SASHA FEELS SHY

Uncertainty threatens both a playdate’s success and a new friendship.

In spite of her mother’s enthusiasm, Sasha, a timid lupine creature, isn’t so sure about attending a scheduled playdate. Attempting to beg off, she says, “I just want to play with you, Mommy,” to no avail. When they arrive, Leo, a frenetic firecracker of a rodent, immediately proposes a series of playful adventures. They could be chefs! Or rock stars! Or astronauts! With each invitation, Sasha is sorely tempted to join in, her imagination conjuring up incredible extrapolations from Leo’s offers. When she refuses to engage, though, Leo is crushed: “You really don’t want to play with me.” It’s only when Sasha explains how she feels that it’s revealed that both kids are shy; they just show it in different ways. Cleverly, Shaloshvili makes clear that some little ones shut down when they feel overwhelmed while others cope by becoming more boisterous. Her acrylic paints and watercolors deftly reveal every emotion felt by the characters without sacrificing a jot of their fuzziness. Sharp-eyed youngsters may even spot a small, circumspect frog who acts as an avatar for whatever Sasha thinks or feels.

Gentle advocacy for the introspective that adeptly models empathy for shyness of all stripes.