Wemberly Worried
By Kevin Henkes
The Story
A little mouse worries about everything — spilled juice, shrinking in the bathtub, snakes in the radiator — but nothing looms larger than her first day of school.
Why It's Special
For the kid who needs three reminders before goodbye and a full inventory of everything that could go wrong, Wemberly Worried names that feeling and hands it right back with company.
- Big idea: Worry can fill every corner of a day, but it doesn't have to win — new places and new friends have a way of making room for something else.
- Vibes: Gentle, wry, and quietly reassuring, with the soft chaos of a very full mind.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on managing first-day-of-school jitters
- tend to worry about small things adults might overlook
- respond well to stories that name feelings out loud
- love Kevin Henkes's expressive mouse characters
Ask Your Little Reader
- Feelings & empathy: What are some of the things Wemberly worries about?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever worried about something the way Wemberly does?
- Story & problem-solving: What changed for Wemberly once she met Jewel at school?
- Imagination: If you could tell Wemberly not to worry about one thing, what would it be?
- Personal reflection: What do you worry about before a big first day?
