Wemberly Worried
1 Paperback/1 CD (see all formats)

"Laura Hamilton compassionately and humorously narrates Kevin Henkes' delightful story (2000) about a small girl mouse Wemberly, who worries night and day about noises, the crack in the wall, and her doll Petal. Tense background music and sound effects, such as running water or a closing door, add a dash of realism to the narrative. Hamilton reads in tiny, soft, nervous-sounding tones that perfectly capture the essence of the anxious mouse. The music becomes bright when Wemberly finally meets a new friend who seems exactly like herself. This superb read-along is perfect to calm all worrying Wemberlys."

"Wemberly is a worrier, no question about it. And the more she worries, the more worries she finds. She worries about everything at home, and now, at school. Laura Hamilton's Wemberly is perfect--her insecure, nervous, tremulous, little girl voice is exactly right, building in pace and tempo as her worries get bigger and bigger. She gives individual voices to the adults, especially grandmother's voice, but the voices of Wemberly and her friend, Jewel, are confusing. All the other ingredients: the page-turning sound, the wonderful sound effects--water running, bees buzzing, hinges squeaking--and the peppy, cheerful music combine to make this an excellent choice for 5- to 7-year-olds, who can relate to many of Wemberly's concerns. A charming story read at a slow, easy pace, with time to peruse the pictures and enjoy."