Facing mighty fears about being apart from parents

K-Gr 3--Babies and children, whether human or animal, have adults who care for them in some way. But how do those children deal when they have to be separated from their caregivers? This book explores the science behind how young humans work through this separation and grow into safe and independent children. Filled with fun baby animal facts, this book is interspersed with passages about how young children can safely practice independence without fearing being alone. There are simple black-and-white illustrations that break up the blocks of text. Huebner covers a gradual stair method of practicing small steps of independence that are manageable. Back matter includes resources such as parent organizations, websites, and books and further reading for children and caregivers. This book could be read independently by a child, but would be best used in parenting collections to be read and discussed with a grown-up. VERDICT A solid nonfiction title about managing day-to-day separation from parents/guardians that would benefit young children and their caregivers.--Molly Dettmann

A clinical psychologist offers savvy strategies for coping with a common childhood anxiety. "So, being apart happens." Despite a page design best described as utilitarian, this series entry offers clingy young readers and their concerned parents both a reassuring message and some helpful tools for getting past the angst. Huebner offers a lengthy catalog of animal parents who, much like human ones, "go to great lengths to keep their babies safe." These examples are printed as "Fun Facts" on images of small loose-leaf pages taped in below the widely spaced text. The author also provides techniques for coping with panic responses through breath control and describes a method for breaking down separation experiences--from sleeping in a separate bedroom to starting school--into incremental steps. A denser following section lists tips and observations calculated to relieve caregivers' anxieties about easing children through the process. Huebner closes with generous sets of print and online resources for both of her intended audiences (plus a plug for her video series). In keeping with the narrative's tone of casual confidence, Stevens tucks in cartoon images of animals and a racially diverse human cast that includes children of various ages, one of whom uses a wheelchair. Sound, despite the uninviting look. (Nonfiction. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.