( 4 reviews )
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Dec 11 2005
School plays! There is always someone who has the shudders while others flutter in the limelight. Violet, that shyest of all 4th graders, is chosen to be "Lady Space" - - narrator for a production about the planets & other heavenly bodies. Violet's body is given to blushing deeply and shrinking under school desks. Cari Best's clever story will encourage many children with/or/without dramatic tendencies to brave the elements and shine forth. The author and Giselle Potter, painter of twig-legged children, have created an endearing tale of childhood trauma. It is colorfully constructed to show how a cocoon of shyness might come unraveled while laughing & even learning an elementary lesson in astronomy. Reviewer mcHAIKU exhorts everyone to encourage dramatic opportunities for every child. "Shrinking Violet" is great fun for sisters, brothers, classmates, parents. Many lessons cloaked in drama can lead us to 'intelligent life' !
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( 9 of 9 found this review helpful ) Posted: Mar 6 2002
A rare and delightful book about social anxiety disorder in childhood. Best aptly describes Violet's symptoms in an accurate and endearing way and communicates a basic truth of dealing with social anxiety - it gets better when you do the things you are afraid of. Beautifully illustrated and writen in an endearing style, children love the book and learn as they are giggling. As a psychologist, I've used this book in therapy with several children. It is a wonderful vehicle for helping them to understand and overcome their social and performance anxieties.
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( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Feb 14 2002
I think that this is a very interesting book. It shows how someone very shy and sometimes wants to just disappear gets over their fears. The main character is Violet. Violet always gets bullied around by Irwin who is always insulted her. One day Violet helped him out, to find out what happened read this book. I think that this is a very interesting book. It shows how someone very shy and sometimes wants to just disappear gets over their fears. The main character is Violet. Violet always gets bullied around by Irwin who is always insulted her. One day Violet helped him out, to find out what happened read this book.
