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RILEY'S REALLY BIG WORRIES

Name: RILEY'S REALLY BIG WORRIES
Author: Donna Housman
ISBN: 9781612546537

From the ECSELent Adventures of Hemmy and Shemmy series , Vol. 4

by Donna Housman ; illustrated by Renée Andriani ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 17, 2023

Purposeful but accessible.

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Riley frets after catching the snuffleplox from a friend.

It isn’t just sneezing and a runny nose that are plaguing Riley—it’s also his newfound information about germs. Anxiety takes over as Riley starts imagining these invisible microscopic invaders around him, like a monster under the bed. A trip to Dr. Grayfoot and a supportive class discussion led by his teacher Mr. Dixon put Riley and his classmates, many of whom are also worried, at ease. All the characters are anthropomorphized animals: Riley is a sweet fluffy-tailed fox, his best friend, Milo, is a raccoon, and Dr. Grayfoot is an elephant. Andriani’s illustrations are appealing, with plenty of details for readers to take in, like the darling mouse family checking in at their own tiny window at the doctor’s office. Clinical psychologist Housman’s foreword explains that the book is intended to help children understand and manage emotions. As a result of this singular focus, the story lacks character development and other elements that would make it a more compelling read for little ones. As a teaching tool for caregivers, however, it succeeds. Mr. Dixon’s suggestions for dealing with anxiety, such as breathing deeply and voicing worries, are helpful, and the “Tips for Readers” section is informative and useful.

Purposeful but accessible. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Oct. 17, 2023

ISBN: 9781612546537

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Brown Books Kids

Review Posted Online: Sept. 23, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)