Review by Sophia Thomson
Tundra Books
PUB date: April 15, 2025, Picture book, 44 pages
ISBN: 9781774884423
Price: CAN $24.99
Pages: 44
Age Range: 3-7 years
Genre: children’s fiction
“I understand your worries, Fuzz,
but everything really will be fine.”“How can you say that! We need to be ready
for anything and everything! What if
there are people there and they are, in fact,
expecting gifts? Do they know how nervous I get
sometimes? Or how you chew with your mouth
wide open? What if there’s a cool leather jacket
contest and we have nothing to enter in it?
AND WHAT IF THERE’S NO
TOILET PAPER!?!”
Sometimes the ‘what ifs’ are part of what gets you ready for the adventure.
For the worriers and their steadfast counterparts who offer reassurances, Scott Rothman gives us Warm and Fuzzy, a touching example of anxiety and the gentle ways in which to handle it. This picture book, wonderfully illustrated by Brian Won, follows Warm and Fuzzy as they gear up to embark on an adventure.
Where Warm is big, secure, and steady, Fuzzy has questions, concerns, and a lot of what ifs! As the duo (mostly Warm) works together to pack up and go, Fuzzy isn’t so sure if they really want to leave, especially when they don’t even know where they’re going.
As Fuzzy asks the important and very sensible questions like if they’ll need to bring snacks, a cool leather jacket, or a medieval sword, the anxieties grow. With each unanswered question, Fuzzy spirals further, until we reach a climax where readers will more than sympathize with Fuzzy’s feelings.
Luckily, Warm is there, patient, kind, and certain of both of their abilities.
With fantastic illustrations that are sure to make readers laugh and empathize with the characters, Warm and Fuzzy serves as a reminder that it’s okay to have question, worries, and a few spirals. Sometimes we need to voice our concerns and discover that getting a little help from a friend to know that things will be okay, is okay. Of course, if words aren’t enough, sometimes a trinket (like vitally important toilet paper) might do the trick.
I was drawn into Fuzzy and Warm’s world through the illustrations and very relatable worries. That coupled with the humour and silliness of the picture book absolutely sold me. Children will delight and giggle at the outrageous items Fuzzy tries to pack for their adventure just as much as they’ll marvel at the illustrations. One particular spread shows Warm and Fuzzy unlocking a door, revealing light shining in. It’s a pivotal moment as they step into a world of magic and possibility and truly embodies all the good that can come from taking a risk.
Warm and Fuzzy is a book I wished I would have had as a child who worried about everything and is a joy to read as an adult who’s still gets stuck in my own head at times. This funny, heartwarming, and touching story about resilience, anxiety, growth, and overcoming our worries is perfect for young readers with a million questions.
Want to read more? Scott joined us for a Q&A interview that you can check out here!
Sophia Thomson graduated with a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in 2023 and is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. She has a soft spot for stories about love, friendship, and family, which is probably why most of her YA and screenwriting projects end up featuring a mixture of the three.
YOUNG ADULTING 