We live in a world where mental and physical health are real concerns, and the issues can start at a very young age.  This means that all nurseries, foundation stage environments and primary schools need to have a wide range of materials, that can support children through a variety of situations.

This picture book is about a young lion called Scout, who has always been strong, brave and full of life; but then one day he finds himself in an entirely new and frightening situation.  This is the first time that he has had this strange feeling and he has no idea how to cope with it.  His imagination takes over and he thinks that the other animals will look down on him for being scared.   However a chance meeting with a firefly helps him understand what he is feeling and how he can help himself to calm down and feel better; it also helps Scout to realize that the other animals also feel the way he does and do not see it as a weakness in him.  The sections where the firefly describes the way that Scout is feeling will definitely ring a bell with many, children and adults alike.  We tend to think that we are able to cope with new situations; so it can be quite traumatic when we come across a situation we cannot deal with and which makes us feel out of control and vulnerable.

The author of this book is a children’s psychologist  and has used her expertise to help young children cope with stressful situations.  Particularly useful are the breathing exercises to help the children to calm down.  The fact that this is written as a picture book makes it really accessible to a younger audience and the use of rhyming text makes the whole story really flow.  The illustrator has used a bright and cheerful colour palette which is attractive to the reader and the facial expressions create a sense of the issues that Scout is trying to cope with.

This book has so many lessons for the young reader, but it can also  help adults understand what the child is feeling; it can even help adults understand their own fears and worries.  It will make a great addition to the classrooms and libraries for younger children, but I think it is also useful for older children who struggle to access more complex texts.

Book Details

Cherish Editions

ISBN  9781915680679