This well-intended exploration of anxiety is seriously flawed and misrepresents the seriousness of anxiety disorders.
Pilar is painfully shy, plagued by worries and performance anxiety, even in ballet—her favorite class.
To help her through her days, her friend and her mother help remind her to “breathe.” When an opportunity to audition for a ballet production presents itself, Pilar worries that she won’t be able to participate. Between Mama’s encouragement, Pilar’s positive self-talk, and her friend’s support, her performance is a success. Golden’s simple watercolors successfully convey the progression of angst-filled expressions flitting across the little Latina’s face. Unfortunately, the characters’ cookie-cutter angular features are practically indistinguishable except for skin color. Following her straightforward story, Sanchez provides links to websites about childhood anxiety; however, both a cavalier comment in the author’s note and the simplicity of the story vastly oversimplify anxiety disorders. “Anxiety is…one of the easiest conditions to treat with simple coping strategies and cognitive behavior therapy,” writes Sanchez. By implying that shyness, stage fright, worrying, and anxiety disorders are interchangeable issues, Sanchez undermines the effectiveness of her message. Further diminishing the story’s value is the fact that while Pilar practices some of the many coping strategies and treatment plans recommended by mental health professionals, readers are completely excluded from the learning/discovery process—they watch Pilar from the outside.
This well-intended exploration of anxiety is seriously flawed and misrepresents the seriousness of anxiety disorders. (bibliography) (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6546-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: July 29, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
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
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.
The cool beans again step up to do a timorous fellow legume a fava…this time at the pool.
Will a rash decision to tackle the multistory super-slide lead to another embarrassing watery fail for our shy protagonist? Nope, for up the stairs right behind comes a trio of cool beans, each a different type and color, all clad in nothing but dark shades. They make an offer: “It’s not as scary if you go with friends!” As the knobby nerd explains once the thrilling ride down is done, “They all realized that I just needed some encouragement and support.” Just to make sure that both cool and uncool readers get the message, the narrator lets us know that “there are plenty of kind folks who have my back. They’re always there when I need them.” The beany bonhomie doesn’t end at the bottom of the slide, with all gliding down to the shallow end of the pool (“3 INCHES. NO DIVING”) for a splashy finale. This latest early reader starring characters from John and Oswald’s immensely popular Food Group series will be a hit with fans. Fun accessories, such as a bean who rocks pink cat-eye frames, add some pizzazz to the chromatically and somatotypically varied cast.
Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind. (Easy reader. 5-7)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780063329560
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Feb. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
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