From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Bell and Colpoys convey the turmoil of an introvert maneuvering the social expectations of school. Alfie's public anxiety has caused him to miss a dinosaur party and running races, and he's really dreading dressing up as a starfish for the Underwater Dress-Up Parade. Following his subaquatic nightmares, Mom calmly allows Alfie to skip the parade and instead takes him to the aquarium where he is charmed by a brief encounter with a shy clown fish. On the way home in a bus populated by imaginary ocean creatures, Mom acknowledges that some people are like clown fish and need to hide away, "It's just what they do." Alfie commiserates yet fulfills his pledge to participate in the parade the following year and dresses as a clown fish. Colpoys's retro drawings are colored in neon peach and cobalt blue, with sea-foam green accents. VERDICT The unconditional acceptance of Alfie's parents makes this book unique and may prove assuring to children of similar character. An excellent choice for one-on-one sharing.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA

Review

"Colpoys’s stylish, silkscreen-style illustrations use contrasting shades of sea green, deep blue, and bright pink to represent both the real world and Alfie’s rich interior life."

(Publishers Weekly)

"Alfie's success, aided by loving and patient parents, provides a model for children struggling with anxiety and assures them of their ultimate worth and capability. This gentle story ably helps fill a need in children's literature and will help comfort small audiences with their own big fears."

(Kirkus Reviews)

"The unconditional acceptance of Alfie’s parents makes this book unique and may prove assuring to children of similar character. An excellent choice for one-on-one sharing."

(School Library Journal)

"Learning to be brave can take time, and readers will empathize with Alfie’s slow progress toward that goal."

(Booklist)

See all Editorial Reviews