February 1, 2018
PreS-Gr 1-A girl faces challenges throughout the day, but two little words prove to be an effective coping tool. From the toothpaste falling off her toothbrush to a page ripping in her favorite book, there are lots of things that make Kiki frustrated. Instead of throwing a tantrum she says, "No biggy!" These words help her to refocus. The self-calming strategy even helps Kiki's parents after the dog gets mud all over the house, and when her bubble bath creates a mess in the bathroom. The richly colorful, pastel-themed cartoon art illustrations in mostly shades of pink and orange are humorous and will appeal to children. Young children will understand the characters' emotions, which are conveyed in their facial expressions and change with their evolving moods. The first signs of frustration beginning are clear in Kiki's body language (arms crossed, shoulders hunched), which may help children identify these signals in themselves. Certain words are oversized and in color; they pop off the page and reinforce Kiki's emotions when frustrated ("grunt," "huff and puff"), and after saying "No biggy!" ("makes me feel better," "really happy"). The story has a great message for children-and adults-to maintain perspective when things go wrong. VERDICT A solid choice that highlights a positive way to manage frustration. A good choice for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Lauren White, Wake County Public Libraries, NC
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