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Just Like Millie
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.
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.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2024
About the author
Lauren Castillo
26 books156 followersLauren Castillo received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is the author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor winning book Nana in the City, and the new early chapter book series Our Friend Hedgehog. Lauren has also illustrated several critically acclaimed picture books, including Kirkus Prize finalist Imagine by Juan Felipe Herrera, Twenty Yawns by Jane Smiley, and Yard Sale by Eve Bunting. She currently draws and dreams in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 13, 2024
Perfect for the kiddos who have social anxiety or are shy!
May 25, 2024
5 stars! All the feels for this book about a shy little girl reluctant to greet new people or make friends until she meets Millie. Dogs are just THE VERY best! Warm fall colors for the gentle illustrations. Observant readers will notice the storytime book is one by Mr. Schu! Pets to all the just right dogs!
July 12, 2024
In Just Like Millie a young moves to a new neighborhood with her Mom. She is fine with being alone and shy about meeting new people. Her Mom takes her to a shelter to adopt a dog and the dog teaches Millie that meeting new friends is fun! This is a sweet story for kids who have moved to new places and are shy about meeting new people.
Lauren Castillo has written many books I have loved, but my biggest joy is finding other books in her book illustrations! Thank you for adding Mr. Schu from This is a School to this book, Lauren. My students love this about your work and I am sure they will notice when I get the book for my two school libraries!
Lauren Castillo has written many books I have loved, but my biggest joy is finding other books in her book illustrations! Thank you for adding Mr. Schu from This is a School to this book, Lauren. My students love this about your work and I am sure they will notice when I get the book for my two school libraries!
August 20, 2024
A very sweet book—a little girl who has just moved to a new apartment with her mom is painfully shy and avoids interacting with neighbors and other children. Then she and her mom rescue a dog and watching Millie interact with other dogs and people she doesn’t know helps the little girl conquer her anxiety.
August 22, 2024
A lovely book about a girl who is most comfortable in her apartment with her mom and experiences intense shyness and anxiety when encountering others. Her mom meets her where she is, but with a little encouragement, helps her feel more comfortable with the world through caring for an adopted dog named Millie. Castillo's illustrative style is a perfect match for this story.
April 24, 2024
So sweet. I loved it.
May 11, 2024
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
A young girl and her mother move to a new apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's cozy, and the girl is happy playing by herself while her mother works. When the two venture out to the market and storytime at the library, the girl is very uncomfortable meeting other people, crying and seeking comfort from her mother, who is reassuring. The mother takes the girl to an animal shelter, and they pick out Millie, a small dog who is friendly but not overwhelming. Millie settles in to the apartment well, and sleeps next to the girl's bed. Since Millie has to be walked three times a day, the girl meets lots of other people, which becomes less scary as time goes by. Eventually, the family goes to the dog park, and the girl feels confident enough to say hello to another little girl.
The illustrations in this are great, and my very favorite one is a rocker recliner in the living room, which is green and has wood spindles on the side; while there wasn't one like this in my house, it was in lots of my friends' houses! What a great blast from the past! There's a vintage feel to many of the illustrations, with a muted gray brown palette that is a reflection of the buildings in the neighborhood.
The little girl in the book is probably not quite school age, which means she would have been very young when the Pandemic hit. There are probably many children who missed a crucial developmental stage of meeting new people and developing relationships, so it makes sense that the girl in the story would rather be alone, and is overwhelmed when she has to meet people. Millie is a great way to have the girl get our into society with some support. There are plenty of books about social anxiety, like Bright's The Worrysaurus and Percival's Ruby's Worry, so this type of discomfort in social settings might be widespread among the preschool crowd.
Of course, dogs make everything better, and Millie does a good job at helping the girl feel more comfortable with other people. Like Papp's Madeline Finn and the Library Dog or Gianferrari's To Dogs, With Love, A Love Letter to the Dogs Who Help Us, Just Like Millie is an excellent book to read to help anxious youngsters think about ways to navigate the world.
A young girl and her mother move to a new apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It's cozy, and the girl is happy playing by herself while her mother works. When the two venture out to the market and storytime at the library, the girl is very uncomfortable meeting other people, crying and seeking comfort from her mother, who is reassuring. The mother takes the girl to an animal shelter, and they pick out Millie, a small dog who is friendly but not overwhelming. Millie settles in to the apartment well, and sleeps next to the girl's bed. Since Millie has to be walked three times a day, the girl meets lots of other people, which becomes less scary as time goes by. Eventually, the family goes to the dog park, and the girl feels confident enough to say hello to another little girl.
