Absolutely No Worries

“…An enjoyable tale of an imagination gone wild. Back matter provides kid-friendly suggestions for how to move forward when feeling anxious.”—Booklist

“Endless small details in watercolors and China ink illustrations invite careful examination while visual exaggerations show Emma’s fears spinning out (surely, the pirates, werewolves, dinosaurs, and skeletons wouldn’t all attack at once). Gale and Wilsdorf are both intentional in presenting Emma as intelligent and deserving of respect, and though there is gentle humor, it is not directed at Emma, but rather in how each of her danger scenarios might play out in hyperbolic ways. Anxious readers will likely relate, and they’ll be relieved to see Emma has saved the day but retained much of her cautious approach to the unknown. A quick list at the end describes ways to manage anxiety, ranging from deep breathing to making contingency plans.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books