WANDA THE WARTHOG WHO WORRIED

A warthog learns the key to a satisfying life.

Deep in the jungle resides exuberant Wanda, who is uniquely herself: “hair-sprouting, rule-flouting, / treasured and tusked.” Her animal friends marvel at her generosity, humor, and upbeat nature: She’s a true “one in a million.” But early one morning, a flock of macaws flies across the sky as the awe-inspired jungle residents watch. Eager to make a good impression, Wanda rolls around in the mud and excitedly greets the new arrivals with treats, much to the indifference of the macaws. Disappointed, Wanda makes the fatal error of comparing herself to others (“Why do they sing while I snuffle and grunt? / Why do they soar while I stumble and trot?”), spurring an existential crisis. After a string of humorous attempts to mimic the macaws, Wanda’s true friends remind her that she’s perfect just the way she is. Young readers will relate to Wanda’s spectrum of emotions, from confidence to inadequacy and back to pride. Stickley’s lengthy rhyming text borders on the verbose, at times creating a busy, cramped look on the page. But Chatterton’s expressive, scribbly art is the true draw; whether beaming or wallowing in a funk, unibrowed Wanda’s a scene-stealer. While the ending is slightly didactic, adults seeking a way to encourage young people to be themselves will find the book useful.

An enthusiastic reminder to embrace one’s true self wholeheartedly.