Courageous Lucy: The Girl Who Liked to Worry

Description

Lucy worries about everything and she worries a lot. She's so skilled at worrying that she worries about new and interesting things no one else even thinks about! But when Mrs Hunt tells the class there is going to be a school musical, Lucy decides she wants to be a part of it. She's too worried to try out for any of the parts but Mrs Hunt finds the perfect role for her. Being a piece of the landscape may not suit everyone but Lucy puts everything into being the best tree she can, and with a sprinkle of courage she stands proud and tall as her knees knock and her tummy ties in knots. She becomes the best tree anyone can ever remember! Lucy may worry, but she also knows that sometimes she can be courageous too, showing children everywhere that it's okay to be worried and still embrace opportunities! This book doesn't ignore anxiety in children or offer a hollow solution to 'just be brave'. Although her experiences don't totally change Lucy, they show her that while stepping out of your comfort zone always takes courage, once you do, wonderful and magical things can happen. Just taking one tiny step and deciding that you want to do something is sometimes all it takes to be courageous.

Paul Russell is a primary teacher, artist, playwright and children's author of i>Grandma Forgets /i> and i>My Storee /i>, among others, with i>Grandma Forgets /i> making the CBCA list of notable picture books in 2018. He is passionate about children's literacy and building young appetites for the written word. Cara King initially studied anthropology before moving across to multimedia and starting her own design business, Caratoons. As a designer and illustrator, she has produced images for T-shirt designs, books, cards and posters. i>Courageous Lucy /i> is her fourth picture book.

'A good little illustrated hard covered book with drawings that capture the worrying child's perceived image so well.' -- SchoolDays 'This book is great for normalizing anxiety in children, and providing children who experience anxiety with the reassurance that they are not alone in having so many worries.' -- Rachel Funez Writes "This book gently shows how worries stop us from enjoying and doing things ... its message showcases how bravery can triumph. This book would make a great gift for any anxious child." -- Buzz Words "a picture book with an important message, told in a gentle way within an engaging story, that has touches of magic around the edges. A story that could bring hope and strength to a child that worries too much." -- Anja Stobbart, Armadillo Magazine "This book communicates a lovely message that within every anxious child is a brave soul, and how as adults we can help them to recognise that this already exists within them." -- Dr Tanya McDonnaugh founder of TMC Psychology writing for Motherdom "captures with easy words and lovely pictures, Lucy facing up to her worries and understanding that even though she is still a worrier, being brave can bring rewards and joy." -- Blue Wolf Reviews "this book could be really useful in opening up discussions about fear of failure and all that's associated with that." -- The Bottom Shelf "author Russell has a daughter who worries sometimes. I worry sometimes, too. So do my daughter and many, many people I know. That's why books like this are essential. They show that we can take a deep breath and rise above our fears and say yes to the many opportunities that life presents, even those that induce belly flutters." -- Reading Time "What an absolutely brilliant story. Lucy is a real worrier and has a very vivid imagination so that similar children will be able to identify with her completely, realising that the thoughts they hold in their heads are not so unusual." -- Linda's Book Bag "Courageous Lucy doesn't ignore anxiety in children, instead shows that one tiny step outside your comfort zone is sometimes all it takes to be courageous." * Newshub website * This book will be a great resource for anyone (child or adult) whose first response to a situation is worry, and whose first thought is always, 'what if something goes terribly wrong?' It's a book to remind us that instead, perhaps we can train our minds to think, 'what if something goes terribly right?' instead. * KidsBooksNZ * "Courageous Lucy is a gentle story that will allow children to see how small actions can help them through everyday worries. The entire book would be a wonderful addition to a classroom for many reasons. Not only will the story connect with children, the book can be used as a basis for many lessons - from drama to art, to literacy and science. EK Books offers teacher notes for anyone to access, and parents may find them useful to consider when broaching what can be a tricky topic such as anxiety." -- NZ Booklovers "Many children are watchers - those who stand on the sidelines of the fun watching others for a while before they tentatively join in. Although it's difficult to watch from an adult perspective, each child has to find their own courage and confidence in their own way. Courageous Lucy is a gentle way of approaching this topic with a watcher or young worrier, to ask if they are worried about anything or even step carefully about why they worry. Books like Courageous Lucy are so important to supply a safe bridge to these concepts and challenges." -- What book next? "A timely picture book for young children who worry about their world" * The Daily Telegraph *