The illustrations in this are great, and my very favorite one is a rocker recliner in the living room, which is green and has wood spindles on the side; while there wasn't one like this in my house, it was in lots of my friends' houses! What a great blast from the past! There's a vintage feel to many of the illustrations, with a muted gray brown palette that is a reflection of the buildings in the neighborhood.
The little girl in the book is probably not quite school age, which means she would have been very young when the Pandemic hit. There are probably many children who missed a crucial developmental stage of meeting new people and developing relationships, so it makes sense that the girl in the story would rather be alone, and is overwhelmed when she has to meet people. Millie is a great way to have the girl get our into society with some support. There are plenty of books about social anxiety, like Bright's The Worrysaurus and Percival's Ruby's Worry, so this type of discomfort in social settings might be widespread among the preschool crowd.
Of course, dogs make everything better, and Millie does a good job at helping the girl feel more comfortable with other people. Like Papp's Madeline Finn and the Library Dog or Gianferrari's To Dogs, With Love, A Love Letter to the Dogs Who Help Us, Just Like Millie is an excellent book to read to help anxious youngsters think about ways to navigate the world.
April 5, 2024
Lauren Castillo's loving tribute to dogs and how they can help us find our way is tenderly written and illustrated. So accessible is the text that even young readers will be able to understand the book's message. Some of them will see themselves in the narrator, a young girl, and feel similarly to her about her family's move to an apartment in the city. The place seems overwhelming to someone unfamiliar with so many people and so much newness. Thus, the girl, who seems rather shy, is reluctant to go on play dates, make new friends or even join the audience at storytime. Mom is patient, but she decides that she might have a solution to the situation. It's love at first sight for the girl and Millie, a friendly white dog with brown patches. Millie's friendliness and eagerness to make friends wherever they go inspires the girl to take a risk and reach out a hand of friendship to another girl in the dog park. After all, if Millie can make friends and feel safe in a new place, so can she. Created with ink, watercolor, and soft pastels, the warm artwork depicts the characters' personalities effectively while also showing the bond that forms between the girl and sweet Millie. The endpapers are especially appealing too since the front ones show Mom and her daughter in the process of moving in to their new place while the back ones show the same exterior of the apartment building but on the street, readers can see Mom and her new friend as well as her daughter and the friend's daughter with their two dogs walking along the street. Encouraging and hopeful, this picture book will make many of us wish we were able to be "just like Millie." And maybe we can be with a little effort.
June 7, 2024
Using first person voice and her immeasurable talent as an illustrator, Lauren Castillo has provided a gentle, quiet story that portrays a gentle but anxious young girl, one whose comfort zone is very close to home and very self-protective. After moving to a new home in a new city, she is lucky to ahve a mother who does not push or pressure, but continues to offer openings to meet and chat with new folks, without forcing situations on her cautious daughter.
Enter the wonderful Millie, a dog with the just-right0-amount of social skills to model her getting-to-know-you style, building a bridge for the young girl to take early steps to meet and interact with others.
We so often see books about SEL issues for boys, or girls, whose behaviors tend toward over-reaching, over-loud, and over-managing social situations. Self-regulation is often the subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of those stories. All too often a very quiet, even clingy young girl is not seen as needing structured support or finesse from parents. This is a gorgeous, lyrical exception and also suits readers of every style, reminding us all that individual differences have a palce among us, should be recognized as nothing more than personality differences, which we all have.
Enter the wonderful Millie, a dog with the just-right0-amount of social skills to model her getting-to-know-you style, building a bridge for the young girl to take early steps to meet and interact with others.
We so often see books about SEL issues for boys, or girls, whose behaviors tend toward over-reaching, over-loud, and over-managing social situations. Self-regulation is often the subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of those stories. All too often a very quiet, even clingy young girl is not seen as needing structured support or finesse from parents. This is a gorgeous, lyrical exception and also suits readers of every style, reminding us all that individual differences have a palce among us, should be recognized as nothing more than personality differences, which we all have.
July 13, 2024
Wow! This story moved me. This is about a shy girl who is scared to meet anyone after moving to a new city. She is alone and her mom keeps trying to do things so the child will interact with others and make friends. Everything makes the child cry and she only wants to be alone.
Wow, I know that feeling. I have a fear of crowds and I really don't like going anywhere, but my house and family. I have learned when certain places have few people in them and I will go shopping then. Even with that, I have gone 4 months at a time not going to the grocery store and living on rice. I can go with someone, like when my parents visit, but I have a hard time on my own.
