Ms. Mancini has hit the mark on understanding another issue little folks face: Fear. With her colorful and whimsical characters she grabs their attention and helps them relate. Children avoid at all costs letting their friends know they are afraid . . . of anything! Possibly being made fun of and their childhood pride can’t bear the thought. When you think about it they are afraid of admitting they are afraid!
Susie shark finds herself in this exact same predicament at the Undersea Amusement Park with her friend Rachel octopus. Rachel wants to ride the new roller coaster ride but Susie is afraid. (Even adults can relate to this!) She makes excuses and tries to distract her friend from the idea with carnival games, less scary rides and binging on fair food. When Susie runs out of tactics her friend confronts her and uses the accusation every child dreads hearing: Scaredy-Cat!
Time is up! After making a call to her mom for advice and praying she faces her fear and as with most fears she finds out there was nothing to be afraid of! To add to the fun, there is a Bible symbol to look for throughout the book.
One thread runs through all of this series that I love is: Prayer. Some children are taught to pray before meals, but few are taught approach God with all of their needs. This teaches them to pray about everything but shows them that nothing is too small for the Lord to care about. The book reassures little ones that they are the only ones that are fearful, but best of all it shows them how to face it with prayer. I also liked the example of Susie calling her mom for advice. After conquering her roller-coaster fear, she realizes that with the Lord she has nothing to fear. This is a great lesson for children and adults alike! An exceptional book in every way!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The opinions stated are my own. ( )

This is a wonderful series for kids. Adventures of the Sea Kids is a multiple award winning series that helps kids start a great relationship with Jesus. It also shows how to handle some difficult problems that kids face and that Jesus is always there for them.
What an inspiring story. Susie and her best friend Rachel are at The Undersea Amusment Park excited about the new roller coaster. The Whale Back Roller Coaster is so tall that Rachel wants to go on it first! Susie isn't so sure about it and asks Rachel to do other things first like games, other rides, and food. Finally it comes time to do what Rachel wants and Susie asks to call her mom. Susie is actually afraid and her mom tells her to pray and Jesus will be there with her always. Susie says a prayer asking for help to not be afraid and to keep her safe. Everything works out great because she was no longer afraid after her prayer.
This series shows to always believe and trust in your parents and Jesus.
I recieved this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review. ( )

This is a wonderful children's book that teaches a fantastic lesson. The story is fun and runs along smoothly. The illustrations are great. Susie the shark and her friend Rachel the octopus are going to the Undersea Amusement Park. Rachel wants to do the roller coaster first but Susie wants to do other things because she is scared but doesn't want to admit it. After doing many other things she decides to pray and will this give her the courage to go on the ride? I loved the story and believe that parents and children will truly enjoy this. I received this book from bookcrash.com for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

Fun, not fear, is what you will get in LeeAnn Mancini’s 3rd book in The Adventures of the Sea Kids series, I’m Not Afraid. The intensely colorful and energy-filled illustrations from Dan Sharp are a great match in this lesson on overcoming fear through Jesus. Susie and Rachel are best friends and these young sea creatures are excited for a full day at the amusement park. But Susie, who asserts she is not afraid of anything, is a reluctant participant when it comes to scary rides. Using every excuse in the book just sidesteps the issue until she calls her mom and gets the best advice there is — pray for Jesus’ help. There are so many scary things in today’s world that this book is a clever and non-threatening way to confront the things that scare us. A great addition to family reading time, I’m Not Afraid can open up deeper conversations between parents and their kids. And be sure to look very closely at the illustrations — there is something special hidden in each scene! For a hint, read the book all the way to the end!

Recommended.

Audience: children ages 5-10.

(Thanks to BookCrash for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )