Helping Kids Find Their Brave…One Page at a Time!
Dr. Marcelle Moore is a Child Psychologist and the author of Even Lions Get Scared, the first in a five-book series designed to help children understand and manage fear. With over 20 years of clinical experience, Dr. Moore specialises in supporting children and families through emotional and behavioral challenges from her Family Jigsaws Psychology Practice in Bondi, Australia.
Her book draws on her expertise to make complex emotions more accessible to young readers, empowering both children and parents to find their inner bravery.
Discover EVEN LIONS GET SCARED, a heartwarming story about a mischievous little lion named Scout, who learns that everyone feels scared, sometimes. As he finds himself tumbling into the unknown world of fear, help comes from an unlikely friend, who teaches Scout the value of togetherness, and that courage comes from within. With patience and understanding, Scout is introduced to the idea of Wobbles, those shaky feelings that come from trying something new. Together, they discover the power of having an inside bravery button, which helps Scout to find his courage in the face of fear.
Bravery Begins with Scout!
Meet Scout in Even Lions Get Scared! Follow his heartwarming adventure as he faces his fears and learns that true courage comes from within. A perfect read for little ones needing a boost of bravery.
“A beautiful book with an important message, infused with imagery and strategies to help young people feel braver, in the face of their ‘wobbles’.”
Karen Young, Children’s Author; Neuro-Development Educator; Psychologist
more PRAISE FOR Even Lions Get scaRED
This is a powerful children’s rhyming book that introduces Scout, a proud lion who starts to doubt himself when he is confronted with fears that his body and mind find stressful. This book introduces strategies and ideas that the young reader can utilize to overcome difficult situations. Perfect for sharing with preschool readers because sometimes they get easily frustrated and can’t verbalize their feeling. As a preschool teacher’s aide I can definitely say this is a very useful tool that a teacher can share with his/her students when they are scared/sad etc.
— Mary C
I absolutely love this book; it delivers such a powerful and authentic message. The depiction of the lion grappling with doubts and anxiety is incredibly relatable, helping children learn to understand and manage their own emotions. I particularly appreciate how the story shows the lion overcoming these negative thoughts and emerging stronger in the end. This book is a must-have for every child, as it beautifully illustrates that while we all experience self-doubt at times, we have the strength to overcome it.
— Catarina P
I grabbed this book because my daughter loves to read and she is really shy so I thought it would give a good message about everyone being scared sometimes. We have to have talks about big problems vs. Little problems quite often. We enjoyed this read and the illustrations were great.
— Justine V
"This is an incredible book that should be in the hands of all children who have to dig deep for courage!" - W. Green
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"Dedicated to all the kids who have faced BIG tricky moments and have navigated their wobbles to find their inner bravery button.." - Ashley S.
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"The book was beautifully written. The illustrations are beautiful and keep the eye moving. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it." - Ally K.
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"I would add this book to my calm down space where any student is allowed to take time to reset, refocus, then rejoin the group. We never know what our students are dealing with, especially those who do not share. I feel this book did a good job and providing a bit of a story along with some strategies in colourful fun illustrations that will help them feel better about any problems they are facing. The title, focusing on the big lions, has a bit of the "Wizard of Oz" magic where even the king of the jungle can be scared and that is ok. Nobody can be strong and courageous all the time." - E. Faas
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"In the end he has found a way to face his "wobbles" and step back into enjoying everything he did before. I appreciate the square breathing illustration and the simple to follow directions for readers to practice this technique when they feel anxious too." - P. Gombert
"This is an incredible book that should be in the hands of all children who have to dig deep for courage!" - W. Green • "Dedicated to all the kids who have faced BIG tricky moments and have navigated their wobbles to find their inner bravery button.." - Ashley S. • "The book was beautifully written. The illustrations are beautiful and keep the eye moving. Overall, the book was well written and I did really enjoy it." - Ally K. • "I would add this book to my calm down space where any student is allowed to take time to reset, refocus, then rejoin the group. We never know what our students are dealing with, especially those who do not share. I feel this book did a good job and providing a bit of a story along with some strategies in colourful fun illustrations that will help them feel better about any problems they are facing. The title, focusing on the big lions, has a bit of the "Wizard of Oz" magic where even the king of the jungle can be scared and that is ok. Nobody can be strong and courageous all the time." - E. Faas • "In the end he has found a way to face his "wobbles" and step back into enjoying everything he did before. I appreciate the square breathing illustration and the simple to follow directions for readers to practice this technique when they feel anxious too." - P. Gombert
"This is such a great way to talk about big feelings and the physical changes they may trigger in your body. The mention of an elephant on your chest was a genius intro to a phrase kids will hear a lot growing up, and will benefit from being able to verbalize early on (maybe I've just missed it, but I can't think of any other kids books that take advantage of the safari vibe in order to introduce this heavy feeling). Another wonderful resource added was the square you can imagine during deep breathing. I'm used to the 4-7-8 method, but how in the heck is a kid supposed to grasp that, let alone remember it? I recommend this book to anyone, though it will be especially helpful for kids who experience big emotions often." - A. Saxman
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"'Even Lions Get Scared' is an adorable picture book for children about a lion called Scout. Scout is struggling with worry and anxiety, which he calls 'the wobbles'. The book gently guides the reader/audience through ways to help when this happens to them. Told through rhyming verse, the story was fun and enjoyable and a great book for discussing with children as you read through. The back of the book has further information for the adult, which was also helpful." - Natalie
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"This book is written for every child who needs a helping hand to develop agency when they face ordinary wobbly moments in early life and beyond. Dr Marcelle Moore, who is a Clinical Psychologist with more than two decades of experience working with children aims to help caregivers and parents support children in their transformative journey............from fear to bravery. It's a lovely story with a good meaning."
