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Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage Over Fear
Meet Sticky Icky Vicky, a girl who wants to get over her fear—once and for all
In Courage over Fear, the first book in the Sticky Icky Vicky™ series, authors Alysia and Michael Ssentamu introduce readers to Vicky, a fun-loving girl who doesn’t mind getting a little sticky and icky. She loves rolling down hills and playing in mud—but when it comes to water, Sticky Icky Vicky’s fear prevents her from joining in the fun. Then Vicky gets an invitation for a waterpark party, and she decides that she really wants to go—even if it means ignoring the Negative Ned voice in her head and getting over her fear.
With vibrant illustrations and catchy rhymes, Courage over Fear offers children an inspirational/loveable heroine who learns some valuable life lessons, such as:
● Courage
● Positive thinking
● Goal-setting
Aimed primarily at readers aged six to ten, Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a reading experience that leaves kids believing that they, like Vicky, can get past any obstacle in their way.
In Courage over Fear, the first book in the Sticky Icky Vicky™ series, authors Alysia and Michael Ssentamu introduce readers to Vicky, a fun-loving girl who doesn’t mind getting a little sticky and icky. She loves rolling down hills and playing in mud—but when it comes to water, Sticky Icky Vicky’s fear prevents her from joining in the fun. Then Vicky gets an invitation for a waterpark party, and she decides that she really wants to go—even if it means ignoring the Negative Ned voice in her head and getting over her fear.
With vibrant illustrations and catchy rhymes, Courage over Fear offers children an inspirational/loveable heroine who learns some valuable life lessons, such as:
● Courage
● Positive thinking
● Goal-setting
Aimed primarily at readers aged six to ten, Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a reading experience that leaves kids believing that they, like Vicky, can get past any obstacle in their way.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
38 pages, Paperback
Published October 19, 2021
About the author
Alysia Ssentamu
5 books2 followersMichael and Alysia are husband and wife health professionals and the minds behind Sticky Icky Vicky. In 2019, they wanted to write a book that inspired children to believe that, no matter what, they had the power to choose to overcome their fears.
That book became Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear. It’s a story for anyone—big or small—who needs some encouragement to get over a fear. Vicky wants everyone to know that we can all grow as individuals and improve our lives by using the power to choose wisely. By taking little steps, we get closer to our goal each and every day.
That book became Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear. It’s a story for anyone—big or small—who needs some encouragement to get over a fear. Vicky wants everyone to know that we can all grow as individuals and improve our lives by using the power to choose wisely. By taking little steps, we get closer to our goal each and every day.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 17, 2021
While Vicky loves playing in the mud, she has a fear of water. Can she overcome her fear so she can go to the waterpark party? Vicky is an outdoor girl who doesn’t mind getting dirty. She adores rolling down hills and playing in the muck. She has one thing, though, that petrifies her: water. When she gets invited to a party taking place at a waterpark, she feels conflicted. She really wants to go but the negative voice in her head tries to talk her out of going. Can Vicky grab a hold of her inner courage to silence the negative thoughts while overcoming her fear?
Sticky Icky Vicky - Courage over Fear is a delightful story for children the whole family will enjoy. The illustrations are expressive, colorful, and imaginative. I’m not sure if it is hand-drawn or computer-generated but the illustrations are gorgeous. I especially liked how realistic the expressions are. The words are lyrical and in bold letters which makes it easy for kids to read along. The plot progresses at a good pace with important life lessons intertwined. Children will relate to Vicky on so many levels. Sticky Icky Vicky - Courage over Fear is a wonderful tale and one I highly recommend!
Age-appropriate for children six to ten.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Sticky Icky Vicky - Courage over Fear is a delightful story for children the whole family will enjoy. The illustrations are expressive, colorful, and imaginative. I’m not sure if it is hand-drawn or computer-generated but the illustrations are gorgeous. I especially liked how realistic the expressions are. The words are lyrical and in bold letters which makes it easy for kids to read along. The plot progresses at a good pace with important life lessons intertwined. Children will relate to Vicky on so many levels. Sticky Icky Vicky - Courage over Fear is a wonderful tale and one I highly recommend!
