Sensitive
Age 5+
General Fiction
A unique and powerful look at the ways being sensitive and having big feelings is a strength.
"You feel way too much."" / ""Will you stop being dramatic?"
A young girl hears messages that she's too sensitive and needs to change. In a slightly surreal moment, the messages travel inside her body and won't leave her alone. It is only when she gets time to herself that she finds a solution—she transforms the negative comments into a poem affirming that being sensitive is her strength. A unique and thoughtful picture book that builds empathy and compassion.
Creators
Sara Levine is a veterinarian, educator, and award-winning author of science books for kids. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with her daughter, two dogs, some spider plants, a philodendron, and an angel leaf begonia.
Mehrdokht Amini is an Iranian-born children's book illustrator. She has been nominated for a Kate Greenaway Medal and been invited to participate in the prestigious Bratislava Biennial of Illustrations. She lives in the UK.
Reviews
This story highlights the importance of taking control of a narrative as well as the healing power of artistic pursuits…A healing, positive assertion.
Kirkus Reviews
This honest and validating book looks at how a young girl copes with the pain she feels in being labeled “too sensitive” and told to grow “thicker skin.” How can she change something she can’t control? “Her skin must have actually been quite thin because she could feel their words passing into her.” Amini’s textured collage illustrations effectively convey the overwhelming effects of the criticisms, showing the heavy words swirling around the child’s head and ultimately pouring into her body, darkening the space around her. “Finally, it got so crowded?that she couldn’t hear her own thoughts or feel her own feelings.” With space, rest, and quiet, she eventually knows how to turn those mean words into something positive and empowering. The emotionally resonant text and striking illustrations capture the healing one can find in art and creativity. The text seems best suited for elementary-aged children, though the powerful message resounds for all ages.
The Horn Book Magazine
