Don't Want to Go!

Written & illustrated by Shirley Hughes

Lily faces a day of unexpected fun and bravery at a new friend's house.

3.7/5 Goodreads · 200 ratings

32 pages· 1,046 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Lily's day takes an unexpected turn when her mom falls ill and her dad must work. Reluctantly, she is sent to Melanie's house, where a friendly dog and a funny baby await. Initially shy, Lily clings to her toy, Bobbo, but as the day unfolds, she discovers the joy of making collages, feeding the baby, and walking the dog. Will these new experiences help her overcome her fears and embrace the fun? Join Lily on a heartwarming journey of courage and discovery, where the unfamiliar becomes an adventure she might not want to end.

From the publisher

A resistant Lily discovers that new experiences don’t need to be scary in this engaging, deftly told story certain to resonate with young children. One morning, Lily’s mom wakes up with a sore throat and achy head and needs to stay in bed. But Lily’s dad needs to go to work. Who will look after Lily? When Dad arranges for her to spend the day at Melanie’s house, Lily is none too happy. Don’t want to go! she says. Even though Melanie has a friendly dog named Ringo and a funny baby named Sam, Lily is shy and wants to sit under the table with her toy Bobbo. But maybe a chance to make silly collages, or feed Sam lunch, or hold Ringo’s leash might make her feel braver–and maybe she’ll start having so much fun she won’t want to leave at the end of the day! With illustrations that keenly convey emotion through the subtlest gesture, Shirley Hughes mines a familiar situation for its most genuine moments and creates a truly reassuring story for young children.

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