Time to Leave, Laverne!

A young child learns how to weather her storm of emotions

When Laverne attends story time at the library or a playdate at the park, she arrives like a ray of sunshine. But when it’s time to leave, she twists into a thunderstorm and needs to be carried away and brought straight to her room until the storm subsides.

One day, feeling worn out by Laverne’s thunderstorms, her parents decide to stay home. As Laverne plays pretend with her stuffies, she realizes that there are ways to prepare for all kinds of weather—and that she can use her stuffies as a tool to manage her big emotions.

Charming watercolor illustrations and descriptive text bring this relatable story about explosive behavior and emotional regulation to life.

Lana Button is an early childhood educator and the author of more than a dozen books for children, including Brianna Banana, Helper of the Day, Stay My Baby, Tough Like Mum and the Kitty and Friends series. Her books have been shortlisted for the Blue Spruce Award, Shining Willow Award, IODE Jean Throop Book Award and Rainforest of Reading, and have been recognized as Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s Best Books for Kids and Teens, OLA's Best Bets and as an IBBY Outstanding Book for Young Children. Lana is a former actress who considers every read-aloud a mini performance. When not writing new stories, Lana spends her time traveling to schools and festivals to share her passion for social-emotional literacy. She lives in Burlington, Ontario.

YONG LING KANG is an illustrator who grew up in Singapore and is now based in Toronto, Ontario. She has illustrated several picture books, including The Midnight Club, William's Getaway, and Tanna's Owl.