Wemberly worries so much, she can barely get through the day, and as school starts, the anxieties blossom. When Wemberly finds a friend, she ends up being so busy that worry is pushed out of the way.
Kevin Henkes has a way with illustrating expressive mice, and the ancillary characters shine with dialogue and perceptive insights (Grandma sports a t-shirt touting GO WITH THE FLOW). Most of all, Wemberly Worried resonates with children, while their adults don’t mind reading and re-reading it.
Talk about feelings with young children. Make a list of worries (or list Wemberly’s worries). Talk about the worries without belittling them. For example, Wemberly thinks there might be a snake inside her radiator. Why does she think this? Is the radiator making a hissing sound? What are the likely causes of the sound? Use these tips to guide your discussion.
Great post!
I love everything by Kevin Henkes 🙂
I enjoy your posts, especially your suggestions on how to use these books when working with children. Great post! Love Kevin Henkes.
Thanks for letting me know!
I love this book! When I was a school librarian, I loved to use his books as a jumping-off point for some great discussions–his portrayal of the fears of children is so realistic!