Review by Booklist Review
Rothman's latest picture book gives new meaning to the common phrase warm and fuzzy. Here Warm and Fuzzy are good friends. They are both sweet-looking furry monsters, but they are not exactly alike. Warm is large, and Fuzzy is small. The two friends also have very different approaches to new things. Warm is adventurous and confident, while Fuzzy is . . . not. When Warm proposes an adventure, Fuzzy responds with a string of concerned questions and insists, "We need to be ready for anything and everything! . . . What if there's no toilet paper!?!" Warm is already well prepared with a full backpack but reassures Fuzzy several times, saying, "I understand your worries, Fuzz, but everything really will be fine," and "We have everything we need." With Fuzzy still unconvinced, they set off on their adventure, which ends up being a fun party. In the end, Fuzzy thanks Warm and admits, "I'm glad we went there." Won's whimsical illustrations bring the friends and their differences to life with a sense of humor, especially Fuzzy's many emotions and facial expressions. The soft, rounded art style creates a gentle atmosphere amplified by warm light and the earthy hues encountered on their journey. A fun and helpful read about overcoming anxieties that doesn't hit too close to home.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This picture book's title phrase, which usually describes feelings of comfort and familiarity, here supplies the names of two characters--a pair whose respective demeanors represent calm and anxiety. Warm is a yeti-like creature confident in the duo's ability to embrace unfamiliar experiences--as Rothman (Parfait, Not Parfait!) writes, "We are smart./ We are strong./ We are imaginative./ And we are ready for anything." For Fuzzy, a diminutive, cub-like critter, being prepared means worrying about every detail that could go wrong--especially a potential dearth of toilet paper. But with Warm's unflagging reassurance (and willingness to pack a spare roll), a reluctant Fuzzy accompanies the gentle behemoth through a door, joining an array of animal guests at a fabulous party that includes prizes, presents, and an extensive tea party spread. Warm's refusal to clarify the duo's destination for Fuzzy may strike some as dismissive or high-handed, regardless of the adventure's payoff. But warmly lit digital artwork by Won (the Adurable series), with characters rendered in soft textures of colored pencil hatching, also visualizes how getting out of one's comfort zone can be liberating and fun. Ages 3--7. (Apr.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--An adventure is so much fun--except what if something unexpected happens? Warm and Fuzzy are two best friends, and when Warm proposes going on an adventure, Fuzzy worries and has all the questions: Will there be enough toilet paper? What kinds of clothes should they bring? Where are they going? Warm reassures Fuzzy, and they do enjoy it, through all sorts of exciting adventures. Won's warmly colored artwork shows some of Fuzzy's anxieties as well as all the fun they have on their adventures. With themes of coping with anxiety, choosing to venture out even when it's scary, and finding wonderment in every day events, Rothman's book is a near ideal read-aloud for children. On their own, less experienced readers may be confused by the dialogue; neither text nor pictures indicates who the speaker is, and sometimes it seems as if both characters are speaking on a single image. VERDICT A solid read-aloud with themes of venturing out and dealing with anxieties.--Debbie Tanner
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two friends deal with pre-adventure jitters. An apple-cheeked, Sasquatch-esque creature named Warm proposes taking a trip. Fuzzy, who's smaller, with similar features and mouselike ears, responds with a list of what ifs. "What if it's really cold? Or super hot? What if it's scary? What if there are no bathrooms? Or worse, no toilet paper?!" As the two pack and begin the journey, Fuzzy asks where they're going, but Warm keeps that a secret. Warm reassures Fuzzy: "Everything really will be fine." But Fuzzy's worries come to a head on a page filled with the little creature's worries, expressed in stream-of-consciousness ramblings. Depending on how anxious the audience is, Fuzzy's concerns will either be all too relatable or lovably laughable. Warm responds with a pep talk, reminding the little one that the two of them are intelligent, resilient, and imaginative--words sure to fuel any uncertain youngster's foray into the unknown. The pair surefootedly step through a magical door; wordless scenes depict them thriving. Comfy pinks and browns anchor the images of the two sweet-faced protagonists. Fuzzy's frequent queries about toilet paper--and the lack thereof--keep the narrative from becoming too heavy. This tale will please anyone in the mood for a lighthearted adventure, though grown-ups will also want to share it with the young worrywarts in their lives. Brimming with positivity and camaraderie, a cozy story to help dispel anxieties.(Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
