Wemberly Worried: A Warm and Comforting Story About Worry and School for Children

Mouse Books

by Kevin Henkes

Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start. And Wemberly worried even more.  If you ever worry (or know someone who does), this is the book for you. Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. "Worry, worry, worry," her family said. "Too much worry." And Wemberly worried about one thing most of her first day of school. But when it's time to go back to school and she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying! This warm and comforting back-to-school favorite is from Kevin Henkes, the nationally bestselling and celebrated creator of  Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse ,  Kitten's First Full Moon , and  Chrysanthemum. “This winning heroine speaks to the worrywart in everyone.” — Publishers Weekly  (starred review)

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, School, Friendship, Fiction, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Kevin Henkes is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. As an illustrator he won the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon (2004). Two of his books were Newbery Medal Honor Books, Olive's Ocean in 2004 and The Year of Billy Miller in 2014. His picture book Waiting was named both a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book. It was only the second time any author has won that combination of awards.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Wemberly, she worries constantly about everything. If you help her see around one worry, it brings up another worry. This is about worry and anxiety in kids and a good way to see that other people are like this. My niece was a lot like this a few years ago.

She meets a friend at school, she starts school in the story which is her biggest worry. When she makes a friends she realizes she worries a little less. Friendship helps ease her anxiety.

It’s a sweet story well told with a good message.

The nephew is not someone who worries. If he does, he uses humor to get around it. He didn’t like this book so much. She gave this 2 stars and said not a whole lot funny happens here.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I love Kevin Henkes! He is a genius! I want to read all of his books!!! I can't wait to share them with my kids! I love how he looks at children's joys and hopes and fears with absolute RESPECT.

In this story, Wemberly (who is a GIRL mouse, I might add--from the cover and name, I expected a boy for some reason!) worries about big things (like something happening to her parents) and small things (like spilling juice), she worries about her bunny doll (and when she worries she rubs her dolls' ears and then she worries the ears will fall off eventually!) But her biggest worry is starting school!!! Her parents and super-cool grandma tell her not to worry so much... but maybe it will take facing the fears, with a new friend, to really make a difference.

What really struck me with this book is that Wemberly still DOES worry, sometimes. She gets over her biggest fears, and has fun at school, but it's not as if worries can be obliterated from life. Henkes is realistic and gentle, reassuring without being dismissive. Brilliant!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, my mother called me a worry wart when I was a child so this probably would have been a perfect book for me. I now know some kids who are likely to appreciate this book.

Cute, funny, true.

Wemberly is a girl mouse who worries about everything, and the things she worries about really are things that children worry about, small, big, and in-between things. And, Wemberly’s fears do lessen by the end of the book, but there’s not some sort of happily ever after ending, and I really appreciate that.

I don’t think this was intended but I love how it subtly showed that telling someone not to worry isn’t particularly effective.

I especially liked the grandmother’s “go with the flow” tee shirt.

There are books specifically written for children with emotional problems. For anxieties, this would be a much better book to read than any of those. Excellent book.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little mouse with anxiety learns to unclench when she meets someone who shares her concerns.

This is one of the rare Kevin Henkes books my daughter didn't like. She was always dealing with her own anxieties and this seemed like a checklist of new things to worry about rather than being relatable or a reassurance that things will get better. I mean, one page literally shouts worries at the reader in bold type. Yikes.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Wemberly! She worries about everything, even stuff people would not normally worry about (like shrinking in the bathtub). The story is very cute for kids, and illustrates that most of the worries that trouble people never come to pass.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story with cute, expressive illustrations about an anxious little mouse and how, with the help of her family and school teacher, she learns to overcome her fears.

[Julianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

My anxious kiddo was bothered by this book and I can see why. The majority of the book focused on all of the various worries that Wemberly has (and they are many) and for my son, it stirred up more things to worry about in real life. While this book could be fine for kids that have typical childhood worries, if you have a child who has anxiety, this isn’t a book you’ll want to pick up. While I don’t expect every children’s book to have practical strategies modeled for kids to learn from, this one had all worry and no helpful behavior modeled by the characters. Her family literally just told her “don’t worry” (the most helpful advice for anyone with anxiety ever) and then coupled that with the equally helpful, “see, I told you there was nothing to worry about”. Towards the end, she gets anxious about starting school and it’s two pages full of her worst fears. The great solution to all of this is her teacher introduces her to a friend at school who is similar and her worries about school lessen throughout the day. That’s it-sheer luck that there is another anxious child in her class that she is paired up with. ONE of the dozens of worries that were brought up in the book were addressed (and it was something completely outside of the characters control- what if she never met the friend?). I never thought I’d be on Goodreads writing about a children’s book, but here we are.
TLDR; if you have a kid with anxiety, definitely skip this one, it’ll make it worse.

[Clara Jane Isch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes things work out better than expected!

[Gennie Hendrick]

I really like this story and I think this would be a great book to read to a child who is apprehensive about going to school for the first time, going to a new class/school, or if you have a worrier like Wemberly.

[Stefania · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually found it pretty terrible. This poor child has constant anxiety and the parents just dismiss her with “stop worrying”. The solution was to find a friend to play with, and that didn’t look at the root cause of the problem.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written diddy about anxiety. Sweet and simple message.

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first graders really enjoyed this book and connected to it as well. Kevin Henkes never disappoints.

[Bernadette · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, Wemberly, a young mouse, worries about everything! The author takes the readers through her list of worries – big ones and small ones. Wemberly worries constantly despite her grandmother telling her she worries too much. The source of her biggest worry is her first day of school. When she arrives however, her teacher introduces her to another student who also is carrying a doll and seems a bit shy. The two become instant friends and enjoy their first day of school together. As Wemberly leaves in the afternoon, she tells her teacher not to worry, that she will be back tomorrow!
The first thing I thought about as I read this book was my younger sister! Boy, was she a worrier and she would have really loved this book. I am a worrier, too, (but just quiet about it) so I could relate to Wemberly. The last page leaves you with such a warm feeling! This would be a great book for parents to read to their children before that terrifying first day of school, or by the teacher. I think that most young students could relate to Wemberly’s worries and knowing that they are not the only ones would be helpful! This book is a clear example of how, in picture books, illustrations reinforce the text. I am not used to having to look at illustrations to understand the text, but when I got to the page about Wemberly’s birthday party, I realized I could not fully understand why her mother told Wemberly, “See. There was nothing to worry about. “ I could not figure out why until I looked at the illustrations and short dialogue included on the page.

[Karissa Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of a young mouse named Wemberly who worried about everything. Whether it was day or night and no matter how much her parents tried to comfort her, she was constantly worrying. When Wemberly had to start school that added to the things she worried about. It wasn’t until she met a girl named Jewel, who was just as shy as she was, that she learned her worries started to fade. This book is great for young reader from 1st or 2nd grade, because especially the beginning is simple sentences and there is repetition. But also could be a great book for parents to read to children who are nervous as well about starting school. Even though the main character is a mouse, she is very relatable and the book showed with time everyone will be able to find friends who have similar interests to them at school.

[Heather]

Text-to-Self Connection:

'Wemberly Worried' could only be a text-to-self connection for me! I grew up a worrier. I often made myself literally sick as a child as I worried about everything from the first day of school (I went to a new school every year until 5th grade) to a bad grade to softball games. I hated when I didn't know anyone in a room, I hated to disappoint anyone, I hated playing softball because I was terrible! I have found many ways to stop the worrying as a young adult and happily didn't suffer from it so much anymore... until I had my daughters. I feel like I worry more now than I did as a child! Like Wemberly, I see random things and fear the worst. My mind will go straight to the worst-case scenario in a split second. However, also like Wemberly, I usually find that I worried for nothing!

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting this book to be helpful for kids with worries or anxiety, given all the raves and recommendations for it, but I feel like it did the opposite. While I appreciate that it showed that other kids get worried too, it also gave a laundry list of worries that might include things that anxious kids didn't think to worry about (yet).

