NONI IS NERVOUS

From the creators of Noni Says No (2011) comes a book about getting through the first day of school and facing one’s fears.

Noni has a lot to be nervous about, including her nemesis from the previous book, Susie. The challenges of planning what to wear to school, figuring out where to sit and imagining what her teacher will be like have her biting her nails and chattering nervously. Côté’s gentle watercolors capture Noni’s emotional experience, from the cover art that depicts the small figure of Noni surrounded by warning yellow with stoplight red letters looming over her to the image of an underwear-clad Noni among a sea of empty desks leaning menacingly toward her. Softly lavender, monochrome illustrations depict Noni’s previous reasons for being nervous, all made right in her mother’s arms. In the end, it doesn’t take too long for Noni to feel like she fits in. An outgoing girl named Briar takes Noni under her wing. At this point, Noni’s family is a nervous wreck wondering how she’s doing, but it’s a calm, competent Noni that they find at the end of the day.

A charming, seemingly simple book that gets right to the heart of the matter.