Courtesy Abrams BooksArt & Photography / LightboxMaya Angelou and Basquiat made a book to help make life less frighteningOriginally published in 1993, this children’s book is still as relevant as it ever wasShareLink copied ✔️January 10, 2018Art & PhotographyLightboxTextAshleigh KaneLife Doesn’t Frighten Me If, like me, life frightens the hell out of you, perhaps you’d benefit from knowing that Maya Angelou and Jean-Michel Basquiat made a children’s book that summoned demons forward before yelling at them “LIFE DOESN’T FRIGHTEN ME AT ALL”. Originally released in 1993, the aptly titled Life Doesn’t Frighten Me combines a poem written by Angelou with art made by Basquiat to create a “brave, defiant” tale that “celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old”. For the 25th anniversary of its original publishing date, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me has been re-released by Abrams Books. While Angelou claimed that she wrote the poem “for all children who whistle in the dark and who refuse to admit that they’re frightened out of their wits”, its staying power over the past two-and-a-half decades proves it’s certainly relevant for any age. For added vibes, listen to Angelou read the book below. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me is available here Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MORELife lessons from the legendary photographer Larry SultanThese intimate photos show the multiplicity of ‘Dykes’ Reebok Your favourite Reeboks are getting a makeoverThe most loved photo stories from February 2026The best art and photography shows to see in March 2026The dA-Zed guide to Tracey EminThese photos document love and loss in times of political crisisThis film explores how two shootings defined the student protest movementThese photos explore the internet’s supernatural depthsBACARDÍIn pictures: Manchester’s electrifying, multigenerational party spiritThis photo book documents the glamour and grit of Placebo’s ascentThis collective is radically rethinking what it means to make artEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy