Sam loves to play games—but he doesn’t like to lose. So when his soccer team is playing against a team of bigger kids, Sam decides not to play. But if he doesn’t even play, how can he ever win?
Given the popularity of children’s sports, especially soccer, this is a timely topic. It’s handled here with the gentle humor, fresh feel, and relatable characters that this author/illustrator team has become known for, and the adorable art and bright colors are right on target for the very young audience.

This adorable character from SAM IS NEVER SCARED is back in another story preschoolers will identify with. Sam is so eager to make friends at his new school that he tells them a story that isn’t true. After all, he makes up bedtime stories for his little brother, who thinks Sam is the best storyteller ever! But when the truth catches up with him, Sam realizes the difference between telling a story and telling a lie—and he has to face his friends and tell them the truth.

Sam is an adorable new character whom preschoolers are sure to identify with. In this debut story, Sam thinks of himself as the bravest kid at school and calls his friends Max a scaredy-cat. But when Sam is scared by a spider, it's Max who saves the day. Now Sam does have something to be afraid of--what if Max tells everyone that it's really Sam who's the scaredy-cat?

Expressive, soft-edged illustrations capture the reassuring theme that everyone is afraid of something--it's how you face your fear that makes you brave.