Nook

PreS-Gr 1--Even the shyest of little lop-eared rabbits can come out of her shell with the right show of support. Nook likes to watch her classmates from the safety of a deep chair or a corner where there is always something firmly reassuring at her back. Her favorite outdoor spot is a hollow at the base of an elm tree, a refuge her friends call "Nook's place" and where they do not trespass. Occasionally, they try to lure Nook into their games, but only Nook's spirit joins them until the day a grumpy badger claims the elm for himself. Nook's classmates gather close to defend her, and when the badger won't budge, they escort her away to play with them. Seeing that her friends have her back, Nook no longer needs the sanctuary of the elm tree. This unusual and gentle story is sweetly captured in pictures that were created with pencil and computer but have the rough, papery texture of prints. Bear, fox, mouse, and squirrel with their pin-dot eyes and cheerful expressions exude kindness and well-being. Their acceptance and encouragement of Nook are as heartwarming as her newfound confidence. VERDICT A quiet book that will speak generously to introverts and anyone who loves them.--Jan Aldrich Solow, formerly Fairfax County Public Sch., VA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Sensitivity. Friendship. Diversity.
This is lovely story, sensitively written, outlining the preferences of Nook, who amongst a diverse group of animals is the 'quiet' one with special sensory needs. Beautifully told, we learn how through the acceptance and support of her peers - in the face of unkind opposition by another - Nook is encouraged to trust them enough to develop confidence and move forward. This is a clever book which will help diversity understanding amongst children, where the received wisdom is often for the sensitive, gentle child to "toughen up", whereas what is needed is for the others to "soften down". In this context, it feels very wise for Garland to have left the continuing story of the unkind character unwritten. Garland omits emotionally loaded vocabulary ("friend" or "enemy"), choosing 'the others' to refer to Nook's peers, gently guiding readers through a highly complex life experience. The illustrations are fabulous and bring the whole content to life; this book is a gift for early years and key stage 1 classrooms.
Stephanie Barclay

—The School Librarian "https: //www.sla.org.uk/the-school-librarian" (3/10/2022 12:00:00 AM)
This gentle, lovely story about intense shyness and friendship is a beautiful description of the feelings involved when one is unsure of oneself. Nook is a very shy small dog, who is perfectly happy at school and in the park, watching her friends play whilst finding for herself a 'nook' to sit in - a box, or a corner or under a table where she can press her back against the wall and feel safe. She smiles happily and draws pictures and rarely speaks. The others know she is there and accept her quiet nature without question. In the park, her nook is in the 'deep hollow of an old elm tree', and the other little animals are so used to her sitting there that they call it 'Nook's place'. Occasionally they try to get her to join them in play, but she always stays where she feels safest. Then one day when she comes to the park, there is a fierce badger sitting in her place. She is quite upset, but the Badger shouts, 'Mine! Go away!' She feels panic and starts to cry when she realises that all her friends are standing behind her and telling the badger that it is Nook's place and he must let her have it. He refuses, so the animals surround Nook and take her out to the field where she sits and draws while they play around her. After this, the badger doesn't return, but Nook is happy to be out in the open with her friends 'who she knew had her back'. This is a child with serious problems with shyness and sensory needs, who must have love and support and understanding, which her friends supply in quantity. Acceptance of differences is a major theme subtly portrayed. Outstanding.—Books for Keeps "https: //booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/nook/" (11/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)

A shy child surrenders her special sitting place when an unhappy stranger comes along.
Resembling the sweet, flop-eared white bunny of Garland's Share (2014) more in looks than character, Nook much prefers to sit silently apart pressed safely against a wall, beneath a table, or, best of all, nestled in a cozy hollow in an old elm tree outdoors; she'll join the play of her more outgoing animal friends in spirit rather than body. Mostly they give her the space she needs, inviting her to join them just often enough to let her know she's included. Disaster looms one day, though, when she finds a big, angry badger sitting in her special place: "Mine!" it snaps. "Go away!" With no wall or corner to retreat to, Nook feels her panic rising-and suddenly her friends are all gathered behind her. "That's Nook's place." "Yes, Nook needs to sit there." When the interloper won't be moved, Nook's friends lead her away to be with them in the middle of the playground...and that turns out to be OK, because now that she understands that they will always have her back she no longer needs the refuge. Garland uses vigorous strokes of brush and colored pencil to give her figures a plushy surface, and though she depicts them as animals, so human are their understated expressions and gestures (and clothes) that young readers may not notice. Both Nook's gentle nature and the kindness and loyalty of her friends positively shine.
A sensitive character study with feelings that run deep. (Picture book. 6-8)

—"Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW" "https: //www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/sally-anne-garland/nook/" (3/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)

A small shy rabbit named Book is the main character in this charming story with friendship, inclusion and kindness as its central themes. Nook is shy and reaely speaks and likes to 'squeexe, wedge squish tight' into small places where she can have her back against something and feel safe. She is happy to watch her friends play from the safety of the hollow of an old elm tree until the day she finds it occupied. From her initial feelings of panic and fear that she is out in the open, she discovers that her friends have her back. This gives her the courage to step out into the playground, secure in the knowledge that her friends are with her.
A delightful tale with beautiful illustrations that will resonate with anyone whose fears prevent them doing somthing the'd like to be involved in. LoveReading4Kids have a lovely page dedicated to this book with the author reading her story and an activity pack to download: LINK.

—NATE

Even the shyest of little lop-eared rabbits can come out of her shell with the right show of support. Nook likes to watch her classmates from the safety of a deep chair or a corner where there is always something firmly reassuring at her back. Her favorite outdoor spot is a hollow at the base of an elm tree, a refuge her friends call "Nook's place" and where they do not trespass. Occasionally, they try to lure Nook into their games, but only Nook's spirit joins them until the day a grumpy badger claims the elm for himself. Nook's classmates gather close to defend her, and when the badger won't budge, they escort her away to play with them. Seeing that her friends have her back, Nook no longer needs the sanctuary of the elm tree. This unusual and gentle story is sweetly captured in pictures that were created with pencil and computer but have the rough, papery texture of prints. Bear, fox, mouse, and squirrel with their pin-dot eyes and cheerful expressions exude kindness and well-being. Their acceptance and encouragement of Nook are as heartwarming as her newfound confidence.
VERDICT A quiet book that will speak generously to introverts and anyone who loves them.
Reviewed by Jan Aldrich Solow, formerly Fairfax County Public Sch., VA, Jun 01, 2021

—School Library Journal "https: //www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=nook" (6/1/2021 12:00:00 AM)