01
Molly
The main characterA bright, thoughtful ten-year-old who loves reading, doodling, cuddling her cats and playing with her dolls.
A picture book about worries and bravery
What do you do when you know the answer, but your hand simply won't go up?
A warm, reassuring story for children who find it hard to speak up and ask for help.
Written by Karl Gallagher · Small steps, brighter days
Small steps, brighter days
BelieveCopingBraveryKindnessA Happier MeAbout the book
A big brick wall of worry
Molly is a bright, thoughtful ten-year-old who loves reading, doodling, cuddling her cats and playing with her dolls. But there is one thing that worries her: asking a teacher for help.
Whenever she needs support in class, it feels as though a huge brick wall has appeared between her and her teacher. Her tummy aches, she starts to sweat, and the wall seems to grow bigger every day.
Inspired by the true experiences of the author's daughter, this warm, gently told picture book gives children a simple, memorable tool for facing worries.
Even a crack in the wall is something to be proud of.
- 1
A wall appears
Asking for help feels huge. Molly's tummy aches and the wall between her and her teacher grows every day.
- 2
Dad shares a secret
Molly tells her dad how scared she feels. He explains it is anxiety, and that something small can feel very big in your mind. Then he shares his old wooden toy hammer.
- 3
One block at a time
With a little imagination, Molly pictures herself swinging the hammer at the wall, knocking down one block at a time as she asks for help.
Try it yourself
Swing the magic hammer
Tap a brick to knock it down, just like Molly. Small steps lead to big progress.
Tap a brick!
Tap a brick to swing the hammer.
0 of 0 blocks
Meet the characters
Molly and her world
01 / 04
02
Molly's dad
The hammer keeperHe explains that Molly's feeling is anxiety, then shares his old wooden toy hammer: his own magic hammer from childhood.
03
Molly's teacher
On the other side of the wallThe person Molly finds it hardest to ask for help, until she learns to knock the wall down one block at a time.
04
Molly's cat and friends
Cuddles and companyA sleepy cat snug in Molly's arms and two school friends who make her feel she belongs.
Look inside
Turn the pages online
Read the story in the flip-book viewer, page by page, then keep a copy on your Kindle.
- Warm, gently told words about a worry many children know
- A simple, memorable tool children can use straight away
- A personal message to the reader at the end
For parents and teachers
Why grown‑ups will love it
- 1
Plain, kind language
Explains anxiety in simple, child-friendly language.
- 2
A tool to use today
Gives children a practical, imaginative tool they can use straight away.
- 3
Progress counts
Shows that progress counts, even when it's only a crack in the wall.
- 4
Open conversations
Encourages open conversations between children, parents and teachers.
- 5
Every child the hero
Ends with a personal message to the reader, making every child the hero.
Try it at home or in class
Make your own magic hammer
Molly's hammer is an idea, so anything can be one. Here is a simple way to use it with a child after reading.
- Name the wallAsk what the worry feels like and where it shows up in the body. Molly felt it in her tummy.
- Pick one blockChoose one small step, like putting a hand up once or asking one question.
- Swing and celebrateImagine the whack. Praise every crack in the wall, however small.
Conversation starters
Pick one or two and let the child lead.
- What did Molly's wall feel like?
- Why do you think telling Dad helped?
- What would your magic hammer look like?
- What is one small block you could knock down this week?
- Who can you ask for help at school?
Worries are a normal part of growing up. If a child's worries feel overwhelming or last a long time, talk to their doctor, your school's pastoral team or another qualified professional.
About the author
Karl Gallagher
Karl Gallagher wrote Molly's Magic Hammer, a picture book inspired by the true experiences of his daughter.
He wanted to give children a simple, memorable tool for facing worries, and to remind every child that the magic was inside them all along.
Get your copy
Give a child their own magic hammer
Molly's Magic Hammer is available as a Kindle edition on Amazon. A small story with a big idea: the magic was inside you all along.