Say Hello, Sophie! by Rosemary Wells (review)

In this new entry in the Sophie series, the little mouse is having trouble saying a “Big Girl Hello” and “Big Girl Thank You.” Every time one of her parents tells her to say “hello,” “goodbye,” or “thank you” to another adult, “it was just too embarrassing for Sophie to say those grown-up words.” Luckily, Sophie’s grandmother comes to the rescue, getting a convenient toothache just outside the ice cream parlor: “Brave girl, take charge!” Granny tells Sophie, sending her inside to order. Without any adults to tell her what to say, Sophie finally overcomes her shyness. This sympathetic portrayal of a child’s difficulty speaking to and in front of adults will resonate both parents and little listeners. Sophie’s parents’ frustrations are treated with sympathy as they try to help their young daughter find her voice; their sidelong glances at their daughter and one another will be as familiar to parents as Sophie’s shyness is to children. The soft ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations, with an emphasis on candy-colored pastels, bring warmth and joy to the story, and fine textures entice viewers to pet the fur of the wide-eyed little mouse (or reach for the crunch of a crocodile cream puff); tight framing contains each scene, with just enough detail to keep things interesting without confusing the eye. The empowering ending shows shy kids the benefits of independence (you get ice cream!) and may even inspire them to test their courage and new social skills.