For The Little Worrier
Publisher’s Description
A girl, a flamingo, and a worried potato star in the third book in New York Times bestselling author Michael Ian Black and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s series about feelings—and why they’re good, even when they feel bad.
Potato is worried. About everything.
Because anything might happen.
When he tells his friends, he expects them to comfort him by saying that everything will be okay. Except they don’t. Because it might not be, and that’s okay too. Still, there’s one thing they can promise for sure: no matter what happens…they will always be by his side.
Details
- Title: I’m Worried
- Author: Michael Ian Black
- Illustrater: Debbie Ridpath Ohi
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster (June 2019)
- Hardcover: 40 pages
- Series: The I’m Books
- YouTube Trailer
- Peek Inside The Book
- Grades: P – 3
- Ages: 4 – 8
My Thoughts
As I mentioned in my review of I’m Sad, I absolutely love this series. So far it consists of I’m Bored, I’m Sad, and I’m Worried. In very few words the issues are addressed. And to me, they aren’t pat answers, they are truthful.
These cute books consist of a flamingo, a little girl with pigtails, and a potato. Yeap, that’s a crazy cast of characters. But trust me. Michael Ian Black manages to make it work.
The potato whose text is always brown is worried and anxious about the future. Like many of us, his imagination is running wild. A volcano might erupt, an alien could appear, or a dinosaur, or a googly-eyed spider. The what-ifs are endless.
So Potato asks his logical friend to assure him that nothing bad will ever happen. The little girl, whose text is alway blue, replies
I wish I could, Potato, but I can’t.
Of course, that’s not what Potato is hoping to hear. His brown, capitalized text lets the reader know just how he feels about that answer.
WHY NOT???
I’m sure Potato doesn’t figure her reply can get any worse, but it does. She says
Because nobody knows what’s going to happen.
Potato’s fears seem to be contagious. The pink text of Flamingo shows up with an illustration of a very worried bird
Um, now I’M worried.
You see what I mean. These answers are truthful. But they feel a little scary, don’t they? After all, Flamingo is now worried about what he’s hearing.
For most of us, our inclination is to calm a child’s fears by promising that everything will be just fine. But can we promise that? And don’t out kids see through that weak promise anyway? The I’m series addresses things the way I think they should be.
Even with a picture book review, I don’t give away endings, but like the other books in this series, the ending is truthful and at the same time conveys a comforting answer and way to cope and at the same time tosses in a bit of humor.
What Concerned Me
Nothing at all.
What I Liked Most
I like how the issue is addressed and that it isn’t didactic in any way. It’s honest and the truthfulness is comforting at the same time.
This is a book to definitely share with the little worrier.
Simon & Schuster / Resources and Downloads
A guide to using books about feelings and emotions in your classroom
About The Author and Illustrator
Michael Ian Black is a writer, comedian, and actor who currently appears on Another Period, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp. He created and starred in many television series, including Michael and Michael Have Issues, Stella, and The State. He wrote the screenplay for the film Run, Fatboy, Run and wrote and directed the film Wedding Daze. Michael regularly tours the country as a stand-up comedian and is the bestselling author of the book My Custom Van (and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face), the memoir You’re Not Doing It Right, and the children’s books Chicken Cheeks, The Purple Kangaroo, A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea, I’m Bored, Naked!, and Cock-a-Doodle-Doo-Bop. Michael lives in Connecticut with his wife and two children.
Debbie Ridpath Ohi is the author of Where Are My Books?. Her illustrations also appear in Sea Monkey and Bob, written by Aaron Reynolds; I’m Bored (a New York Times Notable Book) and Naked!, written by Michael Ian Black; as well as ten Judy Blume chapter books and middle grade titles. For more info, visit DebbieOhi.com or @InkyElbows on Twitter.
