Once When I Was Scared

by Helena Clare Pittman, Ted Rand

Grandfather tells how, when he was a child, he coped with fear during a journey alone through a dark wood to get hot coals to heat the family cabin.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 1988

About the author

Helena Clare Pittman has been an artist since childhood. She majored in art in Junior High and High School, and began painting seriously at the age of fourteen.

She majored in Painting at Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York, and was awarded her Bachelors of Fine Art degree there. She took her Masters of Arts at Antioch, in Painting, Writing and Education.

Helena has taught Color, Illustration and Drawing at The Parsons School of Design; Design, Drawing and Life Drawing at The State University of New York at Farmingdale; Writing and Classroom Methods at The City University of New York, Queens College School of Graduate Education; and Painting, Drawing and Illustration at The Nassau County Museum of Art. She has also taught both children and adults at the Art League of Long Island, as well as worked as an Author/Illustrator in Residence in many public and private schools.

Helena has published 17 books for children, most notably "A Grain of Rice" and "The Gift of the Willows."

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of overcoming fear when one’s survival depends on it. Copyrighted in 1988 this picture book story will not really appeal to the children of 2020, but I could see at one time it was a well loved library title as there was much wear and tear on this title. The painting of the bobcat and the one of the fox however, are very beautiful.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story [assed down from Grandpa telling his grandson about a time he was sent on an errand in the dark and how he was able to deal with it. Most of the ghoulies were obviously in his head, but it gives the grandson a sense of courage, especially as the eagle feather is being passed down from grandfather to grandson.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nicely illustrated, but I think children will have problems deciding if the events in the book really happened or not. Not completely clearly fantasy or fact.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not want to live in the woods

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations

[IUS F19 Keisha Levi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story for a read aloud.

[Xiaoxiao Zhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been moved by this story which escaped from reality because I always believe that animals actually have emotion as human. When the boy was scared with the huge bear , he got help from a eagle . It not only made grandfather never be afraid any more but also made his grandchildren brave each time they see the feathers of the eagle.

This story recalls me of msny stories about animals rescue human from danger. For example, I have heard a real story that a dolphin rescue a man from the danger of facing several sharks. So in my view, this kind story can be ture in the reality, and we should trust not only persons but also animals around us. Actually, we can help each other.

However, once when I was scared, I will think of my mum's encouragement to me, because my mum is my closest person in the world and I love her very much!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of books that my grandparents had read to me when I was younger. The story had a "message" at the end. The illustrations looked dated, but done well.

The illustrations were mostly full bleed. I liked that because I could study a lot of the details and different aspects of the illustrations. I was able to feel like I was part of the story with those kinds of illustrations.

I think kids would really like this story. They might debate about whether or not this story did actually happen to the grandfather.

[Bhunter2012 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book describes the perfect fantasy. A little boy is listening to a story told by his grandfather of when he was scared and to overcome his fears he turns into fierce animals. Then once the story is over and his grandfather makes it home safely the boy is questioning whether the this really happened.

[Bekkah Riecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The imagery in this book is incredible. Paired with the illustrations, I would use this text to talk about adding details and figurative language to make the students' writing really come alive. The character in this story talks as if he literally changes into different animals to get a chore done and it works beautifully.

[Logan Young]

1st or 2nd grade. A young boy listens to a storytold by his grandfather about a time when he was scared. The boy recieves feathers from his grandfather to help him when he became scared.

[Cayla Lile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and message with wonderfully detailed illustrations!

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, a decent story about a young boy being brave.