About This Book
Reach for Mr. Murry and Thumbkin when your child is paralyzed by 'what-ifs' or struggles to try new things because they are preoccupied with potential dangers. This gentle chapter book introduces Mr. Murry, a mouse who worries about every possible mishap, and his neighbor Thumbkin, who is perhaps a bit too relaxed. Through their burgeoning friendship, both characters learn that while it is important to be prepared, life is meant to be lived with joy and spontaneity. Written for the 5 to 8 age range, the story serves as a charming allegory for finding the middle ground between anxiety and recklessness. Parents will appreciate how Karma Wilson uses humor and animal characters to normalize the experience of worry without being clinical. It provides a shared vocabulary for families to discuss finding a 'balanced' perspective on risk and play.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with anxiety in a metaphorical, secular way. There are no heavy traumas; the focus is on the temperament of 'worry' itself. The resolution is hopeful and realistic, suggesting that personality traits don't disappear, but they can be managed through friendship and perspective.
