Jennifer Black Reinhardt

I loved this sensitive and funny picture book on so many levels.
It's the story of Alfred, a possum, who freezes and plays dead at the slightest hint of danger. He's a very nervous possum. A series of humorous illustrations show Alfred frozen in his desk at school, whilst swimming, and of course whenever he tries to make friends. Then one day, while looking for a book, he meets Sofia. Sofia is an armadillo and when she is scared (which is pretty much always) she curls up. Cue a frozen Alfred and curled up Sofia.

Once the two have slowly unfrozen and uncurled, they realize how much they have in common and with patience and understanding begin to become friends. As they gradually relax and come out of their shells (ha ha) they realize that there are other animals who feel anxious too and they can help them. They befriend fainting goats, hedgehogs, skunks, and an octopus and with kindness and understanding, the world becomes a better place for everyone.

Scratchy illustrations show a hairy armadillo, untidy possum, and a plethora of nervous and seemingly uncongenial animals slowly learning to be friends and explore the world together.

A note from the author explains the difference between truth and imagination, talking about some of the animals included and their real-life behavior, and gently urges readers "...wild animals can't control their behavior. But people can, and sharing kindness and patience can change things for the better." The glossary includes a sketch of each nervous animal and their defensive reactions.

As a nonfiction fan, I love that Reinhardt is so clear on the differences between real and imaginary, especially in animal behavior. I like that the anxious animals are not magically "fixed" and a lot of time and patience are shown in the process of them making changes in their behavior. Finally, the book is funny without poking fun at the creatures and one can picture Alfred and Sofia laughing over the book themselves.

Verdict: A kind and gentle story that would make a funny read-aloud as well as a good addition for social-emotional learning.

ISBN: 9781328782700; Published July 2020 by Clarion; Borrowed from another library in my consortium… (meer)