Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Julie Benbassat (Clarion Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). When Mungo is still hungry after dinner, his mother gives him permission to go out and forage for berries. Alone in the night for the first time, Mungo is scared of cars and owls and other noises he hears. But he remembers his mother’s lessons and safely crosses the road and hides in a hollow tree from the owl. He also recalls how his mother told him that wonders sometimes happen when “we stand inside our fear on four feet, eyes sharp, breathing deep.” So Mungo bravely goes on and is rewarded, not only with a berry feast but with his first experience of snow. When he gets home, his mother is waiting for him, proud of his accomplishments and ready to snuggle up for bedtime.

Not only does this story feature an adorable fox and lush illustrations that portray all different times and seasons, but it’s a great lesson for kids venturing out into the world for the first time and for parents learning to let go. There are lots of good messages about facing your fears and remembering safety rules but having the courage to keep going.

Bored by Felicita Sala (Neal Porter Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Rita is so bored, she can’t think of a single thing to do. She can’t read, draw, think, or even look out the window. Heavy sighs and moaning, “I’m so b-o-o-o-red” get no response from her family except for her brother telling her she’s weird. Rita starts wondering how many other bored people there are in the world. She pictures them all boarding a bus, then traveling to Bored Island. A funny thing happens when they get there, though. Everyone is so bored that they start doing things like building with driftwood and starting a band. A high school student’s yawn turns into a yodel, and she accidentally discovers how to talk to whales. A pair of twins stare at their watches for so long that they actually warp space and time. By the time Rita’s mom calls her to dinner, she’s so busy with her imagination that she tells her mom she doesn’t have time to eat.

Although screens are usually the “solution” to boredom these days, this cute and entertaining story shows readers another way to combat it: imagination. The illustrations, including the color palette, do an excellent job of conveying the drabness of a boring afternoon contrasted with the brightness of Boredom Island and the imagination.