But what bothered me even more was there was no real message in the book that it's *okay* to feel worried. Adult characters tell Wemberly, "don't worry," over and over again, which just invalidates her very real feelings. The ending of the book seemed to reinforce that with a message of, "See, there was nothing to worry about," which can feel very dismissive to someone worrying/anxious. I think there are far better children's books out there that deal with worrying and what you can do about it.

[Taylor Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wemberly Worried is one of my favorite children's book. It's about a little girl (mouse) that constantly worries. She worries about her parents, she worries about herself, she worries about the play place at the park. She worries in the morning, she worries at night, and all of the hours in between. I can empathize with Wemberly because I was the same kind of child and have grown up to be a worrier as an adult. I love that this story shows children it's normal to feel an array of feelings- worry being one. But this book teaches kids that worrying can cause a lot of stress and problems. It's important to find ways to deal with worry and not let it run your life. I think my daughter would really benefit from reading this book a few good times.

(Illustrator category)

[NS-Christine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wemberly worries about everything! Her parents tell her not to worry. Her grandmother tells her not to worry, but Wemberly still worries. She worries about big things and small things and especially about her first day at school. What if the teacher is mean? What if she hates the snack? Read to find out how Wemberly's first day of school goes. Will Wemberly continue to worry?

This is an adorable book filled with colorful pictures of Wemberly the mouse. Children will be able to identify with some of Wemberly's worries and her anxiety about the first day of school. They will also enjoy hearing about her stuffed rabbit Petal. This is a book for everyone!

[Shamilah Gillani · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wemberly Worried" is a great book about a little mouse who worries all the time. She worries about every possible thing there is to worry about, even when her parents tell her not to! So naturally, she is worried about her first day of school. Surprisingly, she finds friends who are worried as well! I like that the book gives the message that we may be different, but we are all also the same in one way or another. My students can learn that it's okay to be worried and scared, because chances are, others are too. All children worry, but when they are paired with someone who shares those qualms, their fears tend to disappear, as was the case with Wemberly.

[Tam Tam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Excellent book for helping kids TO worry. Here, let me give you a few ideas of things to worry about. But don't worry, the ending makes it turn out fine. But the 100 bad things don't make up for the 1 good thing.

So if you'd like to give your child a jumpstart in worrying, this is a key book.

Yep this one is going in the donation pile. Wait a minute...I don't know if I'd want others to read this one...so....cut off the words and make wrapping paper?

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love Kevin Henkes' young characters and their relatable vulnerabilities? In this tale, little Wemberly worries over just about everything--especially starting kindergarten. Yet, school turns out to be the place where her worries are shared, and also dismissed. A good story for young children with anxiety.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to add this book to my list. I read it today to my daughter who is a huge worrier and it was wonderful, she was able to see how silly it is too worry about silly things and she was able to laugh at herself. I love this book!

[Shaley Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Wemberly worries about everything. Now she has a bigger worry than ever, her first day of school. Her parents try to get her to not worry, but nothing helps. Great pictures and a lot of kids could relate to worrying about the first day of school.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute, Wemberly worries about everything! Kind of reminds me of someone, oh right, ME!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

My hubby says I'm Wemberly so as you can imagine I totally relate to this sweet little mouse.

[Sharlet Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book of how children really look at going to school for the first time. Then they meet a good friend and have the best time.

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Wemberly did not find much empathy at our house, where the kids are fearless and fond of watching explosions. I liked him though.

Library copy.

[Siomara · Rating 5 out of 5]

She worried so much, it worried me! I recommend this book it is great.

