Wowrus Looks on the Bright Side Hardcover by Monica Roe; Illustrated by Caroline McPherson

Product Details

• Publisher: Penguin Workshop (2026-09-22)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 40 pages
• ISBN-13: 9780593889923
• Item Weight: 419.58 grams
• Dimensions: 23.65 x 28.73 x 0.86 cm

A gentle and moving picture book about how looking on the bright side might not always be the brightest solution.

Walrus is such a good friend. In fact, he's so good at cheering friends up and finding the bright side in any situation that sometimes his friends call him "Wowrus."

But when Walrus breaks a tusk during the Great Iceberg Classic, it hurts! He doesn’t want to hear about the silver linings of having only one tusk! As he nurses his wound, Walrus starts to understand that pointing out the positive doesn't always help. It takes Narwhal listening to him for Walrus to realize that perhaps not everything can—or should—be bright all the time…and that’s okay too.

About the Author

Monica Roe is an author, physical therapist, public health student, and researcher/advocate for the social model of disability and inclusive rural health. A first-generation graduate, Monica studies public health and disability-inclusive disaster preparedness at the University of Alaska. She and her family are currently based in rural South Carolina.

Caroline McPherson is an illustrator, author, and advocate for cinnamon chai on snowy days.

A British Australian with a background in veterinary nursing, Caroline has been fortunate enough to work with an array of animals, large and small. Her favorite animal interactions to date, aside from her three beloved rescue cats, include polar bears, kangaroos, and green sea turtles.

Caroline’s love of animals, nature, and classical storybooks shines through her illustrative works as she combines both traditional and digital mediums to create her distinctively soft and textured style.