201. Sometimes Shy

201. Sometimes Shy. Julie Bliven. Illustrated by Dang Khoa Tran. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library] [Picture book]

First sentence: At first, the sun barely stretches through the crack between my curtains. The morning is slow to cast its glow over the harbor in our little town. Still, no one calls the sun shy. 

My thoughts: This one felt PERFECT to me. 

Premise/plot: Sometimes Shy is a unique (and lovely) twist on the traditional book about shyness. It stars a little boy who is sometimes shy. In addition to being shy (at least sometimes) it shows that he is observant and thoughtful/wise. There are many observations he makes about the world around him. For example, he notes that while no one does call the sun "shy," it certainly can act that way. It is in some ways a day-in-the-life book. After the school day where he is shy, readers meet him in his element, among his immediate family. He is NOT always shy. Sometimes he's exuberant, talkative, playful, joyful, full of energy and life, holding nothing back. 

My thoughts (part 2): I loved this one so much!!! Shyness is NOT condemned in this one. It is honestly explored. I also LOVED that it was not a problem to be solved by the end of the book.

© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers