Shrinking Violet

by Cari Best

Violet, who is very shy and hates for anyone to look at her in school, finally comes out of her shell when she is cast as Lady Space in a play about the solar system and saves the production from disaster.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Space, School, Friendship, Realistic Fiction

Hardcover

First published August 6, 2001

About the author

Cari Best has written many award-winning picture books, including Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and My Three Best Friends and Me, described by the New York Times as “refreshing” and “exciting.” Her most recent picture book is If I Could Drive, Mama, was described by Publishers Weekly as “a wonderful tribute to an imagination in perpetual motion.” In the Country of Queens is her first novel. Ms. Best lives in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Krista Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book because Violet is a character who struggles with being bullied and with having attention on her. I think it would make a great book to read to students because some of them will be able to relate to the way that Violet is feeling in the book. I also think there are a few examples of bullying that take place in the classroom and they may be just hurtful words but the way that Violet deals with those hurtful expressions from others may be beneficial to other students who go through similar struggles to hear. At the end especially Violet overcomes her bully because she becomes confident in herself and that is a lesson many children need to hear and apply to their own lives.

[Seema Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stage fright strikes at any age. This book shows a girl who learns to take the stage and handle the attention in stride.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet is an observer; she'd rather watch than be watched, and she's terrified of being in the spotlight. Her nemesis, Irwin, calls her names and says mean things. Poor Violet! She wants to fight back, but how? When her teacher assigns her a big part in the class play, Violet has an opportunity to show everyone what she's capable of doing!

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violet hates attention. Especially from her class bully, Irwin. But when the school play comes around, Violet gets her chance to put Irwin in his place and leave her days as a shrinking violet behind.

First I’ll address the illustrations which I did not like. Not only did I not like the style, but the boy who carries the German flag at the beginning of the book bares quite a resemblance to Hitler. That was just a weird, unnecessary decision and put me off of the book right from the start.

Personally I felt there was too much going on in this book and the author lacked a clear direction with the story. I felt like mixing up Violets distaste for attention (any attention) with a bullying storyline didn’t serve the whole lesson well. I would have been more interested overall if the author just showed us the different settings in which that Violet shirked attention, like at the swimming pool. That would have made her overcoming the fear of speaking up through the stage fright scene more impactful, without the muddied waters of the bullying. Instead, we had to see Violet sink to the level of her bully, in front of an entire audience. Her bully didn’t really learn any lesson because even though he said he was sorry he went on to call her her another name. And realistically Violet would be punished in some way at school for her words towards Irwin, but we don’t see any consequences for her in the book. This doesn’t seem like a good example for kids. I do want to say that I really appreciated the thoughtfulness of the teacher and her choice to find a suitable fit for Violets participation in the play. Although much attention wasn’t drawn to it by the author, this is definitely the practice of a high quality teacher.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book 3 stars.

This book is about Violet overcoming her fear of attention. There is this bully called Irwin who finds anyway to make fun of Violet. Each time this happens Violet just wants to shrink away from everyone. But one day, when the class has to put on the Solar System play, Violet gets the role of Lady Space. She is sitting at the back of the stage reading her lines so no one will see her. This then leads to Irwin who mess up the show having Violet read his lines. This makes Irwin apologize to Violet for all the bad things said. Violet realizes that there is nothing wrong with her and she is perfect the way she is.

Ways to use this in a classroom
1)Have students write about things they are scared over
2) Have students overcome one of their fears
3) Discuss as a class about bullying. Don't be like Irwin
4)Have students learn about the solar system and put on a play like the book
5) Think of other ways to remember the order of the plants with a different saying then in the book.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best's narrative supported and extended by Giselle Potter's distinctive illustrations tells the story of shy Violet and her nemesis a bully named Irwin. As Violet tries to avoid the spotlight and Irwin's attention, she shrinks away from attention drawing assignments until a school play about the solar system places Violet in the role of the mysterious lady of space. Luckily, she can stealthily contribute to the play and this time it is Irwin who withers under the attention in his role. Voilet finally finds her voice and her own way for dealing with her bully. This is a good story to springboard into discussions about these types of interactions especially in a classroom setting.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet is a shy girl who is treated poorly by a classmate. He calls her names and says mean thinsg about her. Even after she helps him, he is still mean to her. However, she learns not to let it bother her. She knows she's perfect the way she is.

