SOMETIMES SHY

A boy notices everything around him that can be shy--a seedling slow to sprout, a marker timid to let its color out. But no one accuses objects of being too shy. On a seaside stroll home from school with his older brother, the boy doesn't feel shy at all. Because, like the ocean tides, sometimes we're shy, and sometimes we're like big, booming waves with a lot to say at the end of the day.

A lyrical exploration of situational shyness, and how sometimes inanimate objects can be shy too.

Ages 4 - 8

Julie Blivens has been an editor of books for young children for more than a decade. She holds a master's degree in children's literature from Simmons University, where she has mentored and taught in the MFA program. Julie lives in Yarmouth, Maine, with her husband and son.

Dang Khoa Tran used to be a curious kid, but quite shy and hesitant to explore. Now he explores through art. Khoa lives in Vietnam.