Review - You Can't Scare Me

You Can't Scare Me
by Bonnie Grubman
illustrated by Judi Abbot
Date: 2020
Publisher: Clavis Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Best friends Walter and Willy are having a sleepover. Walter thinks it’s fun to scare Willy. But what happens when the tables get turned?

A barely scary story about friendship and respect. For best friends ages 4 and up.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The synopsis claims that this is "a barely scary story about friendship and respect". Unfortunately, there's little respect shown, and Walter and Willy behave terribly toward one another. I don't think the scenario in this book is one I want to see kids emulating. The description would be more accurate if it said this was "a disturbing story about revenge and boundary violation".

Walter keeps scaring Willy, even though Willy repeatedly tells Walter he doesn't like it. He threatens to leave if Walter doesn't knock it off. Walter promises he will. But then, of course, he breaks that promise. (Little jerk.) Willy goes home and refuses to speak to Walter.

That could've been the beginning of a nice lesson about respect. Unfortunately, the story decided to go with a revenge angle. Willy shows up at Walter's door dressed as a wolf. Walter is terrified, thinking that Willy has been eaten and that he's going to be next. But then Willy reveals himself and they both have a good laugh about it.

I'm sorry, but I don't see what's so funny. A wolf showing up at a pig's doorstep has got to be one of the most terrifying, traumatic things ever. It's probably the pig equivalent of a bloody guy with a chainsaw or a suicide bomber showing up on a human's doorstep. How this ties in with respect is anyone's guess; neither pig seems to care about his friend's feelings at all.

The pictures are cute, and this could've been a good story if the narrative had taken a few different turns. As it is, though, it doesn't teach the respect it claims to, and actually encourages children to violate others' boundaries for a laugh.

Nope. This just isn't good enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clavis Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5