Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite

Willie Wombat learns to deal with rejection in Willie Wombat’s Walk by Sandra Swain. As a parent, I am sure you have felt rejection in your lifetime. By now, you may be able to shrug off rejection with a “who cares” attitude. However, for children, rejection is a significant emotional challenge. Emotional damage can be caused that destroys a child’s self-esteem and can even affect them for the rest of their life. As a parent, it is your responsibility to instruct your children on how to deal with rejection. Sandra gives an excellent method of responding. When Willie finds out he is not invited to the birthday party, he becomes depressed. Unfortunately, many children also react with anger. Willie’s mom tells him to take a walk to calm down. Along the walk, Willie learns he was not the only one not invited to the party. Instead of moaning and complaining, the group decides to play together and have their own party. Responding in this manner is always better than a knee-jerk reaction.

When one is rejected, try to figure out why. In Willie Wombat's Walk, Sandra Swain shares the story of a group of youngsters who each felt rejection in their own way. Willie thought it was because he was new and from a foreign country. The gnat thought it was because of her size. The wise owl thought the problem that caused her not to be invited was her intelligence. The book shares so many more excuses. The children learn that Tom Cat’s mom had limited him to inviting just eight of his friends because of room constraints. There are times one feels excluded when we were not really rejected. Teach your children not to jump to conclusions. Pull your children onto your lap, and as you read, be sure to discuss the diverse emotions mentioned. Explain how they should handle their feelings. Also remember to teach your children to be inclusive and accept everyone, no matter how different, with open arms and unconditional love.