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'Something Might Happen'
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[MARCH
10, 2004]
"Something
Might Happen," by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, Houghton Mifflin
Co., 30 pages, ages 3 to 6
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Review by Marlene Perry
"Twitchly Fidget trembled all
over. No, nothing had happened to him. But it might."
These are the opening lines of
the story of a young lemur who stays in his house all day long,
afraid to shampoo his hair or put on his sneakers or go outside when
his other lemur friends come calling.
Why is Twitchly Fidget afraid
to do these things? Because something might happen.
What if the shampoo wouldn't
rinse out? What if he put his sneakers on the wrong feet and he had
to walk cross-legged for the rest of his life? What if he went to
the parade with his friends and he got sucked up in a trombone?
Instead of seeing opportunities
for fun, Twitchly Fidget sees opportunities for disasters to happen
to him.
Does this remind you of any
young ones in your family? Children can develop concerns or even
real fears of everyday activities and social situations. What is
routine and common activity to adults can become a looming "what
if?" to the young child who tends to be shy or fearful. Our job as
trusted adults is to help these children have successful experiences
that will build their confidence and improve their outlook on life.
[to top of second column in
this review]
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 And that is just what happens
to Twitchly Fidget. Along comes his Aunt Bridget Fidget for a visit,
and she doesn't like what she sees. Aunt Bridget Fidget sets to work
shampooing, feeding and shoeing him. The shampoo rinses out, the
shoes go on the correct feet, his breakfast cereal turns out to
taste delicious -- and nothing bad happens!
Twitchly is now full of
confidence in himself and sets out to find his friends and have some
fun.
There might not be a quick fix
in store for your fearful little one. But it can be helpful to read
about others who share their difficulties and who learn to try
without anything bad happening to them.
This lesson in "Something Might
Happen" is illustrated with cute little ring-tailed lemurs. Lynn
Munsinger draws them in common clothing and familiar surroundings
that children will find amusing. Twitchly's "what if?" situations
are comically pictured to show how vivid a child's imagination can
be.
Your child will have some
giggles and laughs over the silly little lemur who learns an
important lesson about how to deal with his fears of the unknown.
To
check out this book and others, please visit the library at 725
Pekin St., or call (217) 732-5732.
[Marlene Perry,
Lincoln
Public Library District]
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