Wren’s Whiskers by Caren Cantrell is an adorable story with an equally adorable message woven through the tale of Wren the mouse, that of embracing our uniqueness and standing tall in our power. Wren has curly whiskers which is a big problem for a mouse. She trips a lot and bumps into the walls. She wants to be a cheerleader like her best friend, Lilah, but they do not let her as her whiskers are not straight. Wren tries a lot of things to make them straight, but nothing works. She asks Lilah if she can try a few cheers with them when they practice and Wren is great with her springy whiskers. She gets a chance to prove her mettle at the Cheer Championship when Maggie hurts her leg.

The story is about self-acceptance and it is encouraging to see Wren doing well with her curly whiskers after she is initially rejected. The illustrations are charming and they give clarity to the author’s words and the concept. It is a good bedtime storybook and is perfect for read aloud and storytelling sessions in classrooms because of its message. Educators, counselors, and therapists will also find this story helpful if they are dealing with children suffering from low self-esteem. Wren’s character will encourage and inspire a lot of children, especially those who feel different and that they do not fit in with everyone else. Storybooks like this are uplifting and children should be encouraged to read them often so that they become motivated and confident when it comes to accepting themselves.

I received a pre-publication copy of Leo Learns to Swim from the author. I loved it! The illustrations are adorable and will engage readers as they identify with Leo and Starfish, two characters who encourage developing little ones to embrace determination, self-acceptance, and grit. I will definitely use this book when working as a professional school counselor, as well as, with my own children and friends. Leo Learns to Swim is a fun book that will entertain, and offer the opportunity for conversations about dealing with challenges.