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VICTOR, THE WOLF WITH WORRIES

Name: VICTOR, THE WOLF WITH WORRIES
Author: Catherine Rayner
ISBN: 9781915801838

by Catherine Rayner ; illustrated by Catherine Rayner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 7, 2025

A lovable character and a gentle lesson make this tale a great conversation starter for kids with their own worries.

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A young wolf learns how to manage his anxieties with the help of a friend.

Victor frets about lots of things—for starters, he worries that he isn’t wolfish enough. His fellow pack members are big, brave, fierce, and confident—wolfish indeed! Victor pretends to be like his packmates, but what if they expect him to do brave things that he’s not capable of? Or what if he scares the others by being too ferocious? His anxiety grows. Victor’s best friend, Pablo, encourages him to open up, but Victor is reluctant. “If you share your worry, it will feel smaller to you,” Pablo reassures him. One by one, Victor shares his concerns, and not only does he feel better, but he realizes that Pablo had the same worries, too! Pablo’s strategies—talking about feelings, mentally putting worries in imaginary bubbles to float away, and engaging in play to reduce anxiety—aren’t just for fearful wolf pups; Rayner’s coping strategies and clear message will be perfect for children who are hesitant to share their feelings. Her watercolor illustrations are artfully drawn. The visually appealing earth tones perfectly reflect the outdoors while accurately capturing Victor’s emotional journey from being anxiously uneasy to feeling confident, knowing he’s learned how to navigate his wolfish worries.

A lovable character and a gentle lesson make this tale a great conversation starter for kids with their own worries. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2025

ISBN: 9781915801838

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Boxer Books

Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2024

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024

Categories:

CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
MOLLY, OLIVE, AND DEXTER
by Catherine Rayner ; illustrated by Catherine Rayner

- BOOK REVIEW
BERT, THE BOWERBIRD
by Julia Donaldson ; illustrated by Catherine Rayner

- BOOK REVIEW
MOLLY, OLIVE, AND DEXTER
by Catherine Rayner ; illustrated by Catherine Rayner

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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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THE COOL BEAN MAKES A SPLASH

From the I Can Read! series

by Jory John ; illustrated by Pete Oswald ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2024

Another quirky take on the series theme that it’s cool to be kind.

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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)