Tag: overcoming shyness

Kat And Juju (Kataneh Vahdani)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Kat And Juju by Kataneh Vahdani, a sweet tale about how friendship can help us overcome our fears.

Kat likes to do things her own way: she colors inside the lines, whispers her secrets to trees, and quietly finds beauty in places that others seem to overlook. She’s happy with who she is, but she sometimes feels lonely, despite being too shy to be herself around the other kids. That’s why she’s looking forward to her birthday: this is the year that she gets her “very best friend”, an anthropomorphic animal companion. The other children have gotten theirs, and Kat is eager to meet her own. Yet when Juju, a giant, fluffy red bird arrives on her doorstep, Kat is unsure. Juju is different than her in so many ways: he’s outgoing, adventurous, and seemingly unafraid of anything. Kat wonders if Juju will grow tired of her… but an unexpected series of events may show her that she doesn’t have to stop being herself to find her inner courage.

Very cute. While the pacing of this gentle coming-of-age story can occasionally feel uneven, its message is pure: true friends will appreciate you for who you are, even if they themselves are different. There’s also a nice theme of personal growth: through caring for an injured baby bird together, Kat begins to try new and adventurous things at her own pace, with Juju’s support and encouragement. The wide-eyed characters are adorable, from Kat’s oversized hairbow “ears” to the unbelievably endearing design of Juju. The length was great, and JJ loved it. A few rough edges, but overall a warm tale of friendship and self-assurance, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Shy (Deborah Freedman)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is the lovely Shy by Deborah Freedman, a gorgeous fable about overcoming fears and shyness.

Shy is a very timid sort. He’s most comfortable hidden between the pages of a book (this one, to be precise). Still, he dreams of having the courage to explore “a land far away,” where so many of his books are set. One day, he sees a beautiful bird, one of his favorite reading subjects, a decides to do the unthinkable: he leaves home. What follows is a beautiful tale of what can happen when we step out of our comfort zones to create our own “Once upon a time…” 

We loved this book. The concept is unique and well-executed, the text is soothing yet inspiring, and the story’s message of courage and inner strength is wonderful. The art is also breathtaking: the colors of each page tell stories of their own, weaving together muted and understated with bright and vibrant depending on what the story calls for. This is an awesome book with a great length for baby bookworms, and JJ adored it, so definitely check this one out. Baby Bookworm approved.

Disappearing Desmond (Anna Alter)

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Hello friends, and welcome to the start of a new week! Our book today is Disappearing Desmond by Anna Alter, the story of a shy little boy cat and how he learns to make friends.

Desmond likes to disappear. Wherever he goes, he likes to fade into the background and stay out of sight. Then one day, he meets a little girl bunny named Gloria who stands out of every crowd. She becomes Desmond’s friend, and encourages him to step out of his shell. Eventually, Desmond discovers that he doesn’t have to disappear, and he and Gloria begin making friends with other “disappearing” kids.

This book was a great lesson for kids about putting yourself out there and/or making friends with people who are shy, and even combined the elements of a seek-and-find book on the pages where characters had “disappeared.” The illustrations were very cute, and the length and story was great for JJ. She enjoyed it, and I did too! Baby Bookworm approved!