Hector's Favorite Place

Hector loves his cozy, snuggly, safe home. It's his favorite place to be. Hector loves his home so much that he doesn't often go out, and soon, it starts to affect his friendships.

Can Hector find the courage to break out of his comfort zone?

Included is a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals by Julia Martin Burch, PhD, that discusses helping children overcome their worries and break out of their comfort zone.

Jo Rooks is an illustrator, author, and graphic designer living in South West London with her husband and two children.

Jo studied at Bath School of Art and Design and pursued a career in graphic design. When Jo had her two children, she began to rediscover her love of art, poetry, and creative writing for children.

She is passionate about reading with children and hopes to bring lovable characters and meaningful messages in her story books.

Hector's anxiety keeps him from accepting these invitations time and time again, but one day, Hector realizes that he truly wants to go out and connect with pals. His bravery in talking himself through some of his biggest worries is significant, and this book handles the topic gently and with respect for the weight that worries can carry.
—My Thoughts Exactly

Wonderfully entertaining and embedded with a valued message about self-confidence and personal bravery.
—Midwest Book Review

Hector's Favorite Place is a child-friendly look at getting past fear. The author uses cute animals and age-appropriate text to communicate situations that may make kids nervous. Having Hector use creative visualization by imagining himself having fun is a great way to communicate this strategy to kids, giving them the tools to tackle worry and fear of everything from going to a friend's party to starting the first day of school.
—Mom Read It

This book has a strong message about letting go of personal insecurities written in a simple, child-friendly way.
—Manhattan Book Review

Rooks treats her subject with a light touch and age-appropriate language, and her anthropomorphized animals, created with what appear to be watercolors, are delightful. Gentle, reassuring, and persuasive.
—Kirkus Reviews

This book is part of the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Social Emotional Learning Collectionopens in new window. Free resources, including puzzles and word games, designed to enhance both literacy skills and socioemotional engagement of young readers