The Little Bit Scary People

One little girl knows. The great big world is full of strange people. There are teenagers on skateboards. Yelling teachers and principals. Weird kids at school. Assumptions are easy to make. People are SCARY. This little girl knows something else. There are all different kinds of assumptions. And along with beautiful repetition she remembers to make those other ones too. "But I bet," teenagers love cats; principals dance, and even weird kids learn to ride their bikes. With poignant perception, Emily Jenkins simplifies a world too complicated for adults to explain and - often - to understand. THE LITTLE BIT SCARY PEOPLE is a crucial must-have book for the development of any child or adult: "Some people are a little bit SCARY. But then sometimes....they really are not." Jenkins gently reminds all of us how quickly "I bet" can become "I know."

A stunningly illustrated and wonderfully wise book that will help children realize that some of the "little bit scary people" in their lives may not be so scary after all. Through the imagination of one little girl, we see irritable, strict and intimidating teachers, bus drivers, skate boarders, etc., turn into warm, loving and joyful people in other situations. "The Little Bit Scary People" reminds us all that, like books, humans cannot be judged by their covers alone. A book that will be read and reread for its beauty, wisdom and reassurance and that is sure to provoke many important and interesting conversations with our children.

Emily Jenkin's words speak directly to a child's unspoken fears, and soothe them in a delightful and effective manner. There isn't a child on earth who hasn't been afraid of something almost inexplicable (to them) but utterly commonplace...and there isn't a child on earth who doesn't want to conquer that fear. The lovingly crafted words in this book address what it's like to be afraid...and what it's like to work your way through the fear... The true masterwork of the book is the amazing, evocative marriage of art and text. Alexandra Boiger's illustrations are gorgeous, vivid, and energetic...they reflect, with love and verve, the great big multicultural world we live in. Boiger's ability to create unique characters with great personality allows us to enter their worlds, establishing an emotional connection that will speak to generations of children. This is the book that all the children on my list will be getting for Christmas. It's one they'll remember, too, when they think about their favorites many years from now.