A little hippo finds that looking out for a new friend can turn shyness into bravery in Jaime Kim’s sweetly illustrated story about the first day of school.Mom always calls Robin a big, brave hippo, but on the first day of school she just wants to hide. Even though Mom gives her a pretty purple headband to make her feel confident, as soon as she enters the classroom she retreats to a safe, quiet corner. Before long, Robin spies a young otter named Marco who is wearing purple bracelets and who seems even quieter and more timid than she is. And when Marco falters while trying to say his name aloud to the class, Robin discovers that her voice can be strong when coming to a new friend’s aid. Might Marco do the same if she needed help? In a gentle story threaded with the familiar moments of a first school experience—seen through the eyes of a child for whom they can be more intimidating than most—Jaime Kim captures the warmth of finding a new friend and the ways that connection can make us all more courageous, no matter how shy we feel.
On sale: June 13, 2023
Age: 3-7 years
Grade: Preschool - 2
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9781536209297
Jaime (Jimyung) Kim was born and raised in Korea before moving to the United States at the age of eighteen. She is the author-illustrator of
Ready for the Spotlight! and has illustrated many books for young readers, including
La La La: A Story of Hope by Kate DiCamillo,
And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner,
Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill, and
Isle of You by David LaRochelle. Jaime Kim lives in North Carolina.
Lovingly rendered chalky illustrations bring to life this tale in a well-paced balance of spot art and spreads. . . Shy human children—especially those who feel more outgoing in a familiar environment—will be reassured that they will most certainly not be the only ones nervous about their first day of school. . . . Encouragement for those who are exuberant, loud, and full of energy…but only at home.
—Kirkus Reviews
Shyness connects two animals on the first day of school in Kim’s social-emotional story. . . .astutely captures emotional ups and downs, and smoothly shaded digital illustrations lend a softness to the day’s difficulties.
—Publishers Weekly
