Book 1 · Coming December 1, 2026

Finley and the Shadow of Fear

Name: Finley and the Shadow of Fear
Author: Tom Michalik
ISBN: 978-83-975873-0-4

A little seahorse faces a dark place — with a friend nearby.

Perfect if bedtime has turned into a battle with the dark — or you’d like words for the nights when fear gets big.

Tell me when it’s out Look inside →

8.5 × 8.5 in color paperback · Ages 3–6 · ISBN 978-83-975873-0-4

Cover of Finley and the Shadow of Fear: Finley the seahorse in the misty dark

Look inside

Two story spreads and a Parent Zone page. Tap to enlarge.

Book spread: Finley watches Ray the shark and Zippy the shrimp race past coral arches; the facing page tells how he likes to play referee with a tiny bubble-whistle — The storyRead a page or two at bedtime and let your child find Finley, Ray and Zippy in the picture before you turn the page.

Book spread: Finley looks worried as Hugo the octopus arrives, smiling and munching seaweed, one arm glowing soft blue; the facing page tells how Finley peeks out from behind a rock and sees his kind friend — The storyFinley doesn’t have to face the shadows alone. Here’s the moment Hugo joins him.

Parent Zone page: What Your Child Might Be Feeling — signs of fear such as clinging, avoiding places and asking the same questions — Parent ZoneRead this page on your own: it helps you spot what a scared three-to-six-year-old may be showing you instead of saying.

Illustrations shown are from the current edition and may change before print.

What’s inside

The story

Finley explores fear through a dark-cave adventure — with Hugo, a drawing that gets sillier and sillier, and friends who come along.

But as evening fell, the ocean grew darker… Finley was afraid of the dark – he imagined that something scary might be hiding in those shadows.
“You don’t have to hide, little friend. I know you’re scared. Fear isn’t bad – sometimes it’s just very loud inside us.”

Kids Zone: five activities to share

Draw Your Gurglewump. Your child draws their own worry-monster, then makes it as silly as they like.
Breathing Like a Seahorse. Finley’s flower-and-candle breathing game, straight from the story.
Shadow Detective Game. A flashlight game with a grown-up: what is making that shape on the wall?
Courage Role-Play. Your child plays Finley, Hugo or a silly Gurglewump in a little scene of their own, with a happy ending.
Make a Courage Bubbloon. A balloon full of the family’s brave thoughts, like the one Finley’s friends make for him.

Parent Zone: pages for grown-ups

Why fear happens, what your child might be feeling, and how to talk about it.

Look inside Finley’s book → Meet Finley →

Part of a series

Each Lovetopus book takes one big feeling, and each book stands on its own. Planned next: Spike (anger) and Luna (sadness). No release dates yet.

See the series →

Before the first page

How much does it cost?

The price will be listed on Amazon at launch.

Is it based on research?

The activities in our books draw on approaches child-development researchers study — like naming feelings and facing fears one small step at a time. The research is about the approaches. Lovetopus itself hasn’t been studied. Our method & sources →

Is this therapy?

No. It’s a story for everyday big feelings, not a replacement for professional care. If you’re worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.

Will it arrive in time for the holidays?

Delivery dates are set by Amazon — check the estimate at checkout.