Age-appropriate for children six to ten.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
July 11, 2021
A huge thanks to PIxel Publishing House for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book tells the story of Vicky, a fun-loving girl who doesn’t mind getting a little sticky and icky but is scared of getting into water because she is scared of water after what happens to her (not going to tell you what). Her fear stops her from bathing or swimming but then she gets invited to a party that involves water. Once there she has to battle Negative Ned who is always so negative. This is a beautiful book for young readers on fear , courage and finding your own.The illustrations were brilliantly done and the story so heartwarming. Highly recommend
This book tells the story of Vicky, a fun-loving girl who doesn’t mind getting a little sticky and icky but is scared of getting into water because she is scared of water after what happens to her (not going to tell you what). Her fear stops her from bathing or swimming but then she gets invited to a party that involves water. Once there she has to battle Negative Ned who is always so negative. This is a beautiful book for young readers on fear , courage and finding your own.The illustrations were brilliantly done and the story so heartwarming. Highly recommend
October 18, 2021
Sticky Icky Vicky by Alysia Ssentamu & Michael Ssentamu is a beautiful and brilliant children's fiction book that has a lot to teach the kids.
This book is really good and has such amazing characters. I loved Vicky and her friends, but apart from them I also loved how the authors intuitively and smartly created Negative Ned and Positive Ted. I mean, it is a stroke of brilliance because it makes this book a precious gem that will teach the children about the negative and the positive voice inside their heads (which we all know but are scared of most of the time.)
The story is great and I loved how the authors displayed courage in this engaging story. The illustrations are beautiful and made reading this book a real treat! I would definitely recommend this book to all parents for their kids because it is a very educative and entertaining read.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
This book is really good and has such amazing characters. I loved Vicky and her friends, but apart from them I also loved how the authors intuitively and smartly created Negative Ned and Positive Ted. I mean, it is a stroke of brilliance because it makes this book a precious gem that will teach the children about the negative and the positive voice inside their heads (which we all know but are scared of most of the time.)
The story is great and I loved how the authors displayed courage in this engaging story. The illustrations are beautiful and made reading this book a real treat! I would definitely recommend this book to all parents for their kids because it is a very educative and entertaining read.
You can also read this review on www.thereadingbud.com
January 7, 2022
I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
When I got the request for this book I knew I had to try it out! Vicky reminded me of Pig-Pen from Charlie Brown along with that she reminded me of myself, I used to come home in scrapes and some dirt when I was little. Though unlike Vicky I did shower, my parents weren’t going to let me just walk around dirty. XD I was curious to read this story!
In this fun rhyming story we meet Vicky. She loves to play outside and will go all out. Mud? Rolling in it! Dust? Loves her. She doesn’t care about getting dirty. I loved seeing her play in the playground and have the best of times. I kind of miss being a kid and just be able to play till you drop.
Then we learn why Vicky has a fear for water and I could understand things a bit more clearly. I could very well understand that she wasn’t going to be near any water after that. It doesn’t help that she got a voice in her head along with that fear and I just felt so sad for her. But I also wondered how in heavens did the parents NOT do anything to help to get rid of that fear, I mean, its been 5 (!!!) years since what happened and she is still terrified and still has that annoying baddie in her head.
While I was happy for Vicky when she decided to go for it and yes I was cheering, I was kind of wondering, if this happened at 3, and it is now 5 years later… when did she learn to swim??? I mean, when she goes in the swimming pool she is wearing ZERO gear to help her stay afloat. It is just not safe. Not to mention, no swimming pool here would have allowed Vicky to enter given how dirty she is. She would have just been send back to the showers to clean up before heading into the water.
Still, I was proud of her to finally face her fear, finally face that annoying voice in her head and just tell him to shut up and leave her be. I was so happy that she finally noticed that water wasn’t scary and that she had nothing to worry about. That she found a new and positive voice!
All in all, despite some things that I thought seemed odd, I did think this was a cute and fun story and I loved the message. I also liked the extras at the end with some tips and hints and also some questions that you and your kid can do together. I also liked the illustrations, they were so cute and colourful.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
When I got the request for this book I knew I had to try it out! Vicky reminded me of Pig-Pen from Charlie Brown along with that she reminded me of myself, I used to come home in scrapes and some dirt when I was little. Though unlike Vicky I did shower, my parents weren’t going to let me just walk around dirty. XD I was curious to read this story!
In this fun rhyming story we meet Vicky. She loves to play outside and will go all out. Mud? Rolling in it! Dust? Loves her. She doesn’t care about getting dirty. I loved seeing her play in the playground and have the best of times. I kind of miss being a kid and just be able to play till you drop.
