Riley Can't Stop Crying

This English translation of a transitional picture book introduces audiences to Regina Bibeau and her four-year-old brother, Riley. When Regina and her single father fail to cheer up the inconsolable Riley, whose tears form a puddle around his toes and eventually fill the house, Regina draws common ailments and asks Riley to indicate the source of his sorrow. But Riley existentially draws himself, leading Regina to help her brother explore his self-presentation by trading toys; purchasing different clothing, including a skirt; and soliciting a fresh haircut. Gentle-hued watercolor and gouache illustrations by Bray-Bourret depict characters with lithe rubber hose limbs and migratory facial features, creating a comedic effect that feels incongruous with Riley's distress. While solutions elide mental health concerns, Boulay and Simard accessibly interrogate identity: "we can express some of ourselves on the outside, but there will always be complicated things left inside that we don't know how to show." Ages 6-8. (Mar.)

K-Gr 2--In a compassionate look at dysmorphia, this insightfully emotional book guides children to unpack the turmoil of being unhappy with one's self and how family support can encourage self-acceptance and self-love. A young girl, Regina, and her single father face the daily dilemma of calming her brother, four-year-old Riley, who cries incessantly but cannot explain why. Readers follow Regina's candid, beautifully described thought process as she takes action to investigate and resolve what is upsetting her brother and subsequently facing the unspoken unhappiness in her small family. After many tries, the most revealing connection is made when Regina and her father ask, without judgment, what Riley's choices of toys, clothing, colors, and hair would best suit his own tastes. Self-reflection, self-love, and empathy are shining elements in this story as Regina connects with Riley after thinking about her own past experiences and her father's advice to take care of herself and love what makes her unique. The bright watercolor and gouache illustrations reflect the transparency of the book's open message, as simple, exaggerated curving lines of the figures fluidly express how the characters' stillness, movement, happiness, or depression affect their overall composure and presence. VERDICT A poignant, purposeful depiction of a family learning to recognize, confront, and heal internal struggles with self-love and self-worth. Children in need of encouragement will find comforting revelations about the value of individuality.--Rachel Mulligan, Pennsylvania State Univ.