Murray is a cautious young pup: he'd rather not go outside in the rain, he's leery of a big dog he meets at the park, he prefers to skip a BBQ to avoid firecrackers, and going to sleep alone is out of the question. Luckily, his owner understands these fears (offering him a raincoat, much encouragement, and company while he falls asleep), and while sometimes scary things do happen, Murray feels proud that he's tried new things. This big-eyed pooch is at his comic best when imagining the horrors that might befall him: nearly drowning in a puddle, losing his tiny chew toy to an enormous dog, shrinking in terror under a barrage of fireworks, and reliving nightmares of his worst fears. Stein's mixed-media illustrations place Murray front and center, with depicted humans often shown from the waist down to conjure Murray's perspective. The illustrations include a mix of full-page and smaller spot art, which combine with the brief, easy-reader-style text to offer an entertaining look at dealing with fears.

In a series of humorous vignettes, timid pup Murray is urged to overcome his reluctance to do things by an unseen narrator, his owner. "Why don't you want to go outside, Murray?" "Why don't you want to go to the barbecue, Murray?" Each time, the dog is lured by his owner's encouragement to give the proffered activity a go, only to experience a setback. For instance, at the park, he doesn't "want to say hello to this new dog" because he's afraid it will take away his toy. The narrator reassures him that the dog is nice, so Murray does engage with the newcomer -- but then is knocked off his (four) feet by an overly exuberant "WOOF! WOOF!" Stein (Interrupting Chicken) skillfully uses repetition in text, page layout, and plot sequence to closely connect the day's incidents and to build humor and characterization (it helps with independent reading, too). Mixed-media illustrations tenderly capture our protagonist's personality and expressive eyes and body language. At bedtime, Murray is afraid to sleep because of potential nightmares. But his owner praises him for trying new experiences, calling him brave, and Murray happily nods off, dreaming not of monsters but of himself as a superhero. Children who recognize themselves in Murray will feel seen and, hopefully, empowered. A gem of a picture book, expertly crafted and oh-so-relatable. Martha V. Parravano

Stein’s (The Worm Family Has Its Picture Taken) wide-eyed, floppy-eared, and utterly adorable protagonist is a small pup in an often overwhelming world, shown in fluid multimedia cartoons as far from in command of his surroundings. Murray worries about a lot of things: getting washed away by a rainstorm, a big dog in the park who might be a bully, the cat print hung near his bed that, to Murray’s eyes, seems downright ghoulish. But the omniscient narrator—Murray’s loving owner—never belittles the pooch, instead offering whatever’s needed to help Murray venture out into the world. Rainstorm? Murray gets a snappy yellow slicker that makes him wag his tail. Big dog? The narrator offers reassurance: “He’s nice.” Scary feline art? “I’ll stay right here with you while you fall asleep.” The solutions aren’t absolutely foolproof: that big friendly dog still has a very loud bark. But Murray knows, as readers will, that being loved, looked out for, and celebrated as “brave” for trying new things makes all the difference—and when one possesses that, a dog can have his day. Ages 4–8. (June)