Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Wemberly Worried
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 8
Greenwillow Books, 2000 ISBN: 978-0688170271
Wemberly is little mouse girl who worries more than anyone you have ever met before and perhaps more than everyone you have not met as well. She worries about everything and anything and of course this is a very distressing state of affairs for her parents. Indeed, Wemberly worries about things that many of us could not even imagine worrying about. For example she worries that a crack in the wall might open up and something might come out of it. She worries that the tree in the front yard might fall on her house, and the there may be a snake inside the radiator.
Then Wemberly faces her biggest worry ever: she has to go to school for the first time. "What if the teacher is mean?" and "What if I can't find the bathroom?" she wonders with a quaking heart as she clings to her doll petal. As it happens, it turns out that there is something in school that makes it possible for poor Wemberly to forget her worries - at least for a while.
For all those little girls and boys who are afraid of going to school for the first time or of some other major milestone in their young lives, this funny and completely sympathetic picture book will offer comfort and many smiles. As we watch Wemberly struggle with her fears, our own seem less frightening and it is possible to put them into perspective. With her wide eyes, her little grey ear and her stripy dress, Wemberly is easy to identify with, and children will find themselves feeling sorry for the little mouse. Expressive and unique watercolor and ink illustrations combined with an amusing text to make a winning and special picture book.