Timid

LoveReading4Kids Says

Following the author’s celebrated debut Grandad’s Camper, which won the Waterstone’s Children’s Illustrated Book Prize, comes a beautifully evocative story that will resonate with all children who have experienced shyness and anxiety about fitting in new situations.

Timmy loves to perform in the safety of their own room but whenever they were in a new situation they could never talk without the appearance of a giant lion who roars all their confidence away. It takes wonderfully straightforward classmate Nia to talk Timmy round. She is so accepting of difference and invisible friends and has a practical work together solution to their problems.

She shares her strategies for coping with anxiety and as they work together to prepare for the school play we get other tips too. When the lion attempts a come back and everything seems impossible Timmy realises that maybe the lion needs a hug too.

He has to love and accept himself before he can have the confidence to share with others. Charmingly illustrated, with a lovely warm palette and lots of visual detail, this deals very sensitively and sensibly with social anxiety and is also a great example of a book where the main character is naturally referred to with they/them pronouns. A valuable addition to class room collections.

Joy Court

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