[Anna Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my new favorites for kids. I was definitely a worrier child, and this book helps my preschool students who are worriers feel better when they hear it.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Booklist (Vol. 96, No. 22 (August 2000))

Ages 4-6. Wemberly, a little mouse girl, worries about big things, little things, and everything in between. If the radiator makes a noise, Wemberly wonders if there's a snake inside it. On Halloween, Wemberly, dressed as a butterfly, worries that there will be too many butterflies in the parade. When she's the only one, she worries about that, too. Henkes' catalogue of Wemberly's worries goes on a little too long, but on the plus side, each woe is an opportunity for Henkes' special pictures, which are played for both amusement and recognition, with each detail enhancing the total concept. Equal attention is paid to the expressions on Wemberly's face. Who knew there were so many nuances of worried? There's concern as Wemberly's stuffed animal, Petal, goes around in the washer; despair when Petal goes missing; and contained terror as the first day of school approaches. Happily, Wemberly meets a new friend named Jewel at school (and Petal meets Jewel's stuffed cat, Niblet), and suddenly the world doesn't seem quite so scary anymore. In many ways, Wemberly is the flip side of Henkes' sassy Lilly. As much as little ones love Lilly, the 'fraidy cats of the world will see themselves in this winsome worrywart.



Horn Book (September/October, 2000)

Worrywart Wemberly is the newest of Kevin Henkes's distinctly individual yet universal picture-book mice characters. The dizzying, almost psychedelic jacket image of an anxiety-ridden Wemberly-looking as much like a deer caught in headlights as a mouse can-sets the tone. Wemberly, a sensitive soul, is beset with fears, both big and small. She worries about everything: What if she shrinks in the bathtub? What if the tree in the front yard falls on her house? What if no one comes to her birthday party? Or worse: what if too many mice come and there isn't enough cake? Thank goodness her stuffed rabbit Petal is always there for some comforting ear-rubbing. The format is the same as in Henkes's previous books: with text and art perfectly integrated, the vibrant panel illustrations help tell the story, and small asides extend the text. As always, Henkes zeroes in on a familiar childhood emotion-feeling helpless in an uncontrollable world- and brings it compassionately to the surface. Although Wemberly's phobias are catalogued at too great a length and the story's main conflict-the dreaded first day of school-isn't introduced until halfway through the story, the satisfying resolution offers hope for both the timid and the brave among us. Thanks to her perceptive teacher, Wemberly embarks on a new friendship, and by the end of the day, a better-adjusted but still-careful Wemberly leaves school with her friend, the equally cautious Jewel, and assures her teacher that she will come back tomorrow. Like rubbing Petal's ears or finding a friend, Henkes's picture books make finding your way in the world a little less daunting. k.f.



Horn Book starred (Spring 2001)

Wemberly, a sensitive mouse-child, is beset with fears, both big and small. Although the story's main conflict--the dreaded first day of school--isn't introduced until halfway through the story, the satisfying resolution offers hope for both the timid and the brave among us. With text and art perfectly integrated, Henkes compassionately zeroes in on a familiar childhood emotion, making finding your way in the world a little less daunting.



Kirkus Reviews (July 15, 2000)

As a chronic worrier and an extremely anxious young mouse, life is hard for Wemberly. Her worries range from big life issues--what will she do if her parents disappear--to the mundane--what to do if she spills juice on her special doll Petal? Unfortunately her parents, although concerned, are not much help, merely telling her to stop worrying so much, rather than teaching her how to cope with her anxieties. And Wemberly's well-meaning grandmother just tells her to loosen up and have some fun. Every aspect of life raises new worries for Wemberly--she worries in bed in the morning and evenings, worries as she plays in the yard or reads in a big comfy chair, and worries about the equipment in the playground falling apart. Soon the biggest worry ever in Wemberly's young life rears its ugly head--nursery school is on the horizon. The concomitant list of worries it engenders is Wemberly's longest ever (cleverly depicted by a double-paged spread featuring larger and larger type against a background of question marks). The school worries are typical going-to-school fears--what if Wemberly can't find the bathroom when she needs it, what if she's the only one who has brought her doll to school, and so on. Funnily, Wemberly's parents don't seem to have prepared her very well for starting school--her worries could have been easily addressed had they told her more about what to expect. But amazingly (and not very believably) things go wonderfully well at school after Wemberly meets a kindred spirit, another worried little mouse named Jewel with whom she becomes fast friends. In an overly pat ending, Wemberly happily goes home at the end of her first day of school, already looking forward to the second day. Henkes's best works--Chrysanthemum (1991) and Lily's Purple Plastic Purse (1996), among others--are masterpieces, capturing and distilling the essence of universal childhood experiences. Unfortunately, Wemberly Worried doesn't fall into this category. It's hard to buy that her personality could undergo so radical a change just because she finds a new friend. Surely a new friendship would bring with it a whole new set of worries. The reader actually feels sorry for Wemberly, who doesn't seem to be enjoying life very much. Maybe some mouse therapy is called for. (Picture book. 4-7)




