The Tales of Sophie Shenanigans: Sophie Takes a Trip by Jill MacDonald (Author) and Anniella Ragaza (Illustrator)
This review first appeared on Reader Views Kids. Read the Reader Views Kids version here.
Sophie is normally a very brave dog. She rescued a kitten from a creek and scared off an owl that had taken over a friend’s home, but the thought of going on an airplane to a new place and a new family scares her. On her travels, she begins to catastrophize—imagining the worst possible outcome of her adventures. She fears her new family won’t get to know her and won’t know how to take care of her. Then, she meets a friendly police dog, Maverick, who helps her identify what she’s doing and how she’s feeling. Maverick guides Sophie through thought exercises and calms Sophie’s anxiety, helping her remember all she’s accomplished. Then, Sophie is ready to meet her loving new family and, perhaps, get into some shenanigans.
The Tales of Sophie Shenanigans: Sophie Takes a Trip is a wonderfully instructive tale. Author Jill Macdonald delves into anxiety in a way that is relatable to younger children. Macdonald clearly defines an important term—catastrophize—and offers solutions for when children begin doing it themselves. Anxiety can begin to plague children at a young age so “The Tales of Sophie Shenanigans: Sophie Takes a Trip” could be vital reading for some children.
On top of being a story that teaches about anxiety, The Tales of Sophie Shenanigans: Sophie Takes a Trip creates a compelling character in Sophie. While she has clearly gotten into scrapes before, she manages to get out of them or even triumph. While she has accomplished much to be proud of, she struggles with anxiety. Sophie’s expression of emotions makes her immensely endearing, and she is sure to tug on the heartstrings of any dog lover.
Sophie’s effectiveness would not be possible without Anniella Ragaza’s lovely illustrations. They effectively portray how Sophie is feeling without disturbing her style. The consistency of a blue background with Sophie in the corner creates an opportunity for the reliable question of “Where is Sophie?” to engage a very young reader. Some of the details of other animals in the background are also sure to spark interest in young readers.
The Tales of Sophie Shenanigans: Sophie Takes a Trip takes an endearing character, Sophie, and adds a layer of depth to her in her anxiety. Crafting an educational tale, author Macdonald informs readers about anxiety and some ways to handle it. Throughout, illustrator Ragaza’s art complements Macdonald’s goals in a lovely way.
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