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Books by Age » 3-4 » Shy, by Deborah Freedman

Shy, by Deborah Freedman

By Lauren Bercuson ·  Published: Jan 4, 2017 ·  Modified: May 25, 2021 ·  This post may contain affiliate links


I adore books that turn everything you think you know about books upside down – books that experiment with form and art and prose in a manner so fresh and unique, they make you feel as if you are discovering a book for the very first time. SHY, written and illustrated by Deborah Friedman, is one such book. Aside from its sweet story and gorgeous illustrations, SHY offersa creative perspective and an especially unique manner of handling the various elements of story. We immediately fell in love, and this was undoubtedly one of our favorite picture books of 2016.

In SHY, the title character, Shy, remains unseen in the gutter of the book, too shy to confront his fear of having to interact with others.  Shy loves birds, though, but has only ever read about them. One day, Shy hears and sees a beautiful bird flying near him, but he is too nervous to leave his home. Will he eventually find the courage to leave? Or will he stay shy — and hidden — forever? And if he does venture out of his home, will he even show us his face? Or will he try to stay hidden among other animals he meets along the way?

SHY is a gentle, beautiful book that is especially perfect for any of your little ones who are bashful – or at least shy in certain situations. It’s one of those books you want to always have close by for its uniqueness, its artistry and its ability to touch so many readers.  Themuted color palette transforms based on Shy’s emotional state- pale at his shyest, brighter at his bravest- yet it never fails to mesmerize the reader and pull him right into the story. Young readers will be eager to find Shy within the pages of the gutter, and after the book is finished, will eagerly flip right back to the front of the story to see what clues they may have missed along the way. A glorious, tender read- one not to be missed.

RELATED: We’ve got all the best children’s books for you on Happily Ever Elephants, so be sure to check them out!

Want the book? Get it here! SHY, by Deborah Freedman. *Note this is an affiliate link.

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Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a boy mom, former attorney, current elementary school librarian, and moderator of book clubs for kids around the country. My goal is to make storytime with your children both magical and meaningful. Welcome! LEARN MORE 

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