Library Talk (January/February 2001)

Wemberly joins other mouse characters by Henkes that we've come to love. Little Wemberly worries about everything imaginable, from "big things to little things to things in between." Her mother and father and grandmother all try to reassure her to no avail. When it's time to start kindergarten, Wemberly has a major new worry to occupy her time. She imagines all kinds of worrisome things happening at school, from not being able to find the bathroom and hating the snack to wondering if the teacher will be mean and if the room will smell bad. Then joy of joys! She arrives at school the first day and finds a new friend named Jewel. They find that they have a lot in common and become fast friends by the end of the day. We often think that children are all carefree; we forget that they too have worries. This book addresses some of these issues in an endearing, fun way that reassures children about school. Henkes' bright pictures nicely further the text. This will be a welcome addition to books you will want to read aloud when the students start back to school in the fall. I envision it being a great jumping-off point for a discussion on children's concerns. Recommended. Ann M.G. Gray, Library Media Specialist, Pittsburg (New Hampshire) School



Publishers Weekly (July 3, 2000)

Henkes (Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse) introduces another wonderfully appealing child-mouse with a stubborn habit: worrying. Wemberly, a shy white mouse with gray spots, always feels nervous whether at home or away. "At the playground, Wemberly worried about/ the chains on the swings,/ and the bolts on the slide,/ and the bars on the jungle gym." She tells her father, "Too rusty. Too loose. Too high," while sitting on a park bench watching the other mice play. Her security blanket, a rabbit doll named Petal (whose spot over the left eye matches her own), rarely leaves her grip. Henkes adroitly juggles the main narrative, hand-lettered asides and watercolor-and-ink imagery of the young pessimist and her supportive parents; each element contributes a different strength. For instance, as he lists Wemberly's worries, "Big things" heads the list, paired with a vignette of the heroine checking on her parents in the middle of the night with a flashlight, "I wanted to make sure you were still here." He later shows how Wemberly's anxieties peak at the start of nursery school with huge text that dwarfs tiny illustrations. At this overwhelming moment, Wemberly meets another girl mouse, Jewel, who turns out to be a kindred spirit (she even carries her own worn doll). Henkes offers no pat solutions, handling the material with uncanny empathy and gentleness; while playing with Jewel, "Wemberly worried. But no more than usual. And sometimes even less." This winning heroine speaks to the worrywart in everyone. Ages 4-up. (Aug.)

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.



School Library Journal (August 2000)

PreS-Gr 1-Henkes once again puts his finger on the pulse of young children, combining good storytelling, careful characterization, and wonderfully expressive artwork to create an entertaining and reassuring picture book that addresses a common concern. Wemberly, a quiet and introverted mouse, spends all of her time worrying about big things (will her parents disappear in the middle of the night?), little things (spilling juice at the table), and things in between (will she shrink during her bath?). Despite the patient support of her family, she still frets that a tree will fall on her house or that she will lose her beloved doll. As if she doesn't have enough to stew about, the anticipated beginning of nursery school opens up a whole new world of woe. Happily, the first-day jitters are soon diminished with the help of an understanding teacher, lots of fun activities, and a new friend. In the watercolor-and-black-pen illustrations, Wemberly is depicted as a white mouse with big pink ears; her always-serious expression and the gray spot that covers one eye make her seem particularly vulnerable. While her parents' furrowed brows and affectionate embraces convey their concern for their daughter, Wemberly's feisty grandmother provides a bit of comic relief (she wears a sweatshirt that reads, "Go With The Flow"). Told with sensitivity and filled with perfectly chosen details, this story will speak to young worrywarts everywhere, and may provide some comfort to those about to begin nursery school or kindergarten.-Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.