The Dark isn't Scary...and Neither is a New Beginning

Milo’s Journey – The Dark Isn’t Scary

Coming 1st September 2026

September is nearly here.

New shoes are being bought. Uniforms are being labelled. Lunchboxes are appearing from cupboards, and grown-ups everywhere are wondering quite how the summer holidays disappeared so quickly.

For some children, September is exciting.

For others, it can feel a little bit scary.

A new classroom. A different teacher. New faces. A bigger school. A different routine.

And sometimes, even when everyone around you seems excited, that little worried feeling can still be fluttering away inside your tummy.

Which makes September rather a lovely time to introduce you properly to Jai the Jungle Owlet.

Meet Jai 🦉

Jai lives in Marula Grove, where he meets our curious little mongoose, Milo.

There’s just one slightly unusual thing about Jai.

He’s an owl who is frightened of the dark.

And when you think about it, that must be rather difficult when you’re an animal who is supposed to feel completely at home at night.

But that’s exactly why I love Jai.

Because The Dark Isn’t Scary isn’t really a story about darkness.

It’s a story about fear.

About those moments when something that might seem perfectly ordinary to everybody else feels enormous to you.

And about discovering that courage doesn’t mean never being frightened.

Sometimes courage is simply taking one tiny step while you’re still scared.

“But there’s nothing to be frightened of…”

As adults, it’s tempting to say those words when a child is worried.

But to the child, there is something to be frightened of.

Their fear is real, even when we know they are safe.

So perhaps the first thing they need isn’t:

“Don’t be silly.”

Or:

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Perhaps it’s simply:

“I can see that you’re frightened. I’m here.”

Because children don’t always need us to make the scary thing disappear.

Sometimes they need someone willing to stand beside them while they discover that they can face it.

That is what Milo begins to understand with Jai.

A Little Thought for Back-to-School Week 🌱

If your child is feeling nervous about starting or returning to school this September, perhaps ask:

“What part feels a little bit scary?”

And then listen.

You don’t necessarily have to fix it.

You might be surprised by what they tell you when they know their answer is allowed to be exactly what it is.

A new beginning can be exciting and frightening at the same time.

Both feelings are allowed.

And, just like Jai discovers, we don’t have to conquer everything in one enormous leap.

Sometimes we can do it one tiny step at a time.

One classroom.

One hello.

One new friend.

One brave little moment.

Milo’s Next Journey Begins 1st September 🐾🦉

Milo’s Journey – The Dark Isn’t Scary arrives on 1st September 2026, just as children across the country begin another adventure of their own.

I hope Jai reminds little readers that being frightened is nothing to be ashamed of.

I hope Milo reminds them how powerful it can be to have somebody beside you.

And most of all, I hope the story leaves them knowing:

You don’t have to stop being scared before you can be brave.

Sometimes being brave simply means trying anyway.

Welcome back to Marula Grove.

Dawn VivianAuthor of the Milo’s Journey series