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Summary
Summary
When no one is watching, it's easy to be brave -- to dance and sing, growl and cheer. But when everyone's watching, this book's shy young narrator finds it far easier to hide. With her best friend, Loretta, though, she doesn't feel shy, embarrassed, awkward, or odd -- not one bit. Together they're like two peas in a pod, whether anyone's watching or not.
Any readers who have felt shy will certainly recognize themselves within the pages of this adorable book, which will encourage even the most timid of audiences with its celebration of the value of a good friend.
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Author Notes
Eileen Spinelli was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 16, 1942. After high school, she worked as a waitress at a local diner, a secretary, and answered phones at an airplane factory. She eventually became the author of children's books. Her picture books include Thanksgiving at the Tappletons, Do You have a Hat, While You are Away, When Mama Comes Home Tonight, Wanda's Monster, Here Comes the Year, A Big Boy Now, and Hug a Bug. She is also the author of several short novels including Lizzie Logan Wears Purple Sunglasses, Lizzie Logan Gets Married, and Lizzie Logan, Second Banana. She received the Christopher Award for Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-The nameless protagonist in this picture book is a wallflower around other people, but alone, she blossoms with exuberant play and a vivid imagination. Quirky and endearing with her wild mop of black curls, pink high-tops, and struggle with shyness, she will appeal to readers who know what's budding inside them, but who aren't quite ready to open up. The illustrations alternately show the little girl's introverted behavior and her lone, free-spirited singing, dancing, stomping, and pretend-wrestling with wild animals. Spinelli's narrative is simple, lyrical, and written from the first-person perspective, giving the sense that the child is sharing her secrets with a trusted friend. She is accompanied throughout by a charming cat whose actions and expressions mirror her own-perfect, given the feline tendency to be reserved between bursts of energy. In the end, readers are introduced to the girl's shy friend, Loretta. They buoy one another when they are out and about, and they appreciate sharing quiet time, too. Johnson's illustrations are dynamic, done in a palette of earthy colors and filling the pages with likable faces and activity. This is a wonderful book for reassuring a quiet kiddo that she is special, and that the world will be happy to know her, too, when she is ready to introduce herself.-Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
When the narrator of this poem-story is alone, "I cheer for myself as I race near the hoop/ I soar and I score with a dunk and a whoop!/ When no one is watching, I cheer." But when people are around-even her family-she prefers to retreat to supporting roles ("I pass the b-ball/ to my classmate Tamar./ Tamar makes the basket-/ she's always the star") and hiding places ("I scrunch myself down/ and pretend I'm not there"). Spinelli (Cold Snap) doesn't craft her poem as an apology-in fact, her stylish, cute heroine (Johnson portrays her with a riot of frizzy hair and wildly unruly shoelaces) has an equally shy and appealing best friend, and their obvious deep connection and comfort in their respective shy skins should be reassuring to anyone on a similar wavelength. The paper-bag palette and mottled texture of Johnson's (Snow Sounds) mixed-media illustrations are somewhat chilly, but he effectively employs a multiple exposure technique to give the sense that his ostensibly retiring heroine has an exuberant inner life. Ages 4-8. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
The narrator alternately describes her public shyness ("I don't catch the Frisbee. / I just let it fall") and her private fearlessness ("I dance. / I leap and I spin and I prance"). The patterns of her rhymes harmonize with the dynamically illustrated spreads, in which the girl sometimes appears multiple times--a fitting comment on the many aspects of oneself. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
What do you do when no one is watching? A girl might be shy, but it doesn't mean she can't be brave and adventurous when no one can see her! This appealing heroine tries to disappear when other people are around, but when she is alone or with her best friend, she can do almost anything. Rhymed text describes both her attempts to avoid detection ("I hide like the cat alongside the big chair. / I scrunch myself down and pretend I'm not there") and her plucky, bold side ("I'm brave as a bear in a cave in the dark. / I wrestle gorilla. / I tickle white shark"). Digitally manipulated ink-and-watercolor pictures portray the girl doing her best to remain out of sight in company and shining when she is alone and at her effervescent best. Shyness is presented in a nonjudgmental way here, as a personality characteristic that doesn't have to be limiting. Although the pictures are sparkling and energetic, it is difficult to ignore the girl's impossibly long, flowing shoelaces; while an appealing stylistic touch, children accustomed to Velcro will find them distracting, and their parents will find them unsafe. This is a small detail however, and shy children will feel accepted and invigorated by the girl's ways of accepting and mitigating her reserve. A lovely way to promote acceptance of introverts by themselves and others. (Picture book. 3-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In this picture-book paean to being introverted, a shy mop top celebrates her discovery that it's easy to shine at any endeavor when you're not the focus of attention. When she's alone, the little girl dances, shoots basketball hoops, and sings; but when people are around, she hides away. Luckily she has an equally shy friend, and together both can be exuberantly themselves: Together Loretta and I / are cozy and comfy. / We're no longer shy. The book's appeal is heightened by ink-and-watercolor illustrations capturing the child's focus on herself in whatever situation she's in. Against a gritty, marbled background in a variety of earth tones, her bright tunic and white-soled shoes always stand out. Meanwhile, the people she retreats from are limited to washed-out blues and tans. In most frames the child is accompanied by a slinky cat the introvert's pet of choice! Young wallflowers will see themselves in the familiar situations portrayed, and feel fortified by the notion there are others who think as they do.--Cruze, Karen Copyright 2010 Booklist
