This post was created in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and HarperCollins. All opinions are my own.
I love it when a book speaks right to a child’s feelings and concerns. That’s what I found when I read Erin Entrada Kelly’s new book, Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey. It captures the worries and fears of childhood in a way that relates to kids without talking down to them. It also shows a heart-warming friendship between two special girls.
Marisol Rainey has a big Magnolia tree in her front yard. She’s named the tree Peppina, and she thinks about it a lot. She watches her brother, her best friend, and even her cat climb Peppina. But Marisol is too nervous to climb Peppina herself.
Marisol worries about a lot of things. And she’s starting to worry that her worries are keeping her from doing the things she really wants to do. Thankfully, Marisol has an awesome best friend named Jada who understands her fears and supports her no matter what. But still, Marisol wants to be brave, and this might just be the summer she starts.
Marisol’s mother is from the Philippines, and her father works on an oil rig, so he’s often away from home for long periods of time. Marisol lives in Louisiana with her parents and her older brother, Oz. Marisol dreams of traveling the world or living somewhere else…but she’s also nervous about what unknown places like New York City or Paris. What if she got lost, or fell off the Eiffel Tower?
Marisol reminds me of one of my own children, who regularly struggles with worry and anxiety. Like him, Marisol is a sensitive soul, and she feels things very deeply. Readers will find themselves rooting for her to face the things that scare her, and may even be inspired to tackle their own fears, whether it’s climbing a huge tree or standing up to a bully.
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey is a great choice for kids ages 8 and up. I highly recommend it, especially for those sensitive kids who might be nervous to step out of their comfort zone.
Enter for a chance to win a hardcover copy of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey!
Ten (10) winners receive:
- A hardcover copy of Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey
The giveaway begins April 26, 2021, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends May 26, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
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