This sweet book of encouragement is filled with humor and insight into the effort behind any meaningful accomplishment in life. The perfect gift for a baby shower, birthday, or preschool graduation, now in a padded board book. This gorgeous padded board book, perfect for any celebration in your little one's life, is an inspirational tribute to the universal struggles and achievements of childhood. A magical blend of succinct text and beautiful watercolors renders each moment with tenderness and humor and encourages readers to "remember then, with every try, sometimes you fail . . . sometimes you fly."

In this winsome tale, Alfred, who plays dead, and Sophia, who rolls up in a ball, stand in for shy or anxious humans whose discomfort keeps them from fitting in. Jennifer Black Reinhardt has cast animals with defense mechanisms as characters to tell an imaginative, endearing story about learning to make friends by mastering fear and shyness. Alfred and Sofia open up to each other and go on to help other creatures who have social difficulties by practicing patience, forgiveness, and friendship - tools for overcoming the barriers that keep us from connecting with others. An author's note lists real animals and their defensive behaviours.