Then we learn why Vicky has a fear for water and I could understand things a bit more clearly. I could very well understand that she wasn’t going to be near any water after that. It doesn’t help that she got a voice in her head along with that fear and I just felt so sad for her. But I also wondered how in heavens did the parents NOT do anything to help to get rid of that fear, I mean, its been 5 (!!!) years since what happened and she is still terrified and still has that annoying baddie in her head.
While I was happy for Vicky when she decided to go for it and yes I was cheering, I was kind of wondering, if this happened at 3, and it is now 5 years later… when did she learn to swim??? I mean, when she goes in the swimming pool she is wearing ZERO gear to help her stay afloat. It is just not safe. Not to mention, no swimming pool here would have allowed Vicky to enter given how dirty she is. She would have just been send back to the showers to clean up before heading into the water.
Still, I was proud of her to finally face her fear, finally face that annoying voice in her head and just tell him to shut up and leave her be. I was so happy that she finally noticed that water wasn’t scary and that she had nothing to worry about. That she found a new and positive voice!
All in all, despite some things that I thought seemed odd, I did think this was a cute and fun story and I loved the message. I also liked the extras at the end with some tips and hints and also some questions that you and your kid can do together. I also liked the illustrations, they were so cute and colourful.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 26, 2021
What a lovely story, full of the most beautiful illustrations (gave me some Moana vibes with the colour scheme), and a positive message of choosing courage over fear.
This book is written by professionals, aimed at readers aged 6 to 10 years. It tells the story of Sticky Icky Vicky, who at the age of 3 had a mishap in the sea where a rogue wave caught her, sweep her to far out and although her dad managed to get to her, she has been left with a crippling fear of water. Through this fear, Vicky avoids water at whatever cost she can, showering only once a week. She really does loves getting messy and dirty, which is how she’s earned her ‘Sticky Icky’ nickname. As the story moves on, Vicky is invited to one of her best friends birthday party, which is a “water slide birthday splash”. Vicky desperately wants to go, and although her friends are very understanding of her fears, she decides enough is enough for it is time to face her fears once and for all. Which she does successfully and her mindset goes from negative feelings and fear to positive feelings and courage when facing difficult situations.
I think this child-friendly story perfectly portrays Vicky’s feelings of fear and anxiety, naming her inner voice Negative Ned whenever these feelings emerge. Going forward to bravely facing these fears and as she chooses courage over fear, it clearly shows how Negative Ned can transform into Positive Ted, who sticks around and helps support and encourage Vicky to cope from there on when she encounters difficult, challenging situations.
What a lovely, beautifully illustrated story that deserves a space on every child’s bookshelf!
| Thank you netgalley, the publisher and author for this e-ARC and giving me the opportunity to read and review the story. |
This book is written by professionals, aimed at readers aged 6 to 10 years. It tells the story of Sticky Icky Vicky, who at the age of 3 had a mishap in the sea where a rogue wave caught her, sweep her to far out and although her dad managed to get to her, she has been left with a crippling fear of water. Through this fear, Vicky avoids water at whatever cost she can, showering only once a week. She really does loves getting messy and dirty, which is how she’s earned her ‘Sticky Icky’ nickname. As the story moves on, Vicky is invited to one of her best friends birthday party, which is a “water slide birthday splash”. Vicky desperately wants to go, and although her friends are very understanding of her fears, she decides enough is enough for it is time to face her fears once and for all. Which she does successfully and her mindset goes from negative feelings and fear to positive feelings and courage when facing difficult situations.
I think this child-friendly story perfectly portrays Vicky’s feelings of fear and anxiety, naming her inner voice Negative Ned whenever these feelings emerge. Going forward to bravely facing these fears and as she chooses courage over fear, it clearly shows how Negative Ned can transform into Positive Ted, who sticks around and helps support and encourage Vicky to cope from there on when she encounters difficult, challenging situations.
What a lovely, beautifully illustrated story that deserves a space on every child’s bookshelf!
| Thank you netgalley, the publisher and author for this e-ARC and giving me the opportunity to read and review the story. |
June 5, 2022
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear
Author: Alysia Ssentamu, Michael Ssentamu, ill. by Noor Alshalabi
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
19 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is such a fun story. Vicky is a good character. I loved that she enjoys getting messy, but then she won´t go in the bath! I think the illustrator is amazing too.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from her teacher
“I think this would be a fab cartoon on TV, with the girl being the hero of the story.” Boy, aged 8
“Everybody is scared of a different thing. I´m scared of spiders. I don´t like have creepy they look and how they suddenly run. But I need to be like Vicky and be braver.” Girl, aged 7 – with a little help from her teacher
“Such a wonderful story led by a strong, fun-loving character who children will relate to. Excellent message of being brave and overcoming problems – like hating water! The author, with a little help from the illustrator, balance telling a fun story with putting across an important message. Never an easy thing to do.” Primary school teacher, aged 55
“I liked how it rhymed the best.” Girl, aged 6
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly illustrated story with a strong message of facing our fears. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear
Author: Alysia Ssentamu, Michael Ssentamu, ill. by Noor Alshalabi
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 19
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 19 readers:
19 would read another book by this author.
