Comment

Feb 05, 2015mmcbeth29 rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
Charlie is a worrier. He constantly prepares just in case the worst happens. When it is raining he is worried it will flood so while he is inside, he gets his rain gear and an inflatable boat. When he gets a bossy babysitter, he behaves badly to send her away. He worries food will not be available, so he makes 117 peanut butter sandwiches. This worrying behavior goes on for several more parts of the story. The illustrations are mixed media and have a bit of a vintage feel to them. They are colorful and interesting. I was very concerned about this book. It is a very long book with one situation after another in which Charlie worries and over-prepares. Never does someone soothe his fears. Instead, I leave the book feeling like perhaps I should be worrying more because I don't prepare like Charlie does. I feel this book sets children up for fears. I could see no other purpose of the story. It has no positive resolution in the end. Charlie's friends come over unexpectedly and Charlie is not prepared like he prefers to be. This story is advertized for ages 3-7. I would not read this story to this age range as it may cause fears. I prefer stories that encourage positive thinking rather than the opposite. I love Judith Viorst, but I feel this is the first book of hers I have read that falls far short of the mark.