About the Author

KATIE DAVIS has written and illustrated seven books, including Who Hops?, a National Parenting Honor book, a Children's Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winner. She lives in New York. Please visit her at www.katiedavis.com. KATIE DAVIS has written and illustrated seven books, including Who Hops?, a National Parenting Honor book, a Children's Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winner. She lives in New York. Please visit her at www.katiedavis.com.

Reviews

"Bound to boost confidence at facing fears . . . terrific."--Kirkus Reviews --

Dexter Dugan is about to start kindergarten, and his stuffed dog, Rufus, "is an eensy teensy beensy bit scared" about it. Thankfully, Dex's third-grader sister, Jessie, sees that her brother is really the scared one and sets about cheerfully reassuring her sibling: "Don't worry, kindergarten rocks," says a cartoon bubble extending from Jessie. Dex's first-person narration maintains his false bravado. "I got Jessie to help me make a list of things Rufus was scared about. I'm not worried, though," reads the text, as Jessie busily writes at a desk, a flurry of papers swirling around her ("What if my teacher is mean?" reads one page, "What if I have to go #2?" reads another). The interplay of Dex's narrative, which addresses readers directly, and his cartoon-bubble exchanges with his sister respectfully and humorously covers a new student's cornucopia of concerns. Davis's (Who Hoots?) colorfully crayoned illustrations maintain an upbeat tone, even when Dex loses Rufus in class. The buoyant vignettes of Dex enjoying himself at school will reassure even the most fearful of the pre-kindergarten set. Ages 4-6. (July) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

"Bound to boost confidence at facing fears . . . terrific."--Kirkus Reviews --