I love the gentle tone of this book. The mother didn't push too hard. She came up with the idea of getting a dog. The dog was friendly and it gave the girl courage to be friendly as well. By the end, she has made a friend of another shy girl with a dog. It's a simple story, so lovely. It's quiet. The girl is okay being by herself and I get that too.
The artwork has a lot of Earth tones, rich browns, warm yellows and rusty oranges. It's very calming. Just a wonderful experience. This is a great read for any shy kids out there. It could help them know they are okay.
Wow, I know that feeling. I have a fear of crowds and I really don't like going anywhere, but my house and family. I have learned when certain places have few people in them and I will go shopping then. Even with that, I have gone 4 months at a time not going to the grocery store and living on rice. I can go with someone, like when my parents visit, but I have a hard time on my own.
I love the gentle tone of this book. The mother didn't push too hard. She came up with the idea of getting a dog. The dog was friendly and it gave the girl courage to be friendly as well. By the end, she has made a friend of another shy girl with a dog. It's a simple story, so lovely. It's quiet. The girl is okay being by herself and I get that too.
The artwork has a lot of Earth tones, rich browns, warm yellows and rusty oranges. It's very calming. Just a wonderful experience. This is a great read for any shy kids out there. It could help them know they are okay.
May 10, 2024
A young girl and her mom have just moved into a new home. The girl loves the new house but she is extremely fearful of being around other people. For example, when mom suggests attending storytime at the library, the girl dissolves into tears and desolation. She understands that she is afraid - and her mom is extremely supportive - but she is still gripped by an overwhelming fear. So her mom comes up with a plan. She takes the girl to a local animal shelter and there they meet Millie. And adopt her! Millie is pretty good at making friends - both people and other dogs. Gradually, with Millie's help, the girl begins to overcome her fear of being around other people.
I thought Castillo did a really great job of showing how afraid the girl was without going into too many details. Obviously, a dog adopted from a shelter is not going to be the perfect solution for everyone dealing with fear and anxiety. But the story is encouraging because the mom is so supportive and she and her daughter work together to figure out a solution.
You might pair this one with Piper Chen Sings by Soon since it also deals with overcoming fear and anxiety.
I thought Castillo did a really great job of showing how afraid the girl was without going into too many details. Obviously, a dog adopted from a shelter is not going to be the perfect solution for everyone dealing with fear and anxiety. But the story is encouraging because the mom is so supportive and she and her daughter work together to figure out a solution.
You might pair this one with Piper Chen Sings by Soon since it also deals with overcoming fear and anxiety.
July 21, 2024
Just like Millie is a wonderful story about a shy and isolated child who opens up thanks to the love of her mother and her dog. The girl is a sweet child, but she is scared and anxious about meeting new people, especially children. She prefers to play by herself, and the company of her mom. New places are terrifying and the fact that she just moved into a new apartment in a new city does not help. But things change when Millie enters her life.
I love how the story is shared in the first person point of view. The young narrator shares her feelings directly with the reader, and we witness changes as Millie enters her life. This story will particularly speak to children suffering from anxiety, or who just move into a new place. The narrator’s emotions are perfectly recognizable and easy to relate to. Just like Millie is a wonderful friendship story and how animals can change people’ life.
I love how the story is shared in the first person point of view. The young narrator shares her feelings directly with the reader, and we witness changes as Millie enters her life. This story will particularly speak to children suffering from anxiety, or who just move into a new place. The narrator’s emotions are perfectly recognizable and easy to relate to. Just like Millie is a wonderful friendship story and how animals can change people’ life.
January 27, 2024
I received an electronic ARC from Candlewick through Edelweiss+.
A small girl and her mom move to the city. This young girl is happy to be inside and play in their home. She gets frightened and nervous when meeting new people so doesn't like to venture out. Her mom takes her to an animal shelter and they choose a dog. Millie is friendly and comfortable with people and other animals. The two bond and this child realizes she can be brave and meet people just like Millie.
A tender, sensitively told story about shyness and anxiety. The mom is portrayed as loving and supportive. We see the young girl find her way to overcoming some of her shyness. I appreciate that no exact explanation of the reasons behind her feelings are given as the story can apply to a wide variety of past experiences or simply be read as a shy child.
A small girl and her mom move to the city. This young girl is happy to be inside and play in their home. She gets frightened and nervous when meeting new people so doesn't like to venture out. Her mom takes her to an animal shelter and they choose a dog. Millie is friendly and comfortable with people and other animals. The two bond and this child realizes she can be brave and meet people just like Millie.