19 thought the cover was good or excellent.
19 felt it was easy to follow.
19 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
19 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
19 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This is such a fun story. Vicky is a good character. I loved that she enjoys getting messy, but then she won´t go in the bath! I think the illustrator is amazing too.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from her teacher
“I think this would be a fab cartoon on TV, with the girl being the hero of the story.” Boy, aged 8
“Everybody is scared of a different thing. I´m scared of spiders. I don´t like have creepy they look and how they suddenly run. But I need to be like Vicky and be braver.” Girl, aged 7 – with a little help from her teacher
“Such a wonderful story led by a strong, fun-loving character who children will relate to. Excellent message of being brave and overcoming problems – like hating water! The author, with a little help from the illustrator, balance telling a fun story with putting across an important message. Never an easy thing to do.” Primary school teacher, aged 55
“I liked how it rhymed the best.” Girl, aged 6
To Sum It Up:
‘A superbly illustrated story with a strong message of facing our fears. A BRONZE MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
March 30, 2022
I loved this book so much! Great story of overcoming fears for children!
October 18, 2021
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear by Alysia & Michael Ssentamu
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a beautiful story that encourages children to overcome obstacles and gives them the courage to enjoy exciting new adventures in this big world.
Meet Vicky, a funny girl who loves to play outside with her friends Rhea and Betty, rolling on hills and sometimes playing in the mud. She is often covered in dirt, looking all icky and sticky. That's why her friends call her StIcky Icky Vicky.
She lives near a beach, but Vicky has a fear of water and doesn't even like to bathe because of an accident at the age of three. She wanted to have fun on the beach with her friends, but some negative voices in her mind were preventing her from going into the water.
Follow this incredible story of Sticky Icky Vicky to know what happens when Betty invites Vicky for her birthday party at the water park and how Vicky overcomes her negative thoughts with the help of her friends and family and determines to join the fun at the water park.
The story is very relevant for children and teaches children to face their fear and overcome them with the support of family and friends.
Vibrant illustrations make this book a fun learning experience for children.
Perfect for 5+
Grab your copy from Amazon.
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a beautiful story that encourages children to overcome obstacles and gives them the courage to enjoy exciting new adventures in this big world.
Meet Vicky, a funny girl who loves to play outside with her friends Rhea and Betty, rolling on hills and sometimes playing in the mud. She is often covered in dirt, looking all icky and sticky. That's why her friends call her StIcky Icky Vicky.
She lives near a beach, but Vicky has a fear of water and doesn't even like to bathe because of an accident at the age of three. She wanted to have fun on the beach with her friends, but some negative voices in her mind were preventing her from going into the water.
Follow this incredible story of Sticky Icky Vicky to know what happens when Betty invites Vicky for her birthday party at the water park and how Vicky overcomes her negative thoughts with the help of her friends and family and determines to join the fun at the water park.
The story is very relevant for children and teaches children to face their fear and overcome them with the support of family and friends.
Vibrant illustrations make this book a fun learning experience for children.
Perfect for 5+
Grab your copy from Amazon.
December 9, 2021
I am a passionate reader when it comes to Children books , as there can be no best way to inculcate the values among young ones other than short stories with captivating illustrations and author has come up with an alluring story with a great message for the young ones .
The Author talks about Vicky who is a charming ,playful ,outdoor loving girl who loves to play with her best friends Rhea and Betty . While playing , she gets covered with dirt , looking all icky and sticky that is why her friends call her Sticky Icky Vicky . Although she likes to get dirty but doesn’t like to bath and has fear of water .Her fear of water started after the sea accident .She would have drowned if her father wouldn’t have saved her and since then she tries to avoid to get in the water .
Read out the intriguing narrative to know how she overcome her fear of water . It was really interesting to read the story . And it shows that nothing is impossible if you decide to overcome it and choose courage over fear .
