Sara Shepard, Penny draws a school play (Penny Draws #2), Text Publishing, September 2023, 272 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781922790408
Penny Lowry’s mum is expecting twins, so Penny knows there are some big changes to come. But the big changes start earlier than expected when her parents announce that they have bought a new house and they have only one week left in their old house before they must move. As if that isn’t enough for Penny’s anxiety, her teacher decides to put on a school play, and everyone is expected to be in it.
Penny is determined to face these challenges head on and try to enjoy the ride. But there are complications when her simple role in the play is suddenly changed so that she has lines to memorise, and when she finds out her new friend Chloe is “sworn enemies” with her old friend Maria. Not to mention, there’s something screeching in her new bedroom. It’s a stressful time, but Penny makes it through with the help of her drawings, her friend Chloe, and a positive outlook.
Written in epistolary format, through letters to her dog, Cosmo, Penny draws a school play is the second in the series by Sara Shepard, beginning with Penny draws a best friend. Penny writes and draws her way through her experiences as a means to managing her anxiety and coping with the challenges of her final year of primary school.
This warm-hearted, accessible and witty book is a must-read for children with anxiety and those facing big changes, who will find Penny and her problems very relatable.
Reviewed by Pamela Ueckerman