A tender, sensitively told story about shyness and anxiety. The mom is portrayed as loving and supportive. We see the young girl find her way to overcoming some of her shyness. I appreciate that no exact explanation of the reasons behind her feelings are given as the story can apply to a wide variety of past experiences or simply be read as a shy child.
July 30, 2024
A very introverted child is happy playing at home with her toys and being with her mother. When confronted, or given the opportunity to be with other children, she shies away clinging to her known world.
In a wise move, her mother takes her to where a young dog, Millie, is available and the child falls in love with it. Play. Bonding. These lead to outdoor activities and soon Millie sees another child with a dog also. The joy of making friends by Millie soon rubs off on the young girl.
The story is sweetly illustrated using bold black outlined drawings and soft richly toned colors. The child's personality is captured revealing her reticence to interact with others and then her hesitant, yet self-motivated, personally driven reach-out.
Well done children's book.
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone & freely given.
In a wise move, her mother takes her to where a young dog, Millie, is available and the child falls in love with it. Play. Bonding. These lead to outdoor activities and soon Millie sees another child with a dog also. The joy of making friends by Millie soon rubs off on the young girl.
The story is sweetly illustrated using bold black outlined drawings and soft richly toned colors. The child's personality is captured revealing her reticence to interact with others and then her hesitant, yet self-motivated, personally driven reach-out.
Well done children's book.
I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone & freely given.
June 4, 2024
A young girl and her mother move to a new place. The girl is shy, feels perfectly satisfied playing alone, and is not interested in meeting new friends. She even becomes tearful when taken to storytime at the library. Then she meets Millie, a young rescue dog, friendly and fun! When this girl sees Millie's excitement meeting anyone and everyone, she notices, and finally finds the courage to greet a young girl who may become a friend. Lauren Castillo tells a story for those who might feel the same way or those who see others like this and don't understand. Everyone will learn! The illustrations by Castillo are always sweetly drawn, showing her stories with heart and understanding for young readers.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for this copy!
August 14, 2024
(E) 07.14.2024: per Sunday NY Times "Moving Day: 9 Picture Books to Help Kids Cope" recommendation; this author is a previous Caldecott winner...; 08.13.2024: a young girl moves with her single mother and is shy about making friends until Millie, the dog, is introduced to the family and then Millie goes on to help the girl make conversations with people the girl doesn’t know; what I admired about this prose was the author correctly gave advice about how you have a dog come to you vs. automatically pet them (being a dog owner, I know from experience this strategy does work, whereas automatically petting a dog seldom works); nice art work as well; 2024 hardcover via Madison County Public Library, Richmond, 40 pgs.
March 31, 2024
Gentle reassuring picture book about a young child dealing with deep anxieties about leaving her mother's side and interacting with other people. When Millie, a sweet rescue dog enters the family, the narrator watches how Millie readily makes friends and plays with other dogs and people. Gradually, she begins to reach out and makes a friend.
Castillo's soft charming illustrations assist in the warm and comforting tone of the story, which is a gentle nudge for fearful children to let go of their fears and reach out at their own pace.
Castillo's soft charming illustrations assist in the warm and comforting tone of the story, which is a gentle nudge for fearful children to let go of their fears and reach out at their own pace.
April 7, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.
It's hard moving to a new city and the young girl in this book is struggling to make friends. Can she ever come out of her shell? I really loved this sweet book about a sweet dog helping a little girl feel brave enough to make friends. I love the soft art and the soft way the mother tries to encourage the girl to socialize but does not pressure or guilt her into doing so. I also love that Millie is a rescue and easily helps the girl by just doing doggy things. A great book for someone moving or dog lovers.
It's hard moving to a new city and the young girl in this book is struggling to make friends. Can she ever come out of her shell? I really loved this sweet book about a sweet dog helping a little girl feel brave enough to make friends. I love the soft art and the soft way the mother tries to encourage the girl to socialize but does not pressure or guilt her into doing so. I also love that Millie is a rescue and easily helps the girl by just doing doggy things. A great book for someone moving or dog lovers.
May 1, 2024
Lauren Castillo is one of my favorite illustrators and always writes a child centered topic and this time it is moving and how the young girl eventually makes a friend. Great illustrations on the end papers, the front illustrates moving in day with the movers and the back ones show the young girl and her mother walking with the friends they have made.