Author has also shared some of the questions in last related to fear and are really interesting to answer .Book is a short read with only 38 pages and the captivating illustrations made it more engaging to read . The cover chosen by the author is really pretty and designed creatively to fascinate the attention of readers . The title goes well with the plot .
Would definitely recommend this book to everyone
The Author talks about Vicky who is a charming ,playful ,outdoor loving girl who loves to play with her best friends Rhea and Betty . While playing , she gets covered with dirt , looking all icky and sticky that is why her friends call her Sticky Icky Vicky . Although she likes to get dirty but doesn’t like to bath and has fear of water .Her fear of water started after the sea accident .She would have drowned if her father wouldn’t have saved her and since then she tries to avoid to get in the water .
Read out the intriguing narrative to know how she overcome her fear of water . It was really interesting to read the story . And it shows that nothing is impossible if you decide to overcome it and choose courage over fear .
Author has also shared some of the questions in last related to fear and are really interesting to answer .Book is a short read with only 38 pages and the captivating illustrations made it more engaging to read . The cover chosen by the author is really pretty and designed creatively to fascinate the attention of readers . The title goes well with the plot .
Would definitely recommend this book to everyone
August 7, 2021
I loved STICKY ICKY VICKY by Alysia & Michael Ssentamu aimed at children age 6-10 years old. The multicultural illustrations are beautiful! The story of fear well described and written. I can't wait to introduce to my grandchildren. I loved the language, positivity and energy in the book.
I especially liked the questions for starting conversations at the back of the book. A very good addition which will spark off talking about FEAR.
I would recommend this book and give a 5 star rating.
I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
I especially liked the questions for starting conversations at the back of the book. A very good addition which will spark off talking about FEAR.
I would recommend this book and give a 5 star rating.
I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
December 13, 2021
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is about a girl who had a close call and almost drowned so, understandably, she’s now afraid of water. She doesn’t even shower more than once a week! As time goes on, she realizes that she’s going to miss out on a lot of adventures in her life if she keeps thinking negative thoughts. With her friends’ encouragement, she gets the courage to test the waters again.
This is my kind of children’s story. It’s cute with illustrations that will keep the attention of young children. At the same time, it teaches them that positive thinking is important and will help overcome fears.
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is about a girl who had a close call and almost drowned so, understandably, she’s now afraid of water. She doesn’t even shower more than once a week! As time goes on, she realizes that she’s going to miss out on a lot of adventures in her life if she keeps thinking negative thoughts. With her friends’ encouragement, she gets the courage to test the waters again.
This is my kind of children’s story. It’s cute with illustrations that will keep the attention of young children. At the same time, it teaches them that positive thinking is important and will help overcome fears.
February 4, 2022
Rated 4 1/2 on the blo (NG doesn't have this capacity. Readers meet Sticky Icky Vicky in what is an ultimately positive rhyming story about overcoming fears. A book suitable for 6 to 10 year olds.
The book is rhyming, which makes it great for using for 6 to 10 year olds. It’s enjoyable for this age group and is a positive story that is conveyed well for this age group. The fact it rhymes makes the fear less daunting in a way and makes it seem more palatable to read as it is less heavy than it may have been otherwise, especially for the younger part of this age group. For the whole age group, the book can be used as a discussion opener with children who have similar issues to Vicky surrounding water.
The story starts with Vicky having fun with friends, but soon it is revealed that she has a fear of water, the reason being explained within the story. This then begins to have an impact on her life, especially, in this instance, her social life as her instinct is to decline an invite to a water park. Instead of doing this, she decides to be brave and confront her fear and the thoughts in her head, which materialise as “Negative Ned”. There are however more positive thoughts, which materialise as “Positive Ted” to combat the negativity.
The book can help children see that something is worth a try, even though they are fearful at first because it could be more fun than they first imagined. So, it could be used as a tool to help widen children’s interests and their world and build courage and resilience.
The book is rhyming, which makes it great for using for 6 to 10 year olds. It’s enjoyable for this age group and is a positive story that is conveyed well for this age group. The fact it rhymes makes the fear less daunting in a way and makes it seem more palatable to read as it is less heavy than it may have been otherwise, especially for the younger part of this age group. For the whole age group, the book can be used as a discussion opener with children who have similar issues to Vicky surrounding water.
The story starts with Vicky having fun with friends, but soon it is revealed that she has a fear of water, the reason being explained within the story. This then begins to have an impact on her life, especially, in this instance, her social life as her instinct is to decline an invite to a water park. Instead of doing this, she decides to be brave and confront her fear and the thoughts in her head, which materialise as “Negative Ned”. There are however more positive thoughts, which materialise as “Positive Ted” to combat the negativity.
