“Innovative in its perspective and moving in its execution (gouache that, like our emotions, sometimes bleeds outside the lines), Corace’s art perfectly matches Yolen’s words in this nuanced exploration of our inner selves.”—The New York Times Book Review
“A warm and winning title about becoming one’s own person.”—The Horn Book
“Together, Yolen and Corace offer a sophisticated depiction of a child’s relationship with her inner strength.”—Publishers Weekly
“A creative interpretation of the imaginary friend theme, this original picture book respects both its characters and its audience.”—Booklist
“The success of this simple story of a child’s summoning of inner strength lies in Corace’s gouache and line illustrations. . . . This low-key story encourages viewers to find inner resources for dealing with ordinary challenges, and could help provide children with a structure for contemplating their own armor.”—School Library Journal
“Yolen’s quiet text, seasoned with occasional rhyme, suits this tale of resilience. She gently celebrates how children build their own competencies by adopting imaginary friends and imbuing stuffed toys with their own increasing social-emotional fitness.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The gouache, ink, and graphite illustrations strike a visually pleasing balance with the soft linework and dappled texture of the bear paired with the more solid geometry of the real world. This gentle, dreamy read would be most useful for youngsters needing a visualization of how to get through a rough patch or to project confidence.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
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