An encouraging, inclusive invitation to give new activities a whirl.
Being brave doesn’t mean being unafraid.
Every day, O’Hair says, we meet talented people who do what makes them happy; Cardoso’s illustrations depict a guitarist, a baker, and a veterinarian. But before they became amazing, they had to make the “tough decision” to try something new, which meant they had to be brave. Being courageous “means you are afraid, but you do the scary thing anyway!” The first attempt “may not be perfect,” O’Hair notes as an aspiring cook’s concoction bubbles over on the stove and another child becomes frustrated by attempts at knitting, but “that doesn’t mean you should give up.” Importantly, the author also stresses that bravery entails “asking for help when you need it,” “knowing when it’s time to take a break,” and being yourself. Nor do readers have to be the best. What matters is finding something they love and attempting it; after all, “Nobody is great at everything. But EVERYONE is good at SOMETHING.” Cheery cartoon illustrations portray children who are diverse in ability, race, and religion engaging in activities including sports, gardening, and painting. Sofia Sanchez, a teenage Ukrainian American actor and model with Down syndrome who inspired this book (as well as several other works by O’Hair and Cardoso), concludes with a “bravery scrapbook.” Color photos depict events that required Sofia to be brave, including shooting a commercial, attending sleep-away camp for the first time, and getting her tonsils taken out.
An encouraging, inclusive invitation to give new activities a whirl. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781339026442
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024
A valuable asset to the library of a child who experiences anxiety and a great book to get children talking about their...
Ruby is an adventurous and happy child until the day she discovers a Worry.
Ruby barely sees the Worry—depicted as a blob of yellow with a frowny unibrow—at first, but as it hovers, the more she notices it and the larger it grows. The longer Ruby is affected by this Worry, the fewer colors appear on the page. Though she tries not to pay attention to the Worry, which no one else can see, ignoring it prevents her from enjoying the things that she once loved. Her constant anxiety about the Worry causes the bright yellow blob to crowd Ruby’s everyday life, which by this point is nearly all washes of gray and white. But at the playground, Ruby sees a boy sitting on a bench with a growing sky-blue Worry of his own. When she invites the boy to talk, his Worry begins to shrink—and when Ruby talks about her own Worry, it also grows smaller. By the book’s conclusion, Ruby learns to control her Worry by talking about what worries her, a priceless lesson for any child—or adult—conveyed in a beautifully child-friendly manner. Ruby presents black, with hair in cornrows and two big afro-puff pigtails, while the boy has pale skin and spiky black hair.
A valuable asset to the library of a child who experiences anxiety and a great book to get children talking about their feelings (. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 3, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5476-0237-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: May 7, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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