Arlo All Over Again is about a kid named Oliver who is very shy and scared to try new things. Then he meets a new kid named Arlo and they become friends and build sculptures in the snow. Arlo wants to go sledding, and Oliver is scared, but he does it with Arlo. When the snow goes away, Oliver tries to find Arlo, but he can't. But he remembers Arlo every time he is scared, and it helps him be brave and confident. That summer, Oliver goes to the pool and he finds a new friend--and it's Arlo all over again!

I read this book to a class of 2nd graders, and this is what they had to say:
"I like how the pictures also included 3d images"
"I like it because the pictures really the match the words and you can really see what's happening."
"I like that when Oliver is scared, he thinks that Arlo would probably do that, so he does it."
"I like how the character shows how he feels in the illustrations."
"I like when Oliver meets a new friend in the summer, he thinks it's not Arlo. He's happy to make a new friend, and then there's a plot twist and it actually is Arlo."
"I like that in the beginning it was kind of lonely and then at the end it was happy. It has a happy ending."
"I loved how at the beginning, he's really scared and doesn't have any friends and doesn't want to go sledding, but when he meets this kid Arlo, he's really brave."
"I like in the story when Oliver meets Arlo he thinks that if Arlo can do it, Oliver can do it."

I think this is a good SEL book that teaches about making friends and being confident. I like the illustrations. I also think there is some great descriptive language that could make it a good mentor text.

When it's the perfect snow day for sledding, Oliver's brothers can't wait! He, on the other hand, is wracked with nerves; he doesn't like the cold, doesn't like the bite of the ice, and definitely doesn't want to go fast and bumpy down a hill. But when Oliver meets a kid who encourages him to play (and doesn't seem to be afraid of anything) he figures, "If Arlo can do it, so can I." And so he does!

But what happens when it's no longer snowing? Can Oliver hold on to that confident streak that Arlo taught him?

This is such a sweet and empowering book, and the illustrations are adorable! I also love the back pages for both kids and their parents, helping guide them through their nerves when it comes to trying new things. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Read this with my nephews (4 and 7). And they both really liked the book and the artwork.

With the 7-year-old, we talked about the author's note at the end, and also how to build confidence and feel lonely. The author did an excellent job of making this relatable to kids and a great reminder for adults reading along with them.