Shrinking Violet

by Cari Best Narrated by Calista Flockhart

Overview

Whether she's impersonating Elvis, swaggering like Captain Hook, or imitating the sounds of a cricket, Violet is expressive and funny-but only when she's alone or with her best friend, Opal. At school, especially around class bully Irwin, who teases her nonstop, she retreats into a shell of shyness. But when Irwin, playing the part of Planet Mars in the class play, begins to spin wildly out of control and threatens to ruin the entire production, it's Violet who saves the day-managing not only to give Irwin his comeuppance but to find her own unique way of surviving the spotlight.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Violet is painfully shy and has always avoided anything that will draw attention to herself. She does not make waves in the swimming pool, swallowing sounds at snack time, or her voice heard in the Salute to Spring concert. When she is noticed despite her efforts, she wishes she could shrink away and writes "I am allergic to attention" on her hand. The situation is exacerbated by Irwin, whose main delight is in teasing her. The thought of having to participate in the class play terrifies her, until a refreshingly sensitive teacher comes up with a solution that not only comfortably places her center stage but also allows her to see Irwin in a different light. Best does an admirable job of fleshing out Violet's character, allowing readers to see the intelligent and funny child that her peers cannot, and makes a strong but subtle case for shyness being understood and accommodated instead of judged. Potter's pleasantly quirky illustrations are particularly effective in their composition. Violet is often placed facing out, as if making a sympathetic connection with her readers. Whether shared one-on-one or in a group, this is a first-class choice.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

The creators of Three Cheers For Catherine the Great (1999) deal inventively with an all-too-common situation in this tale of a shy child finding the inner stuff to withstand a bully's taunts. Classmate Irwin's sly comments about fat knees and hairy arms have Violet nervously fingering her hair and trying to disappear. An upcoming class play about the planets looks like just another chance for Irwin to make her wilt in public, until her understanding teacher gives her the role of Lady Space, an offstage, invisible announcer. Better yet, when Irwin loses his concentration during the performance, Violet talks him back with unflattering ad-libs that sound like part of the script. Whether in school dress or globular planet costume, Potter's figures seem to dance across the pages, showing a lively range of feelings through expression and body language. In the end, Irwin actually thanks Violet in private, and though he continues to rag on her in public, she's gained enough self-confidence to ignore him. Wallflowers of all stripes will enjoy watching Violet putting Irwin in his place without raising the hostility level-a tricky, but effective, strategy. (Picture book. 6-8)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171760274
Publisher:	Weston Woods
Publication date:	01/01/2003
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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