Just Like Millie

Written & illustrated by Lauren Castillo

A shy girl discovers courage with the help of a rescue dog in a new city.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 528 ratings

40 pages· 684 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

A young girl, overwhelmed by a new city and the prospect of making friends, finds solace in Millie, a gentle rescue dog. As Millie offers comfort, the girl's fear of social interactions begins to fade. Can this newfound friendship help her embrace the world outside her cozy home? Discover how a dog's love can transform anxiety into bravery in this heartwarming tale.

From the publisher

In a gentle story from Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, a shy young girl finds exploring her new city and making friends overwhelming–until a rescue dog helps her uncover the bravery that was always in her. A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city. Despite her mother’s efforts to take her out, the girl would rather play by herself in their cozy home–she feels just fine on her own. Introductions to children her age have her hiding behind her mother’s legs, and invitations to group activities have her in tears. That is, until she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small, and kisses her arm when the girl nervously reaches out. With Millie, saying hello to new people isn’t so scary . . . and maybe making a friend isn’t either. Through emotionally honest prose and soft, expressive illustrations, Lauren Castillo explores one girl’s shyness and anxiety–and how one dog’s love helps her open up–in a warm picture book that reminds readers of how the right companion can make the world feel like a less frightening place.

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