Sammy Feels Shy (Big Bright Feelings)

**Lisa Bueno** (0:00)
Okay, our friends. So today, we are reading another story with these big bright feelings that we've been talking about. We read about Ruby with her worry, and we read about normal Norman, and now we're going to read about a boy who is feeling rather shy. Are you ready? Today's story is called Sammy Feels Shy. It's another Tom Percival book, and we absolutely love this stuff, so I've put links to it. Yeah, and please go and grab your copy and follow along with us while we read. Sammy Feels Shy is read today by Mommy and...
Whoa, looks like I have a bokoblin in the room. Are you going to mind your p's and q's?
I hope so.
And maybe you will learn how to be brave. What do you say? You ready?
Let's do it.
Sammy loved having fun. He loved running and jumping and playing games. And we can see him in the picture, he's got bubbles. And bubbles are just, you know, fun, right? Everything felt easy when he was at home with dad. But at school, there were just so many people. One day, Ms. Sims asked Sammy a question and everybody looked at him. But Sammy couldn't seem to talk. Don't be shy, someone said. Sammy's cheeks glowed pink. And that was the start of it. Sammy didn't like to be pushy, so he always waited his turn. Although not everyone did the same.
It's your turn now, said the ice cream man. No need to be shy. Everybody looked at Sammy and he turned even pinker. At his cousin's birthday party, Sammy said, Happy bath day! By mistake. And nearly all of him turned pink. And in the pictures, it looks like they're laughing. Because he said the wrong thing, huh? Oh boy, that's hard.
You think? That was vocabulary for kids can be mean. And I have to agree. I think we can do better, friends. Yeah, let's see what he says next. Everywhere he went, something would go wrong. Sammy began to feel like everyone was staring at him. And people kept saying the same thing. He's so shy. It wasn't long before he had turned a bright, vivid, pink, all over. Sammy felt terrible. He didn't want to see anyone or do anything. Hmm, said Dad. I think I've got an idea. That evening, Dad took Sammy to the fair. There were bright, flashing lights, big rides and a tall, twisting super slide.
Sammy felt a flicker of excitement. It looked like so much fun. He really wanted to go on that super slide. But what if everyone stared at him? What if he turned even pinker?
In the picture, we can see all the beautiful things that are here at the fair. And that slide does look pretty impressive. I think I'd want to go down it too.
But it was all too much. He ran away to hide. But someone else was also hiding behind the trees. It was a girl from his class, Lily. Are you scared of the rides too? She asked. No, said Sammy. But there are so many people and I'm shy.
Everyone always says so.
Lily smiled. You don't seem shy to me.
Sammy felt his pinkness fade a little. He didn't feel shy with Lily. Soon they had come up with a plan to help each other. First, they'd get cotton candy. Ooh, that's a solid start. Then they'd go on to spinning tea cups. Ooh, I don't know if I would, but they're brave.
And finally, they'd slide down the super slide together. As they walked through the fair, the lights flashed with so many colors that Sammy could have been bright pink, bright yellow or bright green. He felt a little better, and the pinkness faded even more. Then they met a big group of children from school. Butterflies danced in Sammy's tummy. Everyone was looking at them. He wanted to run away. Then Lily put her hand on his shoulder. And Sammy remembered that he was here to have fun. So he took a deep breath and said, who wants to go on the super slide? And everyone did. And Sammy and Lily climbed the steps together. They sat at the top together. Lily felt nervous, but Sammy squeezed her hand and then they slid down together, laughing the whole way. And by the time they got to the bottom, Sammy wasn't pink at all. After that, yeah, no, not even a little bit of rosy on his cheeks. After that, things were much better. Of course, Sammy still sometimes felt funny in big groups, but he decided it would never stop him from doing what he enjoyed. And now the only time that Sammy's cheeks turn pink is when he's running around having fun. Because why? He's getting exercise, right? And friends, there's some great tips here in this book on how to overcome feeling shy in large groups if you feel shy. And I really love those kind things that this author has to say about it. And I want you to know, friends, that you are not alone if you feel shy. You're not alone even a little bit, but you are a cool kid, no matter what. And we're glad you're here, and we're glad you listen. And we like you just the way you are, don't we, my little bocoblin?