Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control

By: Brandon Moore
Illustrated by: Mick Edrick M. Marcellana
Publisher: Moore
Publication Date: September 23, 2024
ISBN: 979-8991167901
Reviewed by: Diana Coyle
Review Date: March 21, 2025

Bridget Kimble is so excited to start her first day at EnMotion Elementary school in Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control by Brandon Moore.

She doesn’t want to miss anything, so she makes sure she takes the first seat on the school bus and also in her classroom. Her teacher, Ms. Widget, hands out a list of expectations and rules of the classroom that each student is to follow. Afterward, they begin introductions so all the students can get to know each other. When it is Bridget’s turn, just as she’s about to start introducing herself, another student jumps up and starts his introduction instead. Bridget can’t help but express herself by saying that it is her turn, not that boy’s turn. Ms. Widget speaks to both students, but allows the boy to continue speaking, which doesn’t make Bridget too happy. She can’t understand why Ms. Widget allows the boy to continue speaking even though it is her turn to share. Little did the class know that Ms. Widget was planning to use this situation as a learning tool. What was Ms. Widget’s lesson to be learned from this situation? Will Bridget finally understand why Ms. Widget allowed the boy to continue speaking even though it wasn’t his turn?

This children’s story exemplified the perfect lesson of teaching children how to learn self-control and remain in control of their emotions when an unexpected situation arises. Bridget wasn’t happy when her classmate stepped out of turn to introduce himself to everyone. But once Ms. Widget finished hearing all the students’ introductions, she explained how this situation could became a life lesson for all of them. Instead of acting out her emotions abruptly, even though Bridget was correct that it was her turn, she showed self-control by expressing calmly to the other student that it wasn’t his turn. She displayed a maturity in the classroom that Ms. Widget wanted all the students to learn from.

At the end of the story, the book provided fun pages for readers to further enjoy. The section was called Creation Snippets and showed the drafts of the major characters’ rough sketches, colorized pallets used for the characters, how the backgrounds of each illustration became detailed and even how the text and chat bubbles were added to the story.

The illustrations provided by Mick Edrick M. Marcellana were vibrantly colored and presented similarly to a comic book format for the readers to enjoy. There were pictures displayed on every page for readers to follow along with the written word. The illustrations were the perfect complement to this children’s book storyline.

Quill says: Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control by Brandon Moore will teach young readers that executing self-control of their emotions is a sign of maturity. The book is presented in somewhat of a comic book format, which makes it extremely unique in presentation, and will surely entertain the readers both verbally and visually.

For more information about Bridget Kimble Learns Self-Control, please visit the author's website at: bridgetkimble.shop/