Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
How can one handle worries that crowd sleep out of the mind, asks poet Smith (The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, for adults) in a metaphor-filled picture book debut. As a pale-skinned child with a furrowed brow looks up at their red-bathrobed mother, text describes thoughts that "stay on" after lights-out: "What if there are spiders in the house? What if I have a scary dream when I fall asleep?" Working in digital media whose hand-painted textures give a pastel-like roughness to the spreads, Hatch (The Brand-new, Never-used, Perfect Crayons) visualizes the fears: masses of arachnids under the bed, the child and a rabbit stuffy sucked up by an alien spaceship. Thoughts are like birds, Mom explains. Some want to nest, and the child's head is "a beautiful place to live.... No wonder your thoughts don't want to fly away from you!" What to do? "We need to make sure there's room for the happy thoughts to build their nests." Now, the two practice consciously summoning pleasant images ("I'm at the beach, eating an ice-cream cone"). Offering a portrait of a family addressing a child's fears, this mindfulness-oriented work explores accessible techniques whose practice offers pleasure, too. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Joy Tutela, David Black Literary. Illustrator's agent: Janine Le, while at Sheldon Fogelman Agency. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--In this relatable story, a young girl is trying to fall asleep but can't because of all her worries and what-ifs. Her mother gives her some excellent advice--that it's understandable that thoughts would want to stick around in her beautiful mind, but that she'll want to leave room for good thoughts, too--that helps her envision happy, calming moments that "nest" in her mind. Smith has created a wonderful tale that mimics a very real problem that many children (and adults) face: anxiety. Even though this topic can be complicated, Smith has simplified it to an understandable story and metaphor perfect for young readers. The text is clear against the page, the vocabulary is simple, and the concept is one that children will not only understand, but will probably use in their own lives. Hatch's child-friendly, sweet illustrations really show how a child experiences the world. From the fears that race through the girl's head to the birds that are her racing thoughts to the happy moments that form her safe place, Hatch shows them all. This is a generous tale that is also an excellent tool to give to children and psychologists. VERDICT For the SEL shelves, a solid, engaging story about how to handle anxiety.--Margaret Kennelly
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Review by Horn Book Review
"Not-so-good" thoughts flutter and flap around a child's head at bedtime: "What if there are spiders in the house? What if I have a scary dream when I fall asleep?" Mom senses these worries and offers a soothing concept: "'Thoughts are like birds,' she says. 'Some fly away quickly...but others build nests in our heads.'" Smith (known for her adult poetry and memoir) thoughtfully uses this comparison to encourage readers not to simply ignore their negative emotions but rather to counter them with happy memories that these birds can use to "build nests." The specific, affection-infused memories on which the narrator and Mom reflect -- catching fish in a creek, eating banana bread still warm from the oven -- acknowledge the joy and peace that readers of all ages can find in simple, everyday occurrences. Hatch's use of hand-painted textures in the digital art enriches the book's comforting atmosphere, letting warm colors increasingly brighten the at-first gray birds that represent the narrator's worried thoughts. This book serves as an accessible and empathetic look at the impact that anxiety has on children, while celebrating the loving bond between a mother and child as they choose to face their fears together. Emma A. ShacochisMarch/April 2024 p.76 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A child battles nighttime anxieties. The young narrator is beleaguered at bedtime by bad thoughts and "what ifs"--spiders, potential nightmares, schoolyard struggles. The nameless child's "mind feels busy and loud!" Luckily, Mom is there to advise: "Thoughts are like birds," she says. "Some fly away quickly…but others build nests in our heads….We need to make sure there's room for the happy thoughts to build their nests." Smith offers a series of joyful thoughts, such as enjoying ice cream at the beach, being greeted after school by a loving pup, munching on banana bread, and flying kites with friends. Hatch provides soft backdrops of multicolored pastel birds fluttering in the narrator's dark bedroom that brighten into more grounded spreads depicting the good thoughts. The closing spread stands out, with the child carried aloft by cuddly blue birds to sleep, "smiling in the dark." The cozy ideas will comfort nervous young readers and make a strong conversation starter for less-than-sure caretakers. "Everyone worries," and barring a late-night banana bread craving, the soothing suggestions will surely bring somnolence on soft feathers. Both Mom and the child are light-skinned; background characters are racially diverse. Fortitude against fluttering fears. (Picture book. 2-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