The book can help children see that something is worth a try, even though they are fearful at first because it could be more fun than they first imagined. So, it could be used as a tool to help widen children’s interests and their world and build courage and resilience.
October 5, 2021
My daughter absolutely LOVED this book at age two, but I felt like the topic was a little heavy for my older child. The fun rhymes and adorable illustrations had my daughter from page 1. If your child had an event that has caused them anxiety, I think this book would be a great way to open up the conversation on how to move forward.
October 2, 2021
Review of Sticky Icky Vicky by Alysia & Michael Ssentamu
This was a lovely children's book, about helping kids to overcome their fears, with the moto "Courage over Fear". Well written with beautiful illustrations. My six year old daughter loved the story and has read it numerous times. Recommend
This was a lovely children's book, about helping kids to overcome their fears, with the moto "Courage over Fear". Well written with beautiful illustrations. My six year old daughter loved the story and has read it numerous times. Recommend
July 26, 2021
The book is very short and full of energy. This is a perfect book for children to read and understand about their fears and come out of them. Vicky was feared of water and she bathed once a week after the incident on the beach but she overcomes fear with help of her friends and her courage to come out of the fear of water.
Whether we are an adult or child, we all have some fears that make to be stagnant, we should be fearless. We may fail but we should have the courage to do what we love and wish.
Whether we are an adult or child, we all have some fears that make to be stagnant, we should be fearless. We may fail but we should have the courage to do what we love and wish.
December 17, 2021
Beautiful book, absolutely stunning and inspiring. Tells a story of friendship and overcoming fear. I am 37 and found myself feeling inspired by this book even though I was reading it with my child. I would highly recommend it!!
I commend the authors for bringing this story to life in such a realistic and relatable way. Well done
I commend the authors for bringing this story to life in such a realistic and relatable way. Well done
June 24, 2021
This story is about a little girl named Vicky who doesn't mind getting messy. She loved playing in the mud. But she has a fear. And the story you learn positive thinking, setting goals, and courage. I love the rhyming throughout the story. I love how the characters were very diverse. The illustrations were appropriate for this age group. I recommend this book to 6 to 12 year olds. I give this book five stars.
May 22, 2021
This is the tale of a little girl who has a big fear of water. When Vicky was younger, she had a negative experience in the sea, which impacted on her desire to be anywhere near water from then on. She earns the name 'Sticky Icky Vicky,' because of her love of getting so involved in her games and play time, where she gets super grubby; her problem is that she doesn't want to wash afterwards.
Her mother tries to encourage her to have a bath, but to no avail, with Sticky Icky Vicky finding excuses why she can't possibly have a bath. The illustrations by Noor Alshalabi demonstrate well, the mess that this little girl gets herself into, without losing the fun that she has whilst doing it. The story goes on to explain exactly why Vicky is so afraid of the water, using beautiful pastel colours when showing scenes of the beach.
Sticky Icky Vicky experiences a pessimistic inner voice, Negative Ned, who prevents her from trying or enjoying new things, based on her past experiences. You could argue that this is the equivalent to the characters 'Disgust' or 'Fear' in Disney Pixar's 'Inside Out', who's job is to keep Riley safe, but in doing so, without the balance of Joy, prevents her from doing anything at all.
Vicky watches her friends play in the water, and wants to join in, but Negative Ned convinces her that she is incapable of being in the water for fear of drowning. This causes upset and ultimately leads to her fears coming to a head, when she is invited to a birthday party at a waterpark.
Despite her inner voice's best efforts, Vicky decides that she's going to be brave and attend the party. Her dad reassures her that her friends will be there to support her too, but Vicky is anxious. With one last ditch attempt to put her off, Negative Ned appears once more, but this time, Vicky isn't listening. Once in the pool, Vicky's fears dissipate, and she begins to enjoy being in the water.
Vicky has a new inner voice now, Positive Ted, This voice tells her that she can do things and that she is good enough. With this new positive self-talk, Vicky is icky and sticky no more. Alysia and Michael Ssentamu use rhyming sentences throughout, to tell children that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. With sweet, simple pictures to accompany the story, and a message to 'BELIEVE IN YOURSELF,' the authors convey a wonderful, important subject.
At the end, there are some statements and questions about how to address worries and fears, to reiterate the message of the book, which is a nice addition to the book.
