I Used to Be Shy

Does your child ever sit by themselves-alone and seemingly friendless?

Meet Carla, our self-appointed social committee of one, who makes everyone at summer camp feel welcome. Carla spots a shy new boy who hides from others in his cabin, closing his curtain. Carla follows her heart and gathers a small group of fellow campers to coax him out to play games. With Carla's encouragement, our new camper builds up his self-confidence, loses his fear, and learns to enjoy his new friends.

About the authors: Mike Mirabella, an established musician and publisher of children's books-and Lenny Lipton, who wrote the folk song "Puff the Magic Dragon"-sat in their living rooms writing songs as they babysat their disabled daughters. The bonus song "Little Brown Pony" includes the lyrics and music notations as does "I Used to Be Shy."

The outstanding illustrations were done by Amy O'Hanlon, an inspired artist in a family of musicians who does stage projection design for several San Francisco musicals, one of which was the Bay Area Children's Theatre's She Persisted, based on the book by Chelsea Clinton.