The Journal of Anxious Izzy Parker

April 3, 2023
Kids at eight-year-old Izzy Parker’s old school called her Mouse, but after moving with her mother from Toronto to Prince Edward Island following her parents’ divorce, Izzy endeavors to become as brave as a lion in this empathetic novel by Fullerton (Flipping Forward Twisting Backward). Even with her new resolve, however, Izzy struggles to navigate severe anxiety that makes it hard for her to talk to others and read aloud in class. Her biggest fear is that she won’t be able to make friends, until she bonds with reading-group partner Dianna over their love of crafts. The arrival of a long-awaited emotional support dog for Izzy further helps her become more confident at school. Heavily inked, heartfelt illustrations by Mistry accompany Izzy’s astute, mature-sounding narration (“If playing with a group of kids is out of my comfort zone, deciding who is right and who is wrong is so far out of my comfort zone that I could drive all the way to the moon and never reach it”), formatted as entries in a classroom journal assignment, which read as an “in her own words” telling of one girl’s growth. Character skin tones reflect the white of the page. Ages 6–8.

May 1, 2023
Grades 2-4 In this feel-good story told in journal entries, readers meet Izzy, who is anxious all of the time--so anxious that she's receiving an emotional support dog, which she names Gandalf, because she figures it must take a wizard to help soothe her anxiety. Readers follow along as Izzy goes through her day to day, moving to a new place and making new friends, all activities that make her want to throw up. For kids who feel anxious sometimes, which is many of them, this is a window into the life of someone whose anxiety gets in the way of every aspect of her life. The author has an emotional support animal herself and is able to weave in rich details about the kind of work these companions do for their humans. Some entries end with a small cartoon illustration of a charming scene from the narrative, such as Izzy running away from her rooster, Meanie, after collecting eggs. This is a great read for kids who want to unlock their inner lions and be brave!

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