A day at the beach might be fun for Eleanor, but to her dog, Sukie, it represents one potential threat after another. Descending the stairs to the sand? Sukie might get a shell stuck up her nose, fall on her head and need stitches, “and besides, there might be lobsters.” Eleanor carries Sukie down the steps, but then the little dog is faced with a beach ball. It might knock her down and she’d never get up again, forcing her to live on the beach eating seaweed, “and besides, beach balls attract lobsters.” Anxiety-stricken Sukie sees disaster—and lobsters—lurking at every turn and prefers to sit quietly with her toy monkey, Chunka Munka, while Eleanor plays in the water. But when an errant wave pulls Chunka Munka out to sea, Sukie doesn’t think twice and heroically paddles out to retrieve her friend. Reassuring illustrations (Chunka Munka smiles serenely as he floats atop the water) and Sukie’s recurring lobster phobia infuse this tale of anxiety with gentle humor. (Ages 3-7)

Come on, Sukie, you can do it! A little dog’s paralyzing anxiety gives way to bravery when someone smaller is in need in this humorous, tenderly sympathetic story.

Lots of things at the beach scare Sukie. Lots. Because she is just a small dog, and the stairs are big and sandy, and the waves are big and whooshy, and the balls are big and beachy. And besides, there might be lobsters. With endearing illustrations and a perfectly paced text that captures a timid pup’s looping thoughts, here is a funny and honest read-aloud about how overwhelming the world can be when you're worried — and how empowering it is to overcome your fears when it matters the most.