She moves the pieces,
and suddenly they
all fit perfectly.
"Too bad you're not smart,"
says her sister.
And she walks away."
Poor Sophie! She wears her heart on her sleeve, and her emotions come quickly to prominence. I have been sharing her books since 1999 when I read When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry for the first time. And then again with When Sophie's Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt (2015). So, I was excited to see this new book about solving problems and not feeling very smart. Each and every one of the three books speak to young children about the authenticity of their feelings and encourages them to persevere.
Sophie is really discouraged about her inability to solve puzzles. She knows she can't do them, and that math is not her strong suit. Her sister just told her so. Her teacher encourages her students who are finding a given assignment difficult.
"You haven't
figured it
out ...
YET.
Keep working!
Keep trying
and you will."
Sophie and her partners find their own unique ways to solve the puzzle presented! On her way home from school, Sophie delights in her newfound skill, and uses that spirit to help her father with a difficult project. Once she thinks she can do it, she is on a roll.
I love Molly Bang's signature art for Sophie's stories. Bright, busy and full of detail, young readers will find much that is familiar to them. The expressions are well-known to those who have seen Sophie's struggles and her determination.
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