Her mother tries to encourage her to have a bath, but to no avail, with Sticky Icky Vicky finding excuses why she can't possibly have a bath. The illustrations by Noor Alshalabi demonstrate well, the mess that this little girl gets herself into, without losing the fun that she has whilst doing it. The story goes on to explain exactly why Vicky is so afraid of the water, using beautiful pastel colours when showing scenes of the beach.
Sticky Icky Vicky experiences a pessimistic inner voice, Negative Ned, who prevents her from trying or enjoying new things, based on her past experiences. You could argue that this is the equivalent to the characters 'Disgust' or 'Fear' in Disney Pixar's 'Inside Out', who's job is to keep Riley safe, but in doing so, without the balance of Joy, prevents her from doing anything at all.
Vicky watches her friends play in the water, and wants to join in, but Negative Ned convinces her that she is incapable of being in the water for fear of drowning. This causes upset and ultimately leads to her fears coming to a head, when she is invited to a birthday party at a waterpark.
Despite her inner voice's best efforts, Vicky decides that she's going to be brave and attend the party. Her dad reassures her that her friends will be there to support her too, but Vicky is anxious. With one last ditch attempt to put her off, Negative Ned appears once more, but this time, Vicky isn't listening. Once in the pool, Vicky's fears dissipate, and she begins to enjoy being in the water.
Vicky has a new inner voice now, Positive Ted, This voice tells her that she can do things and that she is good enough. With this new positive self-talk, Vicky is icky and sticky no more. Alysia and Michael Ssentamu use rhyming sentences throughout, to tell children that if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. With sweet, simple pictures to accompany the story, and a message to 'BELIEVE IN YOURSELF,' the authors convey a wonderful, important subject.
At the end, there are some statements and questions about how to address worries and fears, to reiterate the message of the book, which is a nice addition to the book.
January 5, 2022
Vicky loves the outdoors. It doesn’t matter how dirty the activity is, Vicky does it with all her heart. She is very proud of her nickname Sticky Icky Vicky that was given to her by her two best friends Rhea and Betty. Vicky did have one fear though, water. When she was just three years old she almost drowned in the ocean. Her dad saved her, but ever since she avoids the water, even baths. But one day Betty invites Vicky to her birthday party and it is at a waterslide park. Vicky must overcome her fear or she will not be able to go to the party.
Picture book Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear by authors Alysia and Michael Ssentamu tells the story of a courageous young girl that has to battle her fear of the water in order to not miss out on fun things with her friends. Believe in yourself is the theme of the book and it is presented in a tangible way that elementary school-age children will be able to conceptualize.
Illustrator Noor Alshalabi uses her colorful and whimsical drawings to engage children in this heartwarming story of overcoming fears. The stunning artwork will draw in readers and really bring this meaningful story to life. The authors include at the end of the book statements and questions for teachers and parents to use to open up the discussion of fear with children. This is an invaluable resource for this complex topic. Another great inclusion to this extraordinary children’s book is a QR code to the audio reading of the book.
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a great character-building picture book for elementary-age children. Parents and teachers will love the resources included in helping bring home this topic and make the concept approachable to children.
Picture book Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear by authors Alysia and Michael Ssentamu tells the story of a courageous young girl that has to battle her fear of the water in order to not miss out on fun things with her friends. Believe in yourself is the theme of the book and it is presented in a tangible way that elementary school-age children will be able to conceptualize.
Illustrator Noor Alshalabi uses her colorful and whimsical drawings to engage children in this heartwarming story of overcoming fears. The stunning artwork will draw in readers and really bring this meaningful story to life. The authors include at the end of the book statements and questions for teachers and parents to use to open up the discussion of fear with children. This is an invaluable resource for this complex topic. Another great inclusion to this extraordinary children’s book is a QR code to the audio reading of the book.
Sticky Icky Vicky: Courage over Fear is a great character-building picture book for elementary-age children. Parents and teachers will love the resources included in helping bring home this topic and make the concept approachable to children.
October 20, 2021
The book is about a girl named Vicky who likes to get icky. Hence, the name Sticky Icky Vicky, given to her by her friends. Vicky likes to roll around in the mud and play but has a terrible fear of water. When she was only 3, she had a scary experience in the ocean with a rogue wave and she has been terrified ever since. Her fear even has a name, Negative Ned. He is the inner voice in Vicky’s head telling her to keep being afraid of water. Vicky gets an invitation to a waterpark birthday party and must face her fears or lose out on fun times in her life. Eventually she stands up to Ned and overcomes her fears. Now she has a new inner voice called Positive Ted.
