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Shy Charles | 
 enlarge | Author: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Puffin
Category: Book
List Price: $5.99
Buy New: $2.26
You Save: $3.73 (62%)
New (33) Used (9) from $2.26
Avg. Customer Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 130467
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Baby-Preschool
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 32
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 10.1 x 0.5 x 0.5
ISBN: 0140568433
EAN: 9780140568431
ASIN: 0140568433
Publication Date: June 25, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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Book Description
Charles is a mouse of few words. He doesn't like to talk, and he's perfectly happy playing by himself. But his parents are not happy. "It's time he played football or joined the ballet," says Charles's father. So off Charles goes to ballet class, where he curls up and pretends to be asleep. Football proves even less successful. Will anything bring Charles out of his shell?
"A nicely told fable as helpful for their parents as for shy children in need of respect."
-The New York Times Book Review
"Wells has a time-tested talent for taking a keenly felt emotion-in this case shyness-and exploring it in a manner that is reassuring to young listeners."
Booklist
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Had potential, but... September 1, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As I read this book to my shy 3 year old dauther, I found that I needed to add text to clarify to her what was going on. Although the premise for the book is good, I feel it was not well written. I also was somewhat taken aback by the verbal cruelty of Charles' parents. Basically they told him he wouldn't amount to anything and some might spank him, just for being shy. This is NOT the message I wanted to send my kid. In the end, Charles shows everybody what he's made of, and they say thank you, but no one ever apologizes to him. I suppose you could argue that this represents the real world, but wow, how harsh. Since my daughter loves the illustrations, we keep reading and I keep add-libbing.
 Shy? Sweet Charles is Just Autistic July 14, 2007
This is a charming little book about a boy who will not say thank you even for the most wonderful treats, will not speak on the phone, is quite clumsy, and who prefers to play all alone. If you have an autistic youngster in your family, its as plain as the cute nose on Charle's face - he is autistic.
There's a bit of political incorrectness regarding the father's thoughts and words toward Charles, but the dad's frustration is something autistic families will relate to.
I love the near ending - and the real ending. Charles musters himself to the task of using the phone well enough to call an ambulance, helping an injured adult get up off the floor, and even showing empathy by bringing her a cup of cocoa. Yet at the tale's end, he is back to not talking! The story shows there's nothing wrong with being autistic. Its just how some people are...and they deserve our respect.
 "Charles Hid Inside a Flour Sack" "Someday When He's Big, He'll Kiss Me Back!" November 24, 2006
Shy Charles is one extremely shy kid. Charles is perfectly content to keep to himself and his very happy. He doesn't play with the kids at school and doesn't really have any interest in doing so. His parents think that something's wrong with him, that he's rude. He won't talk to any of the adults at stores and stuff or thank them --- he just hides. They decide to start enrolling him in activities like dancing and football, but Charles doesn't warm to any of it. Then, Charles does something to show that maybe there's more to him than anybody thought.
Shy Charles reminds me somewhat of another of Rosemary Wells's characters --- Edward the Unready. Edward is often unready for certain things and can be a bit shy at times too. Both are nicely identifiable for children or anyone else who is shy or just not ready for certain things. Rosemary Wells really gets it.
Oh, the parents in this book? They don't quite seem to get it. But too bad for them.
A Shy but functioning mouse. August 24, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was at the library with my children tonight when I saw this book on the shelf. The title intrigued me as I have a 4 year old son Charles (we call him Charlie) who can be shy from time to time. I stopped what we were doing retrieved the book, and read it to him and my 2 daughters.
I really liked the concept: a painfully shy child who in difficult circumstances can function at a very high level. My children all liked it as well, my 6 year old reread it to everybody once I had finished.
Parents often worry needlessly about the level that their children are functioning. I can understand the fears of Charles's parents that his shyness will be a detriment to him later in life. I think my parents had similar fears when I did not talk in sentence form until I was already four. As it turns out, I might not have talked much for the first 1/2 decade of my life, but as they like to say: I haven't shut up since. My Dad now says if he knew I was going to talk so much, he would have worried less and enjoyed the peace and quiet more.
Given Well's fine illustrations and good storytelling ability, my affinity for the subject, and my children's positive reviews, I will not be shy in my praise for Shy Charles.
 VERY DISAPPOINTING April 14, 2006
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been looking for books to help my child with SELECTIVE MUTISM begin to understand his difficulties with talking in public. We like so many of Rosemary Wells' other books, so I was excited to find this one. Luckily, I previewed it first! The pressure from Charles' parents and the ridicule and name-calling because Charles won't talk are APPALLING. How is this supposed to help a child begin to feel good about themselves?? If anything, this book seems to want to shame a shy child into talking, not build his confidence. Sure, Charles rises to the occasion and saves his babysitter. In the end, though, he realizes no breakthrough and gains nothing from his heroic act. Do not read this book to your child if you want to help him/her get over shyness!
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