Better with Butter

By: Victoria Piontek

Narrated by: Erin Moon

Twelve-year-old Marvel is afraid of absolutely everything - amusement-park rides, food poisoning, earthquakes, and that big island of plastic floating through the ocean. She also obsesses about smaller worries like making friends, getting called on by the teacher, and walking home alone. Her parents and the school therapist call her worries an anxiety disorder, but Marvel calls them armor. If something can happen, it will. She needs to be prepared.

But when Marvel stumbles on a group of older kids teasing a baby goat that has mysteriously shown up on the soccer field, she momentarily forgets to be afraid and rescues the frightened animal. Only Butter isn't any old goat. She's a fainting goat. When Butter feels panic, she freezes up and falls over. Marvel knows exactly how Butter feels and precisely what Butter needs - her.

Soon, the two are inseparable, and Butter thrives under Marvel's support. But Butter also helps Marvel. Everything is better with Butter by her side, and Marvel starts to imagine a life in which she doesn't have to be so afraid...until she's told she might have to give up Butter forever. Will Marvel find a way to fight for her friend? Or will she revert back to the anxious, lonely person she used to be?

©2021 Victoria Piontek (P)2021 Tantor

Loved it!

My children enjoyed it and I appreciated the encouraging message about overcoming fear the necessity of loving relationships.

Positive message

The reader’s male voices are lame. It would have been better to let someone else read those parts.

Easy and enjoyable Read

Loved the book- easy for the kids to relate to . Lots of great family discussion following the book.

it was amazing I loved it it was a life lesson of bonding and courage

I did not like Jamie,s rudeness it was disrespectful or the fact that butter was dying

Amazing Story

Overall this book was amazing. Narrator was outstanding and story was so good. Couldn't stop reading!

Great book!!!

Loved everything! Great book for kids to teach them that it is okay to have fears.

One of the best books ever

I loved when marvel saved butter and it teaches kids to be brave,confident and independent

Good book to listen to together

my daughter was reading this as it is a sunshine state book this year. We listened to it in the car whenever we drove some where. It is a sweet story about a girl with anxiety and the goat she finds. The story allowed my daughter and I to have some great conversations concerning the anxieties around school, friends and performance. I would recommend.

The story is really good and I love butter and Mavel those are my favorite characters

Better with butter is really good it is very interesting and fun
I like the butter made people happy

Wonderful read and a goat!

What a great read! A heartfelt story about how a young girl copes with anxiety by modeling the resilience of an adorable fainting goat.