This book was great and you can definitely understand why it won the Mom's Choice Award®. I love that the fear is about water because I think most kids can relate. It is a very empowering book that will help children with overcoming their fears. I love how the author materialized the fear by showing the reader a negative person that Vicky sees. I think it's very important at young ages to learn about positivity. If we let kids let their fears control them when they are young, it can have lasting effects on them later in life. My son liked the book and we were talking about what his fear looks like and now he keeps describing how his inner voice of fear looks and it's kind of like a monster he says. Story is great, the rhyming is fun, and illustrations are awesome.
This book was great and you can definitely understand why it won the Mom's Choice Award®. I love that the fear is about water because I think most kids can relate. It is a very empowering book that will help children with overcoming their fears. I love how the author materialized the fear by showing the reader a negative person that Vicky sees. I think it's very important at young ages to learn about positivity. If we let kids let their fears control them when they are young, it can have lasting effects on them later in life. My son liked the book and we were talking about what his fear looks like and now he keeps describing how his inner voice of fear looks and it's kind of like a monster he says. Story is great, the rhyming is fun, and illustrations are awesome.
January 11, 2022
The storyline chosen deals with challenges kids have with fears to which they often don't want to acknowledge. I like that book provides lovely colorful images and illustrations which will surely draw children's attention. I think it was a good idea towards the end for the author to make brief statements as questions about how to address worries and fears in order to reiterate the purpose as message of the book. It does make a nice addition to the book. Book is short in read which should be as so for young children. I especially liked Vicky's inner voice, Positive Ted. The voice tells her that she can do things and that she is good enough. With this new positive self-talk, Vicky is no longer icky and sticky. The point of it all, is that as long as you believe in yourself, you can do anything.
September 12, 2021
'Sticky Icky Vicky' is a beautifully illustrated story about fighting the child's fear. The excellent book exposes how fear can show up and build anxiety and negative thinking— Vicky had an accident during swimming when she was three years old, and she's been very scared of water from that time. That small girl has been conscious of her fear, which makes her anxious, and even shows negative thoughts. After being invited to the party in the water park, the story shows how Vicky courage herself to beat her fear. The great transition from Negative Ned (negative thinking) to Positive Ted (positive thinking) exposed how growing determination can help make some changes and encourage her whenever she meets difficulties.
The colourful illustration is easy to understand by the youngest readers. Well written, with lots of rhymes which makes the whole story more enjoyable. I think the book is a 'must read' position on the children list.
Beneficial is a section with statements and questions at the end of the book, which means help children talking about fear. The conversation is essential, but not all children know where to begin and how to follow.
I am a mum who bought many books about fighting fear to beat anxiety and show how, reasonably, to win over Negative Ned —highly recommended for each parent looking for a great book with goal-setting and positive thinking.
Thank you, NetGalley and Plxel Publishing House, for giving me an opportunity to read and review that title.
The colourful illustration is easy to understand by the youngest readers. Well written, with lots of rhymes which makes the whole story more enjoyable. I think the book is a 'must read' position on the children list.
Beneficial is a section with statements and questions at the end of the book, which means help children talking about fear. The conversation is essential, but not all children know where to begin and how to follow.
I am a mum who bought many books about fighting fear to beat anxiety and show how, reasonably, to win over Negative Ned —highly recommended for each parent looking for a great book with goal-setting and positive thinking.
Thank you, NetGalley and Plxel Publishing House, for giving me an opportunity to read and review that title.
September 6, 2022
This is an excellent children's book useful for teaching reading skills, building vocabulary, and helping children think through and deal with trauma-caused fear. The illustrations are beautifully done as well. I am a former reading teacher for middle school students and ESL high school students and I guarantee that teachers will find this book invaluable for teaching young and below-grade-level readers in the upper grades. I strongly recommend this book.
July 2, 2021
This is a cute children’s book about overcoming fear. I think as a black woman I felt a but squiffy about the aligning not liking swimming / large bodies of water to not being showered or bathed. This seems like something kids would tease other kids about if they are scared or water but something very unlikely to be true, so seeing a little black girl making that true was a bit uncomfortable for me. Aside from that it was a cute story about the voices in your head & the art throughout the book was gorgeous.
February 25, 2024
A good idea in a very mediocre book. There was no rhythm to this rhyming tale, and it hit you over the head with the message of choosing courage over fear.
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