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"It was an amazing book. “Even Lions Get Scared” is a beautiful story about a lion who loses his courage and gets the 'wobbles'. Written by qualified clinical psychologist Dr Marcelle Moore, the story helps children deal with physical reactions to fear and even educates them about helpful breathing exercises. The illustrations are lovely, and the main character, Scout the Lion, is absolutely adorable." - Elena J.
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"A beautiful story about a lion who loses his courage and gets the 'wobbles'. Written by qualified clinical psychologist Dr Marcelle Moore, the story helps children deal with physical reactions to fear and even educates them about helpful breathing exercises. The illustrations are lovely and the main character, Scout the Lion, is absolutely adorable." - Helen
"This is such a great way to talk about big feelings and the physical changes they may trigger in your body. The mention of an elephant on your chest was a genius intro to a phrase kids will hear a lot growing up, and will benefit from being able to verbalize early on (maybe I've just missed it, but I can't think of any other kids books that take advantage of the safari vibe in order to introduce this heavy feeling). Another wonderful resource added was the square you can imagine during deep breathing. I'm used to the 4-7-8 method, but how in the heck is a kid supposed to grasp that, let alone remember it? I recommend this book to anyone, though it will be especially helpful for kids who experience big emotions often." - A. Saxman • "'Even Lions Get Scared' is an adorable picture book for children about a lion called Scout. Scout is struggling with worry and anxiety, which he calls 'the wobbles'. The book gently guides the reader/audience through ways to help when this happens to them. Told through rhyming verse, the story was fun and enjoyable and a great book for discussing with children as you read through. The back of the book has further information for the adult, which was also helpful." - Natalie • "This book is written for every child who needs a helping hand to develop agency when they face ordinary wobbly moments in early life and beyond. Dr Marcelle Moore, who is a Clinical Psychologist with more than two decades of experience working with children aims to help caregivers and parents support children in their transformative journey............from fear to bravery. It's a lovely story with a good meaning." • "It was an amazing book. “Even Lions Get Scared” is a beautiful story about a lion who loses his courage and gets the 'wobbles'. Written by qualified clinical psychologist Dr Marcelle Moore, the story helps children deal with physical reactions to fear and even educates them about helpful breathing exercises. The illustrations are lovely, and the main character, Scout the Lion, is absolutely adorable." - Elena J. • "A beautiful story about a lion who loses his courage and gets the 'wobbles'. Written by qualified clinical psychologist Dr Marcelle Moore, the story helps children deal with physical reactions to fear and even educates them about helpful breathing exercises. The illustrations are lovely and the main character, Scout the Lion, is absolutely adorable." - Helen
Supporting Brain Cancer Research with Every Book Sold
I am proud to support the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation, a leading force in brain cancer research, advocacy, and awareness in Australia. Dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life, the foundation works tirelessly to create better outcomes for those affected by this disease.
My book, Even Lions Get Scared, explores the journey from fear to courage—an experience familiar to many children facing serious illness. Connection and well-being are vital during hospital stays, and through my work in paediatric neuro-oncology in Sydney and London, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience of families navigating this challenge.
To honour their strength, I am donating a percentage of each book sale to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. To learn more or find other ways to contribute to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation website, visit curebraincancer.org.au
Activities for kids
Explore the Themes of Even Lions Get Scared
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