Here are reviews of several new books that deal with children's emotions and may open the door for discussions between parent and child.
WEMBERLY WORRIED, by Kevin Henkes; HarperCollins/Greenwillow; $15.95.
Wemberly worried about everything: the crack in the front room wall, the noise from the radiator, the chains on the playground swings.
"Don't worry!" her parents said, but Wemberly did. She worried about her birthday party (what if no one came?) and whether there would be enough cake.
Mostly Wemberly worried about school. What if the teacher was mean or she couldn't find the bathroom? "Don't worry!" said her parents. But she worried all the way there.
Henkes, author of "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" and "Owen," introduces another appealing mouse character and captures the essence of childhood as well as any author I know.
When Wemberly meets a kindred spirit in school, Henkes doesn't take a patronizing tone but shows only empathy between the two. The solution is left to the young reader. Wemberly speaks to the worrywart in all ages.
WHEN THEY FIGHT, by Kathryn White; illustrated by Cliff Wright; Winslow Press.
A small badger is frightened when his parents fight.
But when they make up, he feels safe . . . "I am warm in a cozy nest . . ."
Soft water-wash illustrations accompany simple text, and a special note by psychologist Barbara Kezur encourages open discussion and family dialogue.
SOME THINGS ARE SCARY, by Florence Parry Heide; illustrated by Jules Feiffer; Candlewick Press.
Heide, author of "The Shrinking of Treehorn," tells about things that are scary to children, like getting a shot, smelling a flower and finding a bee, reaching under the bed and grabbing something unexpected.
Feiffer's cartoonlike drawings make many things less frightening and even humorous.
Two books that display all kinds of feelings and moods are HOW ARE YOU PEELING? FOODS WITH MOODS, by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers; Scholastic/Levin, and GLAD MONSTER, SAD MONSTER, by Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda; Little, Brown. Dozens of expressions found in these books, from "amused" to "confused," can be studied, acted out or used as ways to react to everyday situations. Both books are bright and colorful with "read it again!" text.
Moving to a new home may bring lots of uneasy feelings. Jill Newsome and Claudio Munoz tell about those in SHADOW, DK Inc., when Rosy's family relocates to a new place, and the child's world is turned upside down. Simple text and soft, assuring illustrations deal with strange new shadows, missing friends and an unfamiliar school. "Shadow" is a must for children making a change in their young lives.
What about parents' feelings? D.W., GO TO YOUR ROOM! by Marc Brown; Little, Brown, and Mern Fox's HARRIET, YOU'LL DRIVE ME WILD!, Harcourt, offer a parent's perspective when children act up.
D.W. (in fact, the whole Arthur series) is familiar to young readers, and this seventh book tells about bad behavior as the title character is sent to her room after making baby Kate cry. Refrains like, "You don't have to treat me like a criminal" and "I'll run away . . ." should be familiar to children and adults. Feeling sorry for herself, D.W. finally resolves her conflict with a younger sibling and admits, "I must be the meanest sister in the whole world." Children and parents will adore this story.
Fox, along with wonderful pencil drawings by Marla Frazee, shows Harriet ("a pesky child") upsetting the breakfast juice, dribbling jam all over, dripping paint on the floor and ripping a pillow with thousands of feathers. Mother finally erupts and yells! And yells! Both Harriet and her mom admit they are sorry. Scenes from "Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!" are so familiar and, just like all the other books, can be an avenue for family discussion.