[Cassidy Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a very good example of how picking on someone for your own pleasure does not get you anywhere. The boy in this book picks on the little girl but instead of letting it get to her or eat at her, the little girl saves the little boys role in the school play when he messes up. I really enjoyed how this book ended happily but yet still made sense with the overall story. I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it was well written and well narrated, but it was not my favorite book that I have read.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are more than we think we are. And sometimes we'll remember for the rest of our lives how we rose to a surprising challenge.

In this story:
* Classmate Irwin makes an obnoxious villian.
* While Violet turns into a gracious heroine.

FIVE STARS and thanks to Cari Best and Giselle Potter.

[Lolo Onda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little book with a great message about confidence and inner strength!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book's spirit. And the illustrations are delightful.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised that my son liked this story. There are lots of words (usually the first sign) and it is about a girl in school that doesn't like to be seen (kind of a difficult concept for a 3 y/o). It helped immensely that his first encounter with it was a Scholastic video. Animation apparently brought this one to life for him and he likes to watch it when he gets the chance. The book is good and even a little shorter (the movie plays out a little of the planets on stage) with nice illustrations. Grade school children and wallflowers would probably get more out of this than my toddler. We will probably revisit it (although we own the movie, so it will probably be in that version).

[Liuba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet was a kind of girl who didn’t like to be watched. She would rather go unnoticed because of her allergy to attention that makes her stomach turn upside down, as well as itch, scratch or twirl her hear. Violet is a special girl who can be wild and free with her true friend, Opal, but every tease of Irvin, the meanest guy at the class, shrinks her away. Once, a school project, launched out by the teacher, Mrs. Maxwell, put on an act all girl’s fears and jitters.

[Erin Weldon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shrinking Violet is a great story for children who are dealing with bullying or shyness. Almost every student today struggles with some form of bullying and some struggle with shyness. This story is definitely a story any elementary student can relate to. It helps children build confidence in themselves and strategies to overcome hurtful situations. I believe every teacher should incorporate this book into a short mini-lesson.

[Meredith Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet hates attention on her, and is constantly picked on by the class bully. However, when she’s with her best friend Opal, she isn’t shy at all. In the school play Violet saves the bully Irwin when he messes up. She realizes her importance and no longer shrinks away. This book touches on both social anxiety of young children, as well as bullying in the classroom and can be a good classroom read to address these issues.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kind of wish that someone had stepped in on Violet's behalf in this story rather than leaving her on her own with Irwin who was a real slug of a character. On the other hand, this was a satisfying end to the story as well. Though Irwin is going to keep being a pest and curiously, it's up to Violet to handle it.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet is nervous and embarrassed any time attention is drawn to her. So she prefers to stay out of the spotlight. But, in the end she still finds her place.

The pictures are colorful and the story is engaging.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet has an allergic reaction to attention, helped along by her rude classmate Irwin. She avoids the spotlight and appears to be on the verge of breaking out in hives. Slowly, with the help of friends and her teacher, Violet regains her confidence and shines in her own spotlight.

[Beth Huffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book important features is it teaches that every child has something to give to a classroom. It also shows how a girl dealt with a bully in her school. The book shows how someone who always whines she cannot do specific items, really can participate.

[Michelle Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet is a quiet girl who doesn't like to be noticed. She is the victim of bullying by Irwin. When her class is going to put on a play, Violet panics over part until she learns it will be played offstage providing Violet the chance to shine without uncomfortable attention.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Violet has many talents, but performing in front of others, or standing up to the classmate who belittles her are not among them. Her chance to shine comes at the class performance, where she is given a voice-over part that can be performed from off-stage.

[Paula.watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it when a book shows practical examples of a positive change in behavior! Violet is a shy girl who doesn't like attention of any kind. She is very talented at acting and learns to use her talents in a positive way!

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl is super shy and has a little boy how teases her all the time. She ends up being the voice of the Solar System play her classroom puts on so she doesn't have to be on the stage. She blossoms and the bully get a little pay back.

Okay illustrations.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though a good book to share with shy kids, I found the story to be too long did not find it very engaging.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

performer storytime

[Tuyet Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet was a shy girl. She shrunk when someone elses were teasing her. A backstage performance gained her confidence and outshine the play. No more teasing, please.

[Stacie Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of a shy girl who overcomes her fears and insignificance by being a lead in the class solar system play. She realizes she's who she is and that's great! Great self-image book!

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, a picture book about a girl who wants to be behind the scenes.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was always shy as a child and could relate to Violet. Luckily Violet found a talent that she was not afraid sharing with others. A nice story about having self-confidence and facing your fears.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story a young girl who is shy but learns she can hold her own against a bully and carry the show! Interestingly this book still has Pluto as a planet.