IS A WORRY WORRYING YOU?

Mixing serious and silly examples, the authors define “worries” and suggest some coping strategies: “Suppose a monster moves in under your bed, and you’re afraid if you go to sleep it will do something horrible, so you stay awake all night. Now, that’s a worry! But you can get rid of that worry by singing the monster lullabies until you both fall asleep.” Textual claims that worries are invisible, or not even there, notwithstanding, Le Tourneau populates dark, informally drawn cartoons with grimacing, gray-blue creatures that resemble Wild Things as drawn by Victoria Chess. The effect is more than slightly ominous, even in the final view of a grumpy looking worry being sent packing. Facile conclusion—“You can get rid of a worry any time you want….”—and heavy handed approach aside, though, this doesn’t stray all that far from everyday situations, and may provide anxiety-ridden children with something to think about. (Picture book. 6-9)