The Shy Book

The Shy Book is a tender, empowering story that helps children find courage in their quiet moments and reminds them that even the softest voice has something important to say
This book wants to be read—truly, it does—but there’s just one problem: It’s feeling a little shy. It worries the reader might think it’s silly . . . or worse, boring. So it suggests putting it back on the shelf—surely, there must be a better book out there.
But what if the reader doesn’t give up?
In The Shy Book, the story gently unfolds as the book finds the courage to speak, showing young readers that even when we feel uncertain or afraid, our voices still matter. Throughout the book’s journey, children discover that it’s OK to feel shy—and that those feelings don’t have to stop them from connecting, expressing themselves, or being seen.
Understanding big emotions like shyness, sadness, worry, or anger is no easy task, especially for little ones. That’s where the Emotions series steps in. With The Shy Book, The Worried Book, The Sad Book, and The Angry Book, children learn to recognize and name their emotions in a warm, relatable, and often humorous way.
Told from the perspective of books themselves, each story offers practical strategies for emotional regulation, helping kids build confidence and resilience as they navigate their inner worlds. Perfect for children ages 3–7, this charming series is a heartfelt tool for parents, caregivers, and educators who want to foster emotional literacy and spark important conversations—one page at a time.

Howard Pearlstein is the author of nine picture books that have been translated into five languages. His most recent picture books include This Book Is Not For You and The Bad Book for Good Kids. Pearlstein lives with his family in Birmingham, Alabama. James Munro has been drawing since he could grasp a pencil. Since then, everything in his path has fallen prey to his doodles, from books and magazines to films and animation. He lives and works in a pile of pencil shavings and spilled ink in Liverpool, England.