There's a Big, Beautiful World Out There! [Hardcover]

Nancy Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2002 | Age Level: 2 and up

There's a lot to be scared of, that's for sure. There's the mean-looking dog next door and booming thunderstorms; there are spooky shadows in the corner of your room, and people who look different from you. All of this scary stuff can make you want to hide under your covers and never come out again. But hiding won't solve anything, and besides, maybe that dog only looks mean. This warm and reassuring book offers young readers the encouragement they need to face their fears and look forward to all the great experiences awaiting them.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Written on September 12, 2001, There's a Big Beautiful World Out There! by Nancy Carlson emphasizes overcoming fear. Though she acknowledges children's anxieties in everyday terms ("There's a lot to be scared of, that's for sure!/ There's that mean looking dog,/ and booming thunderstorms"), she also reminds readers of the good things they miss if they don't venture out ("If you hide under your covers, you won't see the rainbow after the storm"). Ages 3-8.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Carlson hits just the right note in this story about a little girl who has to choose between facing frightening things or hiding from them. The outside world includes terrors as varied as a mean-looking dog, bad news stories, and nighttime shadows, but since "hiding under your covers can get pretty boring," this wide-eyed, appealing child ventures out and discovers that the world isn't as scary as it seems. Carlson's style works well to address fear without inspiring it-the colors are characteristically bright and jolly, but there are clashing patterns and hues, the lines are slightly more jagged than usual, and the perspective is sometimes askew. Preschoolers are sure to find the protagonist's worried, but not terrified face a comforting focus on the "scary" pages. Perhaps the most chilling moment in the book is on the last page, which reads: "This book was written on September 12, 2001."-Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library District, IL
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (August 26, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670035807
• ISBN-13: 978-0670035809
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

This year illustrator and author Nancy Carlson published her 44th children's book. Her specialty is teaching kids to feel good about themselves and others.Kids, parents, teachers and even book critics think she does a great job. That's because she is never out of touch with the kid spirit inside herself. Her brightly colored pencil drawings perfectly capture the happy-go-lucky characters that fill her clever and funny books. There is a life lesson to be learned from each story.Nancy decided at age five to be an artist. As a child, Nancy would sit on her bed and draw for hours. "I began creating characters and telling stories through my drawings," Nancy said. "I always had the need to communicate something through my art." Her early love of comic books influenced her style of drawing and use of color.A graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art, Nancy has kept alive a youthful zest for life. Readers and book reviewers alike are charmed by her jazzy yet childlike drawings done with bright colored pencils. In all 42 books and four stage plays, she uses well-placed humor in words and pictures to tickle the funny bone of children and their parents.Humorous childhood experiences from her own life growing up in Minneapolis and from the escapades of her three children provide themes for stories. Most of her books feature animal characters that show the funny side of people. Nancy's two dogs, cat and a guinea pig are a source of inspiration.Nancy Carson lives in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. She and her husband, Barry McCool, have three children, two dogs, and a cat. Nancy loves nature and spends as much time outdoors as possible, running, biking and birdwatching. Besides writing and illustrating children's books, she designs posters, t-shirts, caps, greeting cards and other specialty items, which are marketed across the country through McCool Unlimited, Inc. and available though Nancy's on-line catalogue.Readers say they recognize themselves and their friends in the characters who triumph over everyday situations.Each story helps young readers deal with life's little problems, while teaching the basic values of honesty, determination and self-confidence.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful book!, September 12, 2011

By 

Mary Jo - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: There's a Big, Beautiful World Out There! (Mass Market Paperback)

The is a wonderful book for a child who struggles with his/her fears. I bought it for my grandchildren age 5 and over and think they will enjoy it. I believe it communicates a sense of courage and self-confidence.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprise at the end., September 29, 2005

By 

Mom of Girls (Marietta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There's a Big, Beautiful World Out There! (Hardcover)

My daughter requests this book frequently. At the beginning, it talks about things that might scare kids. Then, the book points out the things that your child might miss because of fear. At the end, the author tells you that the book was written on Sept 12, 2001.