What are you waiting for?

Don't wait, don't hesitate! The time is now for taking a bow, advises this affirmational book that encourages readers to seize the moment and cheerfully sets the stage for helping kids boost their self-esteem. The story follows a group of aspiring young performers behind the scenes and then onstage at a talent show. Motivated by a sign announcing "The Talent Show Needs You," gifted would-be stars are "waiting to prove" they're "ready for action." At the outset, the narrative makes clear that the "star" is YOU, the reader/listener, who's "brimming with skills." It's only natural that confidence may flag and worries will set in occasionally, but, Campbell assures readers, everything the children have done before has prepared them to shine, and they're all "learning and growing…and [getting] much stronger too!" Plus, what if the hotly anticipated moment's even better than imagined? Some of this rah-rah cheerleading may go over children's heads, but the essential message about doing/trying one's best to achieve a goal and subsequently feeling a burst of self-confidence rings true. The cheery illustrations featuring smiling, racially diverse characters, rendered in pencil, pastels, crayons, and markers and enhanced digitally, add to the bright, upbeat tone. Don't wait to hand this book to a child: Any story that strengthens kids' confidence is a winner.(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.