Worried Whippet: A Book of Bravery (For Adults and Kids Struggling with Anxiety) by Jess Bolton is a cozy story about how a whippet learns to find the balance between afraid and not afraid, needing an indoor/sleeping like a cushion day and walking outside in the world with its “dangers”, and the fear of new experiences. Sweet illustrations show the adventures and misadventures (stolen chips anyone?) Written in the English of the UK (chips means French fries), though available, was read via an online reader copy.
The idea is simple enough (we have seen anxiety and how to deal with it) but this time around it feels more in depth or at least taken on in a different way. Our pup has extreme anxiety probably not only due to being a whippet, but it feels like they might have been a shelter dog. That is not focused on, however, just how Jess (the dog) deals with the fears of being outside their home, the issues with making friends and chip stealing birds. The chapter format allows for each section to be read, digested and then allowing you to move to the next section.
The artwork is nice, cozy, colorful and minimalistic, but has all that is needed. The needed support to the story itself is given and added to things as well. The point of view being the dog could have been strong if Jess did not get replies from the humans, but any bumps that created was surpassed by the lighthearted and creative illustrations.