Shy

July 4, 2016
Shy is an awkward, bookish giraffe whose thrilling encounter with a real bird compels him to leave his confined existence to find her. “Treep treep troo-lee!” cries the yellow bird, and Shy is smitten. He’s never heard birdsong before (“None of his books could sing”), and to find her he must go where he’s never gone before. Shy is so shy that readers don’t see him at all until well into the story. When Freedman (By Mouse and Frog) writes, “Shy was happiest between the pages of a book,” it’s a pun; an arrow points to the book’s gutter, where Shy is hiding. Only when he starts to search does he step out onto the page and become visible. When at last Shy and the bird meet, he can use the line the story has been heading for: “Shy whispered, ‘I’m shy.’ ” Florence (the bird) loves Shy’s books, it turns out, and the two head for happily ever after. Freedman gently suggests that love can push us to be braver than we’ve ever been. Ages 3–5. Agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House.

Starred review from July 15, 2016
Someone extremely shy finds a friend.Shy (his name as well as his defining characteristic) is happiest "between the pages of a book." This is both metaphorical--he's happiest when reading his stack of bird books--and literal: Shy isn't depicted on the page, and a thin arrow indicates he's hiding in the spine of Freedman's book. The illustrations show tiny rocks, bits of grass, faint airborne bubbles and musical notes--and a small yellow bird who perches on the stack of books, capturing Shy's whole heart with her song. He's too bashful to reveal himself, but when she departs, he follows. Only his footsteps can be seen. Shy journeys across landscapes to the ocean, seeing animals--walrus, elephant, aardvark, hippo, whale--and, finally, his bird. Again, he can't speak. She disappears; he heads home, heartbroken. But she flies by, and this time, Shy emerges from the book's spine to greet her--musically. This is the first time readers see who he is, though in hindsight, they'll realize he may have appeared earlier. Freedman's fine pencil lines, graceful animals, superb compositions, and spare text are virtuosic, but the backgrounds are the soul of Shy's tale: breathtaking watercolor washes blend hues softly from one section of the natural color spectrum to another, opaquely connoting desert, mountains, skies, dawn, and night. An exquisite treasure for bashful readers, animal lovers, and anyone who's ever wanted a friend. (Picture book. 3-7, adult)

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October 1, 2016

K-Gr 2-In this serene, unassuming story, readers meet Shy, a giraffe who is happiest-both figuratively and literally-"between the pages of a book." Shy, unseen for a large portion of the tale and unidentified until its close, is exceedingly bashful and prefers to experience the world by reading. In particular, he loves books about birds, and when he encounters a beautiful songbird, he makes the brave decision to follow her. Shy's journey takes him across wondrous landscapes and introduces him to other remarkable animals, but just as he summons the courage to speak to her, she is gone, and Shy returns home, heartbroken. When the songbird reappears, Shy, in a satisfying moment of daring, calls out to her (thus identifying himself to readers as well), and the two begin a sweet friendship. The spare text works in lovely concert with the soft, muted illustrations. Composed using pencil, watercolor, and bits of colored pencil, they evoke a sense of joy and wonder. As the book opens, the images are saturated with warm tones of orange and gold, hinting at Shy's identity, and bursts of soft blue and yellow accompany the songbird's introduction. Freedman expertly shifts the color palette to express Shy's emotions and moods. In moments of bravery, exploration, and friendship, the colors brighten; when Shy struggles with his feelings of timidity, the orange tones once again seep into the pages. The subtle beauty of the art invites multiple readings. VERDICT This warm, gentle meditation on overcoming fears and making new friends is suitable for a cozy read-aloud and quiet one-on-one enjoyment.-Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Elkins Park, PA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2017
The initially unseen Shy loves all books, especially books about birds. When a real bird flies by, introverted Shy follows. Finally, he makes contact with Florence, the bird, and the two friends bond over the words of a beloved story. Muted browns and yellows foreshadow the reveal of Shy's species, while translucent blues and whites let us know when Florence is near.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)