THE SHY BOOK

A talking book reluctantly confides in readers.

Peering from behind the small triangle of a turned-down page corner, the book acknowledges our legitimate interest but confesses that being “around someone I don’t know” elicits strong emotions. Our protagonist becomes “embarrassed,” “nervous,” even “dizzy.” The book recognizes a deep conflict between its raison d’être (being read) and its fear of judgment. Will we laugh at the book? What if we find it boring? “I’m getting really uncomfortable with you staring at me,” the book complains. Deflecting, the protagonist suggests we turn to other, bolder, titles. Nope? Suddenly our protagonist has an idea, if it can only get the thought out. Here it is: switching focus to readers with a series of confidence-building questions. What’s your favorite color? Your age (“No way! That’s how old I am!”)? And…are you sometimes shy? Try this tactic next time you’re “around people and feeling shy,” the book urges, and maybe you, too, will emerge “HAPPY!” Pearlstein has created an entirely relatable, unthreatening protagonist who will speak to young wallflowers. Both the personified book—just a square with big eyes and expressive eyebrows—and its speech balloons are a sunny yellow. The few humans, thinly sketched lines set against a colored ground, vary in skin tone and include wheelchair users and hijab wearers.

Bibliotherapy in action; sure to delight—and soothe—little introverts.