Wilber's Scary Day!

This lovingly written and beautifully illustrated children's book was a treat for the eyes and heart from cover to cover. The playful style will no doubt have children who have recently learned to read returning to this book over and over again. And all the while, they will be learning valuable lessons! I would recommend this book to any family with a young reader. Or, maybe even if the reader is just young at heart. ;-) If you don't want to see any spoilers, read no further! Wilbur is a curious dog who's comically exaggerated ears and proclivity for smelling the world around him remind us of dogs we've all known and loved. His thoughts, emotions, and reactions however, remind us of ourselves. When we learn that Wilbur has a boy, it brings to light both a parallel to our own concept of ownership, but also hints at how our perceptions of the world are molded by our own viewpoint and experience. Wilbur's curiosity and occasional absentmindedness lead him to get lost in a place he has not been to, nor does he understand. This can truly be a terrifying experience for all of us, and our instinct will be to search for what is familiar. When our protagonist is finally reunited with his boy, the sense of relief and joy is nearly palpable. Although no catastrophe has occurred, we are acutely aware that things could have been much worse. We learn through Wilbur's experience that when a situation is bleak, and the outlook dark, sometimes a friend or family member is all we need to get through it. The lessons learned in this wonderful piece of children's literature are numerous and profound, and Collette Dahl Lorentzen manages to teach them without being forceful and heavy-handed, as is all too common in many children's books. Children will learn about life through a sense of shared experience, instead of through preachy dialogue, helping them to internalize and take to heart these important concepts. I personally look forward to Wilbur's next adventure with great anticipation!

I appreciate the fun way the author teaches basic skills. It is easy to think all parents teach respect, responsibility & accountability to their children; but not true in today’s society. As a childcare provider I highly recommend reading Collette’s books. Wilbur is lovable & a good example for children. Also enjoyed talking to author in person.

Fun story about an adorable puppy.

Wilber's Scary Day is a really cute children's book!!! My kids enjoyed it and the illustrations are amazing, Looking forward to future Wilber books.

Awesome fun books for the kids

My grandchildren loved the book. I love the lesson to the children about how to be safe with a character, Wilber, that they could relate to and easily understand. The illustrations were great. Can’t wait for the series to continue.

What a cute story! I loved the illustrations 😀

My niece & nephew absolutely love this book. Great story and amazing illustrations.

This book is fun for readers of all ages. The illustrations are great, and Wilber is such a cute character! It has a good lesson for young learners.

I love Wilbur! This book is very cute, easy to read for the kiddos, and has a wonderful story! I especially love the illustrations!

A loveable character, Wilber, teaches an important lesson to children in a heart-warming story. Loved the illustrations and message.

Bought this for my grand daughter

This is a great book to teach children to not go to far from home since they could get lost.