Children that suffer from social anxiety, shyness or excessive worrying are sure to benefit greatly.
Kayla Thomas isolates herself out of fear that she will not be accepted. She sits by herself at lunchtime rather than asking her schoolmates if she can sit with them. She hides during gym class so that she won’t have to pick a partner. Kayla considers the sage advice from her grandmother, “What’s the worst that could happen?” But each time, she always imagines the worst case scenario. When shy Kayla attends a party held by one of her classmates, she realizes that her worst fears are implausible and she finds the encouragement and motivation to overcome her phobia.
Besides facing fears, other teaching points in this book include making friends, generosity and the brief mention of an autistic character. The artwork masterfully portrays the emotions that Kayla faces, and also provides some humorous images depicting the young girl’s wild imagination. Children that suffer from social anxiety, shyness or excessive worrying are sure to benefit greatly from What’s the Worst that Could Happen? Author Yewande Daniel-Ayoade considers a complex psychological disorder faced by many children and adults alike in a sensitive and uncomplicated manner.
