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Summary
Summary
Sam is an adorable new character whom preschoolers are sure to identify with. In this debut story, Sam thinks of himself as the bravest kid at school and calls his friends Max a scaredy-cat. But when Sam is scared by a spider, it's Max who saves the day. Now Sam does have something to be afraid of--what if Max tells everyone that it's really Sam who's the scaredy-cat?
Expressive, soft-edged illustrations capture the reassuring theme that everyone is afraid of something--it's how you face your fear that makes you brave.
Author Notes
Thierry Robberecht and Philippe Goossens have created 15 books together, including three other books about Sam, and their work has been published in 13 countries. They both live in Brussels.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Sam acts very brave around his friends, going down the slide headfirst and standing on the swings. However, although he would never admit it to his buddies, he is scared at bedtime and worries about monsters and ghosts hiding in his room. One day, when a "gigantic hairy spider with extra-long legs" lands on his hand, he begins to cry in front of his pal Max. That night, Sam is afraid that Max will tell everyone about his reaction and call him "Scaredy-cat Sam." His father calmly explains that "everyone is scared of something," helping him confront his night anxieties as well as his concern about his peers. With Dad's encouragement, Sam gains a new confidence and is no longer afraid of being called a scaredy-cat. Goossens's bright-hued, fuzzy-edged oil illustrations exude charm and the exuberance of the animal characters. Although the subject is not original, both text and art deftly reflect the targeted age group, and youngsters will relate to Sam's plight, making the book a sound selection for discussing fears.-Piper L. Nyman, formerly at Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
For Sam, acting like things don't bother him is key to maintaining his image among his classmates. Whether he's going down the slide headfirst or watching scary movies with his eyes wide open, Sam says, "I'm not scared of anything. At least, that's what all my friends think." His voice captures his inner battle of managing his own fear while dealing with a best friend who happens to exhibit the same behavior that Max so desperately tries to conceal. But before readers can wonder why Sam would pair himself with a scaredy-cat like Max (who's too afraid to climb trees and would rather play "boring soccer"), they witness a turn of events. When Sam lets his guard down upon seeing a scary spider, he suddenly worries if Max will divulge the truth to everyone. Robberecht (Angry Dragon, with Goossens) employs a parental vehicle to reinforce the idea of why being afraid is a natural feeling everyone experiences at one time or another, and Goossens's use of pastels help to keep Sam's risk-taking from seeming too frightening. With the added reassurance of a real pal who passes the ultimate test of friendship by keeping his secret safe, Sam finally sees that being true to oneself isn't so scary after all. Ages 3-6. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Sam isn't afraid of anything, except letting his friends know that he's sometimes scared. He does daring feats on the playground, watches scary movies without closing his eyes and makes fun of his friend, Max, who is afraid of everything. But that all changes when Sam finds a spider on his hand. While he's paralyzed and cries, Max calmly removes the spider. Now Sam really has something to fear--that Max will tell his friends that Sam's a scaredy-cat. A nighttime chat with his Dad, though, leads Sam to realize that everyone is afraid of something, and that's okay. Even Max benefits--seeming brave in Sam's eyes, he becomes more willing to try new things. Goossens's oils suit the youngest listeners, with close-ups on the characters and few distracting details. Robberecht's text is the perfect springboard for conversations with young children about fear, bravery, teasing and peer pressure. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Two dog friends give a canine twist to a story of friendship and childhood fears. Although Sam isn't scared of anything, his best friend, Max, is afraid of everything. Sam talks about going down the slide head first, standing on the swings, and watching scary movies with his eyes open (though he does get scared at night when he wonders if there are monsters under his bed). On the other hand, Max won't even climb a tree. When a big, hairy spider lands on Sam's hand, he's very scared, but Max comes to his rescue, picking it up and putting it on a leaf. Now Sam is scared of Max! What if Max tells? Bold oil\b \b0 illustrations, with carefully outlined shapes, feature pert, humorous-looking dogs with oversize heads to convey the story's message. --Julie Cummins Copyright 2006 Booklist