The illustrations in this title are typical Castillo, however, the color tone appears to be darker than most of Castillo previous titles. The house plant illustrations were gorgeous.
The illustrations in this title are typical Castillo, however, the color tone appears to be darker than most of Castillo previous titles. The house plant illustrations were gorgeous.
June 8, 2024
Another great read from Lauren Castillo! This one is about a little girl and her mom who have just moved to the big city. The little girl is very shy and has trouble figuring out how to make friends. At first, she doesn’t even want to go make friends. But then her mom takes her to see Millie, a shelter dog. Making friends is easy for Millie. Can she show the little girl how to do it? Lovely story about the bond between humans and dogs. Illustrations are always top notch! The author based Millie off of dogs she owned in the past.
Mia’s Year of Books: Day 90.
Mia’s Year of Books: Day 90.
July 11, 2024
Know any kids who are very shy around strangers? Content to be at home with their family? I was that kid! In this new picture book from Lauren Castillo, a little girl is happy at home and nervous when out and about around strangers -- even kids her own age. Then she goes with her mom to the animal shelter and they take Millie home. Having a dog to love at home and to accompany them when out and about may be just what this little girl needs. If Millie can make friends, so can she! Perfect for dog-lovers of all ages. 🐕
October 8, 2023
Making friends is tough for our painfully shy protagonist, but when her mom gets her a dog, she can't help but notice how friendly Millie is and how she makes new friends everywhere she goes. Soon, she's waving to neighbors who recognize Millie and even walking up to new people at dog parks. This is such a well-done picture book. The text is perfectly written for young readers, and the author shows so much without info-dumping. So heartwarming and sensitive and lovely pictures, too.
April 11, 2024
So sweet! A little girl is VERY shy - she doesn't want to go to story time or have a playdate with any of the kids in their new apartment. Then mom comes upon the perfect solution: they bring home a sweet little dog named Millie. Who most definitely isn't shy. Through Millie, the little girl finally learns to open up. Great for dog lovers and kids who may need a little prompting to come out of their shells.
April 25, 2024
👧���� reviews: I love this feel good book! This young and introverted girl has gone through every textbook example while dealing with social interactions. It’s hard to break out of shell and with Millie’s support, it’s an emotional situation to see her facing her own fear. I think this is perfect to be read to the 5s and 6s years old who are going through this process. Love this one! An amazing book!
May 8, 2024
This is a charming little picture book about a girl who moves to a big city with her mother and is terribly frightened of other people. When the mom gets her a dog named Millie, the girl observes the dog and just how out going and friendly she is. The girl decides that if Millie can do it, she can. A very touching book about how someone (like a dog) can help a child overcome fears. My rating - 4/5
September 24, 2024
A darling, gentle book about the ways dogs can bring us out of our shells. The mom is so respectful of her daughter and her needs which was lovely to see. It was delightful to see the joy Millie brought to the little girl's life as well as how she taught her that it's ok to make new friends. Social skills are a big focus still post pandemic, I think this is a great, gentle way to talk with kids about making new friends, respecting boundaries etc. I always love Castillo's illustrations also!
January 28, 2024
EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Making new friends can be hard, but in this case the mom follows her daughter’s lead and respects her shyness. And then they adopt a shelter dog named Millie. Millie’s outgoing nature provides a great example and change begins to take place! I am such a fan of Lauren Castillo’s artwork, and her latest work does not disappoint.
Making new friends can be hard, but in this case the mom follows her daughter’s lead and respects her shyness. And then they adopt a shelter dog named Millie. Millie’s outgoing nature provides a great example and change begins to take place! I am such a fan of Lauren Castillo’s artwork, and her latest work does not disappoint.
April 10, 2024
I always love Lauren Castillo's illustrations. They feel like a perfect mix of classic and modern to me. This is just a teary sweet story about a shy girl who struggles meeting new people and going to new places, but a pet dog shows her along the way what it is like to greet people and make new friends. Crying for some reason.
April 15, 2024
This book is STUNNING! With the help of a rescue dog named Millie, a young g girl learns to embrace new experiences and friendships in a new city. A heartwarming and tender exploration of the anxieties we all experience around new places and people. And as always, Castillo’s illustrations are incredible! Librarians, add this to your next order!
April 24, 2024
A heartwarming story about a little girl who is painfully shy. She hides her face when other people are around and would rather stay inside than go to a park. Then her mother takes her to an animal shelter and they bring home a friendly puppy named Millie. A sensitive picture book that lovingly honors a child's feelings and celebrates the love and joy a dog brings to a family.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews