Wemberly Worried (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator) "Wemberly worried about everything..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wemberly the mouse worries about everything: big things, like whether her parents might disappear in the middle of the night; little things, like whether she'll spill grape juice on her toy rabbit, Petal; and things in between, like whether she might shrink in the bathtub. What she is more worried about than anything else, however, is her first day at the New Morning Nursery School: "What if no one else has spots? What if no one else wears stripes? What if no one else brings a doll? What if the teacher is mean? What if the room smells bad?" Happily, Miss Peachum introduces her to a kindred spirit right away. Jewel doesn't have spots, but she is wearing stripes and holding a doll. As Wemberly plays with her new friend, she still worries, but no more than usual. ("And sometimes even less.")

Kevin Henkes, well-loved creator of the award-winning Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, gets to the heart of a child's feelings like no one else can. Young worrywarts (and their parents) will see themselves in Wemberly, and be relieved that she, too, worries about playground equipment ("Too rusty. Too loose. Too high."), sure-to-be-inhabited cracks in the wall, whether she will be the only butterfly in the Halloween parade, and, of course, whether school will be dreadful in every way. Henkes's Lilly-style illustrations are sweet, expressive, and loaded with funny, inventive details that invite close perusal with every reading. (Wemberly's roller-blading grandma, for example, is wearing a T-shirt that says "Go with the flow.") We're not worried about whether this book will become a classic--it will! (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Henkes (Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse) introduces another wonderfully appealing child-mouse with a stubborn habit: worrying. Wemberly, a shy white mouse with gray spots, always feels nervous whether at home or away. "At the playground, Wemberly worried about/ the chains on the swings,/ and the bolts on the slide,/ and the bars on the jungle gym." She tells her father, "Too rusty. Too loose. Too high," while sitting on a park bench watching the other mice play. Her security blanket, a rabbit doll named Petal (whose spot over the left eye matches her own), rarely leaves her grip. Henkes adroitly juggles the main narrative, hand-lettered asides and watercolor-and-ink imagery of the young pessimist and her supportive parents; each element contributes a different strength. For instance, as he lists Wemberly's worries, "Big things" heads the list, paired with a vignette of the heroine checking on her parents in the middle of the night with a flashlight, "I wanted to make sure you were still here." He later shows how Wemberly's anxieties peak at the start of nursery school with huge text that dwarfs tiny illustrations. At this overwhelming moment, Wemberly meets another girl mouse, Jewel, who turns out to be a kindred spirit (she even carries her own worn doll). Henkes offers no pat solutions, handling the material with uncanny empathy and gentleness; while playing with Jewel, "Wemberly worried. But no more than usual. And sometimes even less." This winning heroine speaks to the worrywart in everyone. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1st edition (July 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688170277
• ISBN-13: 978-0688170271
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #118,749 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #21 in

  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( H ) > Henkes, Kevin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kevin Henkes Never Disappoints!, August 3, 2000

By	Roz Levine (Virginia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Poor Wemberly, she worries about everything...big, little and in between. And what she's worried about most, is her first day of nursery school. Never fear, her teacher, Miss Peachum, knows just how she feel and introduces her to Jewel. Jewel worries about everything too. No one understands and expresses a child's feelings better than Kevin Henkes. His writing is true to life with a simple, gentle message. His illustrations, detailed and very expressive and best of all, he lets your pre-schooler know...You're not alone out there. This is a terrific new story you youngster(s) will want to hear again and again and a great addition to all home libraries.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pleasure to read for both parent and child, September 1, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

Kevin Henkes is one of my daughters favorite authors, and I have to say, for the under 5 reading I have to do, he's one of mine too, especially after reading this book. I bought it especially because my daughter, like Wemberly, is very worried about starting her new school. When she heard Wemberly was worried about that, she said "I'm worried about that too, Mommy." Right then, I knew I had bought a great book. We read it over and over and it gives her great comfort to know that she is not the only child who worries. The best thing is Wemberly gets to school and makes a new friend. The experience is positive and all the things that she worried about did not happen. This is a great message for all kids (I think it's rare that a four year old child would not worry about certain things). Aside from a great message, the story has good humor and Henkes wonderful illustrations. I am so glad I got this book for my daughter, we read it at least 4 times before bed each night. Happy reading.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Kevin Henkes, July 27, 2000

By	christy (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

Poor little Wemberley worries about everything! And her first day in kindergarten is quickly approaching. This, of course, is very worrisome for Wemberley, but she soon finds that school isn't so intimidating. This is the newest book from Henkes, who also wrote Julius, Baby of the World, which I love. If you have a small child who worries frequently, or if you have a child who is frightened by the prospect of entering school, this would be a great book for you. The illustrations are vivid and typical of all of Henkes books; I especially love the bright yellow cover! I would recommend it for ages 3 and up- it's not too wordy to read to the tiny ones. A great book!