A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling down about everyday disappointments, like a friend moving away, plans being canceled, or feeling scared of something new. This collection of four short stories follows the relatable and cheerful Katie Woo as she navigates common childhood frustrations. Each story shows Katie feeling sad, worried, or 'blue,' and then finding a simple, constructive way to cope and find happiness again. Perfect for early elementary schoolers, it gently models emotional resilience and practical problem-solving, normalizing temporary sadness and showing kids that they have the power to turn a bad day around.
The book deals with temporary separation and loss (a sitter moving, a friend on vacation). The approach is direct, gentle, and secular, focusing entirely on the child's emotional experience. The resolutions are consistently hopeful and empowering, emphasizing that while sadness is okay, there are active steps one can take to feel better and preserve happy memories.
Ideal Reader
This book is ideal for a sensitive 5 to 7-year-old who is just beginning to read independently and who experiences big feelings about small setbacks. It's perfect for a child who is sad about a friend moving to a new school, a favorite teacher leaving, or who feels anxious about trying new things for fear of failure.
Parent Prep
No preparation is needed. The stories are simple, positive, and can be read cold. They are excellent for sparking conversations about feelings, but they don't require any pre-reading or contextualizing from the parent. A parent has just seen their child have a small meltdown because plans changed, or heard them say "Now the whole day is ruined!" The child is moping and struggling to bounce back from a minor disappointment.
Age Experience
A 5-year-old will relate directly to Katie's surface-level emotions like sadness and fear, and will be comforted by the simple, happy endings. A 7-year-old, reading with more independence, can begin to identify and internalize the specific coping strategies Katie uses: making a scrapbook, talking about her fears, or shifting her perspective.
What Makes It Special
Unlike picture books that tackle a single, large emotional event, this early chapter book format presents a collection of low-stakes, everyday frustrations. This normalizes feeling 'blue' as a recurring but manageable part of life. Its accessibility for emerging readers empowers them to read about and process these emotions on their own.
Read plot summary
This early chapter book contains four self-contained stories about the main character, Katie Woo, dealing with unpleasant feelings. In "Boo, Katie Woo!", she is frightened by a neighbor's spooky Halloween skeleton but learns to overcome her fear. In "Good-bye, Special Sitter", Katie is sad when her favorite babysitter moves away, but they find a way to stay in touch. In "Red, White, and Blue", her plans for the Fourth of July change when her friend is out of town, but she ends up making the day special with her family. Finally, in "Too-Good-to-Be-True", she receives a beautiful new dress but is too anxious about ruining it to enjoy wearing it, until she decides that having fun is more important.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
In 'Good-bye, Special Sitter,' Katie and Gina make a special scrapbook. What is something special you could do to remember a friend who is far away?
2
Katie was scared of the spooky skeleton in 'Boo, Katie Woo!'. What helps you feel brave when something seems scary?
3
When Pedro went on vacation, Katie's plans changed but she still had fun with her family. What's something fun you can do even if your first plan doesn't work out?
4
Katie was worried about getting her beautiful new dress dirty. Have you ever been so worried about messing something up that you couldn't enjoy it? What did Katie decide was more important?
