Chasing the Shy Town

81bnUrhVqSL
Author(s)
Co-Authors / Illustrators
  • Toni Galmes
Publisher Name
Little Island Books
Age Range
6+
Release Date
October 08, 2024
ISBN13
978-1915071514
ISBN10 or ASIN
   
Senan uses his binoculars to spy out the Shy Town, a sweet little place on a hill, with winding streets and red and yellow roofs. Senan calls it the Shy Town because it often hides and is hard to find. 
He tells his next-door friend Joshua about the Shy Town, and they set off, with Senan’s grandmother in a ramshackle wheelchair, to find this elusive place. Along the way they make friends with Paperboy. Who is, as you’d expect, a boy made of paper. 

With the help of a kruckle (a sort of Shy Town creature) that they meet on their journey, they find the Shy Town, only its real name is Perfection, because it is absolutely perfect.

Editor review

1 review
Finding Friendship and Adventure in a Hidden World
(Updated: June 24, 2026)
Overall rating
 
4.3
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
In Chasing the Shy Town, Senan uses binoculars to spy on the Shy Town, which is hard to find as it is oftentimes hiding. When Senan meets Joshua, his next-door friend, he tells him all about the Shy Town, and Joshua is just as excited as Senan to find this town. Senan and Joshua set out along with Senan’s grandmother to find this town and meet some friends along the way. One of the friends they meet, a kruckle, helps them find the Shy Town whose actual name is Perfection because this town is marvelously perfect. 

What I Liked: This book opens with an introduction to Senan and his interest in the Shy Town. You are instantly transported into the world that this book is taking place in as you learn more about Senan’s fascination with this town that seems to only appear for him sometimes. 
The various characters that are included throughout the book are all unique in their own ways and it's great that the book doesn’t point out their differences. There is a point in which Senan comments about Joshua’s name being strange for a girl and Joshua explains how her parents didn’t really know she was a girl until she was able to tell them. That is the only instance in the book in which this happens and this information doesn’t change Senan and Joshua’s friendship or the adventure they are going to embark on. 
The descriptions of the characters that they meet along the way and then the town of Perfection were vibrant and make it so that you can visualize these people and places. In addition to the vivid descriptions this book also includes small images throughout that give you more insight into what the characters look like and the adventures that they are on. 
Each chapter in this book consists of a few pages which is great for younger readers who are new to chapter books. This makes for an easy book for children to read on their own or to read out loud with others. This also makes it a great read for a classroom setting in which children can take turns reading through the chapters. 
Final Verdict: Chasing the Shy Town is a fun adventurous book for children who are beginning to read chapter books. Children will enjoy the adventure that Senan is on with Joshua and his grandma while laughing at the various silly antics they get up to. Adults can also enjoy reading this out loud to their children or in a classroom setting as the children follow along with the adventure.
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