If you’re looking for a fun picture book about facing fears, I’ve got a great pick for you today. I Do Not like Yolanda by Zoey Abbott follows a young girl named Bianca who loves stamps and letters, but is scared of a woman named Yolanda who works at her local post office.
Narrated by Bianca herself, this humorous picture book tells us all about Bianca’s less-than-ideal interactions with Yolanda. We learn that Bianca believes Yolanda eats people up, and how she “crosses EVERYTHING” while she’s in line to avoid being called to Yolanda’s window.
But one day, Bianca decides that she will not let Yolanda ruin her day. She musters up her courage and decides to ask Yolanda about her weekend. This one act of kindness changes everything Bianca knows about Yolanda, which as it turns out, isn’t that much.
As a child who felt anxiety at the mere mention of speaking to strangers, I Do Not Like Yolanda spoke directly to my childhood. I know lots of children will relate to Bianca’s feelings about Yolanda and in the end, learn that people aren’t always as scary as we might think.
The illustrations are fantastic, and they capture Bianca’s story perfectly. I especially appreciated the way we see Yolanda’s “talons” and the way she is dramatically revealed in the end.
I Do Not Like Yolanda is available now wherever books are sold, including Bookshop and Amazon.(Please note: Some links provided are affiliate links. Affiliate links allow me to receive a small commission for recommendations at no cost to you. This commission is used to maintain this site and continue bringing content to you. Your support is always appreciated!)
Zoey Abbott is a children’s book author and illustrator based in Portland, Oregon. To learn more, please visit her website at www.zoeyabbott.com.
I would like to thank Tundra Books for generously providing a review copy of I Do Not Like Yolanda. This was such a fun book, and I’m thrilled to be able to share it.
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