Poor Sam the giraffe is a painfully shy young student, but in Too Shy for Show-and-Tell by Beth Bracken and illustrated by Jennifer Bell (Picture Window Books, August 2011), he finds the courage to speak up and share some of his favorite things. Although the thought of talking to his class makes his stomach hurt in the beginning, as he watches the other kids successfully share their special items, Sam finds the courage in himself to share about his special thing: his new dog.
Although it’s a simple story, young children will certainly relate to the issue, and the adorably illustrated animals in Sam’s class look friendly and welcoming. This is a recommended picture book for shy kids, and also those kids or adults who’d love a reminder that other people aren’t as scary as we imagine them to be.
Note: I was provided a review copy of this book for consideration for the Cybils awards.
