When You're Scared

It's a bright and beautiful day at the lake where a boy and his mother are camping. The boy is just a little scared of jumping into the water. At the same time, not too far away, a hungry bear cub is a little scared of diving deep into a dumpster, where tasty snacks await.

Later, when the boy encounters a distraught mama bear sniffing around the dumpster, he's very scared. But so is her bear cub, who is trapped inside Bold, graphic artwork moves the narrative along in this mostly-wordless book full of sound effects and simple variations on a single phrase full of so many meanings ("He was scared"). Parallel stories of the mother and son, and mama and cub, come together when the campers, despite being scared, help rescue the cub from the dumpster.

This simple, moving story invites readers to observe expressions, body language, and details hidden in the illustrations to follow the narrative. It's a sweet summer read that normalizes fear and encourages acting with courage and compassion--even when you're scared.

Author: Andrée Poulin
Publisher: Owlkids
Published: 03/15/2019
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 11.40h x 8.80w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781771473651
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2019 pg. 109
Publishers Weekly 12/24/2018
School Library Journal 03/01/2019 pg. 89
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2019 - Recommended, Satisfactory

About the Author
Joffre Véronique: - Véronique Joffre is a French illustrator based in London. She studied illustration and graduated from École Estienne in Paris and École Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Strasbourg.Poulin, Andrée: - Andrée Poulin has written over 30 picture books, many of which have won or been nominated for prizes. As a journalist, she was passionate about telling true stories. Now an author, she delights in inventing them. She has published picture books, early readers, and middle grade fiction, as well as two YA novels. She lives in Gatineau, Quebec.