A timid young boy with social anxiety, Alfie was worried about the upcoming Underwater Dress-Up Parade, as he was supposed to lead the procession in his Captain Starfish costume. Shy Alfie had a history of avoiding uncomfortable get-togethers, and this proved no different. Fortunately, his understanding mother took him to the aquarium instead of the parade, and his observation of a starfish, and a shy little clown fish, helped reconcile him to his own shyness, and convince him that maybe in the future he would feel more confident...

Originally published in Australia as The Underwater Fancy-Dress Parade, and then reprinted here in the states as Captain Starfish, this lovely picture-book won a number of awards for its artwork and design in its country of origin. It's easy to see why, as Allison Colpoys' illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, utilizing a lovely color palette and appealing stylized figures. That said, the story from author Davina Bell is also quite engaging, capturing the social fears of a shy young child quite well. Recommended to anyone who appreciates beautiful picture-books, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about social anxiety and/or just being shy. ( )