Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4^-6. Wemberly, a little mouse girl, worries about big things, little things, and everything in between. If the radiator makes a noise, Wemberly wonders if there's a snake inside it. On Halloween, Wemberly, dressed as a butterfly, worries that there will be too many butterflies in the parade. When she's the only one, she worries about that, too. Henkes' catalogue of Wemberly's worries goes on a little too long, but on the plus side, each woe is an opportunity for Henkes' special pictures, which are played for both amusement and recognition, with each detail enhancing the total concept. Equal attention is paid to the expressions on Wemberly's face. Who knew there were so many nuances of worried? There's concern as Wemberly's stuffed animal, Petal, goes around in the washer; despair when Petal goes missing; and contained terror as the first day of school approaches. Happily, Wemberly meets a new friend named Jewel at school (and Petal meets Jewel's stuffed cat, Niblet), and suddenly the world doesn't seem quite so scary anymore. In many ways, Wemberly is the flip side of Henkes' sassy Lilly. As much as little ones love Lilly, the 'fraidy cats of the world will see themselves in this winsome worrywart. --Ilene Cooper
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-This is a sparkling telling of the popular story by Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow, 2000). The anthropomorphic mouse worries about everything. Now Wemberly must face her biggest fear yet, the first day of school. Laura Hamilton provides a fine narration and an appropriately concerned and subdued mouse-like voice for Wemberly. She also narrates the text and provides the asides of many characters throughout the story. Wemberly's worries range from whether she might shrink in the bath to whether there may be a snake hiding in the radiator. Of course, Wemberly's parents and go-getting grandmother are supportive of her concerns. At school, Wemberly discovers a wealth of fun activities and a fellow worrier, Jewel. Background sound effects provide a nice touch running water for the bath, hissing for the radiator, etc. One side of the tape has page-turn signals, while on side two the story is told uninterrupted. Henkes has really tapped into children's fears, and they will relate to the appealing Wemberly and her many worries. This package is an excellent vehicle to address children's fears about starting school. A welcome addition for public and school libraries.-Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, King County Library System, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Preschool, Primary) Worrywart Wemberly is the newest of Kevin Henkes's distinctly individual yet universal picture-book mice characters. The dizzying, almost psychedelic jacket image of an anxiety-ridden Wemberly-looking as much like a deer caught in headlights as a mouse can-sets the tone. Wemberly, a sensitive soul, is beset with fears, both big and small. She worries about everything: What if she shrinks in the bathtub? What if the tree in the front yard falls on her house? What if no one comes to her birthday party? Or worse: what if too many mice come and there isn't enough cake? Thank goodness her stuffed rabbit Petal is always there for some comforting ear-rubbing. The format is the same as in Henkes's previous books: with text and art perfectly integrated, the vibrant panel illustrations help tell the story, and small asides extend the text. As always, Henkes zeroes in on a familiar childhood emotion-feeling helpless in an uncontrollable world- and brings it compassionately to the surface. Although Wemberly's phobias are catalogued at too great a length and the story's main conflict-the dreaded first day of school-isn't introduced until halfway through the story, the satisfying resolution offers hope for both the timid and the brave among us. Thanks to her perceptive teacher, Wemberly embarks on a new friendship, and by the end of the day, a better-adjusted but still-careful Wemberly leaves school with her friend, the equally cautious Jewel, and assures her teacher that she will come back tomorrow. Like rubbing Petal's ears or finding a friend, Henkes's picture books make finding your way in the world a little less daunting. k.f. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
