Tali and the Toucan

K-Gr 3–Using magical realism and dreams, this lovely picture book shows how the main character Tali gains courage to try the things she has been too afraid to attempt. Tali’s fears keep her from doing things that other kids do, like playing on the playground, doing gymnastics, or Aikido. But Tali has a series of dreams that show her that she can do all those things and more, if she just tries. The message of persistence and facing fears is a powerful one for young readers, and this book does it well. This would be an excellent book to read together with children, to talk about the elements of reality as well as the dream elements to help them fully understand the point of the book. It makes a good read-aloud, particularly at the beginning of the school year, to help students understand the importance of confronting fears and the means for gaining confidence.