We know the story that is presented in Don’t Worry, Murray as it is a story of anxieties and fears. However, we have not seen it with one of the cutest pups I have seen in a bit. David Ezra Stein created a small dog that has big fears. He does not want to go outside. Why? Asks the narrator. And in a wordless explanation we get an all too clear reason why (it is wet, and he does not want to get dirty). And this continues throughout the story. By the end our narrator tells Murray that they are a brave dog, and they (the narrator) are proud of him for trying all the new things they tried that day.
The worries that Murray have many of us might have too, we do not like going out in the rain. We do not like the barking dogs in the park. And fireworks can make us jump and hide. But like Murray we can learn how to be brave. And if we are not there yet, we can follow Murray’s lead.
The illustrations are simple, not simplistic, and adorable. I want to cuddle Murray. And they look very polite, friendly, and even if a bit of a worrier, a good friend. The colors are not over the top bold, but neither are they faded. They are a nice middle ground.
Don’t Worry Murry is by the author of Interrupting Chicken. However, if you are not a fan of that, you still can love Murray as there is a more tender tone to it and even the illustrations are opposite of the others style.