In I Know Scared, a young feelings detective looks for clues to identify fear, worry or anxiety, and surprise in herself and others. The girl feels scared when the power goes out during a storm, worried when she fears a tree will fall, and surprised when she opens her birthday present. By noticing the clues in her own body—a fast-beating heart, a forehead that feels tight, big eyes and a wide-open mouth—the feelings detective can also recognize when others feel the same way.

Sometimes, feelings can overwhelm us. I Know Scared helps readers develop skills they can use in these moments to regulate their emotions and feel better. "I ask Dad for a hug. We snuggle and take big deep breaths together." Like the other books in the We Find Feelings Clues series, I Know Scared:

The six books in the We Find Feelings Clues series help children learn how to use their bodies' clues to identify and name their feelings and those of others. Clues are found in facial expressions and body language, sensations within the body, and knowledge of past experiences. After identifying an emotion, children also learn how they can feel better when their emotions are overwhelming. Each book features a child using their feelings detective notebook to record their feelings through drawings and words, as well as additional information on recognizing and dealing with feelings. The books can stand alone or be used together as a classroom companion to Lindsay N. Giroux's professional resource, Create an Emotion-Rich Classroom.