Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl overcomes pre-performance jitters in empowering tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PIPER CHEN SINGS, a young girl is bursting with a love of music, rhythm, humming, and singing. Piper sings wherever she goes, in her bedroom to her stuffed animals, with her little dog Spottie on backup vocals, riding around on her scooter, and at school in her favorite class: singing. When Mr. Harris, her singing teacher, invites her to do a solo in the Spring Sing, she's excited. But she starts to get nervous and loses her confidence. She shares her feelings with her grandma: "What if I forget the words? What if I sound like a frog? ... When we practiced, I felt like butterflies were having a dance party in my belly! What if they come back?" Her grandma recalls having butterflies in her stomach before a piano recital when she was young, and that makes Piper feel better. It gives her the strength to overcome -- and embrace -- her butterflies and succeed at her solo.
Is It Any Good?
This charming story of a young girl working through her anxiety is relatable and empowering. Piper Chen Sings does a great job of showing how a joyful, confident kid can get crushed by nervousness, or "butterflies," about a school performance. It also models good communication and the positive results that can come from sharing difficult feelings with someone you trust, who loves you.
Broadway star Phillipa Soo knows a thing or two about how it feels to belt out a song in front of a crowd, and her co-author, Maris Pasquale Doran, a psychotherapist, understands complex feelings. Illustrator Qin Leng portrays an adorable main character in Piper and captures her range of emotions from freewheeling joy to debilitating worry to regained confidence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the feelings of anxiety in Piper Chen Sings. Have you ever been nervous or scared before presenting something in front of others? What happened?
Why do we talk about having butterflies in your stomach when you're nervous or anxious? Is that how it feels to you, or would you describe it in a different way?
Piper feels better after her grandma talks about having butterflies before a piano recital when she was a girl. How can communication about feelings and memories help others deal with their feelings?
How does Piper find the courage to perform? Who inspires her? Who or what has given you courage to do something you were afraid to do?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Qin Leng
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Arts
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Studio
- Publication date : April 2, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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