Clara Capybara by Aleesah Darlison. Illus. by Ruth-Mary Smith

Clara simply could not say no. Her vocabulary involved many words that mean yes, but none that meant no. All sorts of requests saw her saying yes: tying shoelaces, scratching someone’s back, helping someone who is lost. She helps someone comb their ear hair, does the homework for someone else, cleans up the mess. She blows up the balloons, and feels warm inside. Helping others is what she loves.

Through the book, we see a host of words that mean yes, words that Clara uses. Words like yes, I’d love to, all right, it is my pleasure, okey dokey, sure, of course, I’ll do it right away, I’d be happy to, and so on. Each response is a positive response, all meaning yes.

But Mama notices that Clara is looking very tired. She suggests that Clara should do something for herself, and while she is doing that, to say no to all the requests that she gets. She practices saying no, and finds a time when her friends ask her to join them on hike. She hums and has eventually saying no because she is having a mud bath. The others say ok, another time perhaps. She is amazed, she says no and her friends are very accepting of this.

Themes: Friendship, Balance.

Fran Knight