Shrinking Violet
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 31 Mar 2026
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- $13.99
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- Pre-Order
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
"Simply gorgeous in every way." —Shannon Hale, New York Times bestselling author
An inspiring modern fairy tale about a brave girl who shrinks and grows depending on how she feels, showing how all of us—no matter our size—are so much bigger than our fears. From Theodor Seuss Geisel Award-winning author Laurel Snyder and Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator LeUyen Pham.
Violet knows what it’s like to be afraid: when you’re afraid, you feel helpless and small. But when Violet is afraid, she doesn’t just feel small—she actually shrinks! It’s tough to stop feeling frightened when you’re only a few centimeters tall. But when Violet’s best friend is in danger, she’ll have to learn to deal with her fear in a new way—and save the day in the process.
Shrinking Violet is a beautifully illustrated story about fear and bravery for anyone who has ever felt scared and small. Readers will root for Violet as she finds her voice, stands up for her friend, and, most importantly, discovers the tremendous power of her own inner strength.
BIG FEELINGS: Feeling small and afraid is a universally relatable experience. The shrinking metaphor at the core of Violet’s story will resonate deeply with young readers and demonstrate that being (or feeling!) small isn’t a weakness—it’s normal and completely okay.
EMPOWERING HEROINE: Violet is a strong female character who solves her own problems by learning to control and ultimately accept her feelings. Her story will feel familiar and wonderfully relatable to kids, and Violet is a positive role model in whom all young readers (especially girls!) can see themselves represented.
ALL-STAR CREATORS: Author Laurel Snyder, Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner, and illustrator LeUyen Pham, Caldecott Honoree, are children’s literature superstars with many bestsellers to their names. They're also real-life friends! This is the first project they've collaborated on, and they've combined their all-star talent to make a truly special story.
Perfect for:
Young readers experiencing worry or anxiety about scary things happening around them or in the world
Parents and caregivers looking for books that will help assure kids that it's okay to be afraid sometimes
Readers seeking stories that have a classic fairy tale feel
Gift-givers seeking a beautifully illustrated and deeply moving story
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Seemingly pint-size worries—spiders, night sounds—make a child literally shrink in this polished picture book from Snyder (The Book of Candles), writing in blank verse tercets, and Pham (The Man Who Didn't Like Animals), working in jewel-toned gouache. Young Violet, depicted with pale skin and flowing brown hair, lives a seemingly blissful life in a cliffside castle with golden-headed Bird, who provides emotional constancy. But when Bird's "CHIRRUP, CHIRRUP" awakens her one night, he's nowhere to be seen, and Violet ventures into darkness, her fright rendering her "a thimble of a girl." Finding Bird wounded and in peril triggers a new emotion—"a flash of fire,/ a thrumming heart"—and with it a transformation. The book's orientation turns vertical and the artwork goes phosphorescent as, in a fury, "Violet GREW./ Quick as a lick, she was a cat, a bear!/ Violet was the tallest tree in the forest." Danger routed, she self-soothes ("She imagined warm toast/ with a pat of butter/ until she was herself again") and carries Bird home. Violet hasn't banished fear permanently, but she now knows it's all right for it to ebb and flow, vividly assuring readers that being brave doesn't mean eliminating fear. Ages 5–8. Author's agent: Tina Dubois, ICM Partners. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.
