach children how to manage their anxiety—well done!
- Stephanie ScottReviewed in Canada on October 11, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Tool to Overcome Anxiety
What a beautifully orchestrated book. From the illustrations, the theme, the life lessons and more, this is a must have whether your a mental health worker, educator or parent. I love the bold/colourful emphasis on various feelings, empowering words or physiological responses to help them stand out to the readers. A helpful tool to help children and parents alike navigate their anxiety and learn ways to overcome the 'what ifs'.
- VictoriaReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful adventure!
A lovely relatable story for children who have a tendency to worry and get anxious - especially around performing in public. Really fun theme with lots of cute animals performing alongside Renee and her dad in their circus adventure. The practical support, advice and simple techniques for dealing with anxiety make this a great teaching tool too! The Illustrations are really fun and engaging. My niece loved this book!