Worry Boots (PB)

By Author / Illustrator

Lisa Thompson, Aysha Awwad

Genre

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Age range(s)

Publisher

Scholastic

ISBN

9780702324536

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

04-07-2024

Synopsis

A first-day-at-school picture book like no other, by award-winning author Lisa Thompson and illustrator Aysha Awwad! Connie slipped her feet into her new, shiny boots. They felt hard and awkward and very, very different. "Let's get going," said Connie's mum. "It's an exciting day today - your first day at school!"

As Connie and Mum make their way to the bus stop, they realise that their journey to school going to be very unusual. Why? Because there is something surprising in Connie's shoe! And that means she can't possibly go to school until she's sorted it out...

Debut picture book from bestselling children's book author, Lisa Thompson Gorgeously illustrated by Aysha Awwad The perfect first-day-at-school picture book

Reviews

Lucy

A lovely book for any child starting school or moving to a new school or class, or who is struggling with a particular worry. Connie is starting school but finds plenty of excuses or reasons why she shouldn't carry on with her journey and should go back home instead!

Worry Boots provides lots of talking opportunities about emotions and making positive choices to deal with difficult emotions such as anxiety. It's a great book to read at home with your own children before they start school, or to have in the classroom to help with the transition between year groups as children move onto new classes.

It has lots of examples that children will be able to relate to where their imaginations run wild with anxious possibilities; the perfect prompt to talk about and introduce strategies to deal with these intrusive thoughts. The illustrations show how Connie's imagination is running wild along with the visual affect it's having on Connie's feelings. These brightly coloured pictures will enable children to really visualise the worries she is having and give an opportunity to discuss how we can tell when our friends and family are feeling a certain way.

I particularly like the double spread at the end of the story which shows Connie smiling as she finally walks into her new classroom with a teacher who has an inviting smile as well as lots of busy children enjoying their first day. It also ends with her laughing and playing with lots of new friends which should be reassuring for any child worrying about a new class.

Picture book / Reviewed by Lucy Hopkins, teacher