Carter and the Creaky House

By J.K. Smith

A warm, playful story that helps children learn what they can do when they feel afraid.

Creak… Groan… THUMP!

Carter is afraid of the mysterious noises his house makes at night. Creaking floors, groaning walls, and gurgling pipes may be perfectly normal—but in the dark, even little sounds can feel very, very big.

With a little help from Mom, Carter learns what those noises really are and discovers Little Tools for Big Fears—simple strategies to help him face his fear, like taking a slow breath, thinking a brave thought, or holding something cozy.

Can you spot Carter’s Little Tools for Big Fears as you read?

Read the story. Find the tools. Practice them together. Then check the answers at the end!

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Little Tools for Big Fears

Helpful hints for grown-ups: six tools little ones can use to face their fears, five ways you can help, and why each one works.

Download the parent resource

Little Tools for Big Fears parent resource. Six tools for facing fears: breathe, count, hold something cozy, think a brave thought, stop and listen, talk to a grown-up. Five ways grown-ups can help: give full attention, validate the feeling, help them understand what scares them, offer comfort and affection, encourage curiosity instead of avoidance.

Back cover of Carter and the Creaky House with the story synopsis, set in Carter’s bedroom with a teddy bear in an armchair.