A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city. Despite her mother’s efforts to take her out, the girl would rather play by herself in their cozy home—she feels just fine on her own. Introductions to children her age have her hiding behind her mother’s legs, and invitations to group activities have her in tears. That is, until she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small, and kisses her arm when the girl nervously reaches out. With Millie, saying hello to new people isn’t so scary . . . and maybe making a friend isn’t either. Through emotionally honest prose and soft, expressive illustrations, Lauren Castillo explores one girl’s shyness and anxiety—and how one dog’s love helps her open up—in a warm picture book that reminds readers of how the right companion can make the world feel like a less frightening place.
- Books
- Kids Fiction & Indies
- Kids Fiction
- Just Like Millie
Just Like Millie
Author(s)
Publisher
Age Range
4+
Release Date
March 27, 2024
ISBN
978-1536224818
Buy This Book
In a gentle story from Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, a shy young girl finds exploring her new city and making friends overwhelming—until a rescue dog helps her uncover the bravery that was always in her.
Editor reviews
2 reviews
Power of a Dog Friend
Overall rating
5.0
Plot
5.0
Characters
5.0
Writing Style
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
5.0
Just Like Millie is the perfect book for children who are facing an upheaval in their lives. The little girl has moved into a new apartment with her mother and finds it hard to meet new people. She becomes anxious and only feels safe at home or with her mother. Then they get a friendly dog named Millie. Through her care the little girl starts seeing familiar faces, she feels safe, and she has Millie as a role model to make her feel brave enough to also make friends.
The writing and clarity of the events make this a perfect read for Preschool - Early Elementary readers. The little girl is a relatable character for anyone who has moved or faced a big change in their life leaving them unsure. This book shows the power of our four-legged friends to help us feel safe and ready to meet the wider world. Overall, this book is a sweet book about a girl gaining confidence following her dog’s example.
The writing and clarity of the events make this a perfect read for Preschool - Early Elementary readers. The little girl is a relatable character for anyone who has moved or faced a big change in their life leaving them unsure. This book shows the power of our four-legged friends to help us feel safe and ready to meet the wider world. Overall, this book is a sweet book about a girl gaining confidence following her dog’s example.
Dogs Help Us in Many Ways
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
5.0
A young girl and her mother move to a new apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's cozy, and the girl is happy playing by herself while her mother works. When the two venture out to the market and storytime at the library, the girl is very uncomfortable meeting other people, crying and seeking comfort from her mother, who is reassuring. The mother takes the girl to an animal shelter, and they pick out Millie, a small dog who is friendly but not overwhelming. Millie settles in to the apartment well, and sleeps next to the girl's bed. Since Millie has to be walked three times a day, the girl meets lots of other people, which becomes less scary as time goes by. Eventually, the family goes to the dog park, and the girl feels confident enough to say hello to another little girl.
Good Points
The illustrations in this are great, and my very favorite one is a rocker recliner in the living room, which is green and has wood spindles on the side; while there wasn't one like this in my house, it was in lots of my friends' houses! What a great blast from the past! There's a vintage feel to many of the illustrations, with a muted gray brown palette that is a reflection of the buildings in the neighborhood.
The little girl in the book is probably not quite school age, which means she would have been very young when the Pandemic hit. There are probably many children who missed a crucial developmental stage of meeting new people and developing relationships, so it makes sense that the girl in the story would rather be alone, and is overwhelmed when she has to meet people. Millie is a great way to have the girl get our into society with some support. There are plenty of books about social anxiety, like Bright's The Worrysaurus and Percival's Ruby's Worry, so this type of discomfort in social settings might be widespread among the preschool crowd.
Of course, dogs make everything better, and Millie does a good job at helping the girl feel more comfortable with other people. Like Papp's Madeline Finn and the Library Dog or Gianferrari's To Dogs, With Love, A Love Letter to the Dogs Who Help Us, Just Like Millie is an excellent book to read to help anxious youngsters think about ways to navigate the world.
The little girl in the book is probably not quite school age, which means she would have been very young when the Pandemic hit. There are probably many children who missed a crucial developmental stage of meeting new people and developing relationships, so it makes sense that the girl in the story would rather be alone, and is overwhelmed when she has to meet people. Millie is a great way to have the girl get our into society with some support. There are plenty of books about social anxiety, like Bright's The Worrysaurus and Percival's Ruby's Worry, so this type of discomfort in social settings might be widespread among the preschool crowd.
Of course, dogs make everything better, and Millie does a good job at helping the girl feel more comfortable with other people. Like Papp's Madeline Finn and the Library Dog or Gianferrari's To Dogs, With Love, A Love Letter to the Dogs Who Help Us, Just Like Millie is an excellent book to read to help anxious youngsters think about ways to navigate the world.
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