Neville
by Norton Juster, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Random House, 2011. Unpaged. Picture Book.
When a young boy moves with his family away from his beloved home to a cookie cutter new neighborhood, he is horrified to find himself in "a new house where he'd never feel at home. And a new school where nobody knew him." He imagines his new teacher will introduce him as a recent resident of the South Pole available for teasing and abuse. When his mother suggests he walk down the block in hopes of meeting someone, he strolls off. When he comes to the corner he starts shouting at the top of his lungs, "Neville! Neville!" Soon another kid comes along who joins in the shouts. More and more kids show up looking for Neville and sending up a great shout for him. All the kids want to know what Neville is like and when it's time to go home, they want to know if they can come help look for him tomorrow. "I hope we find Neville," they all say, but "even if we don't, I like his friend a lot." As the boy starts home, he finds the neighborhood looks very different, suddenly filled with trees, basketball hoops, kids watering the lawn. A place he might like to live. When his mom tucks him in, she tells him again that she hopes he will like it there. "Good night, Neville," she says. "Pleasant dreams." A splendid little book about making friends and starting over, by the author of The Phantom Tollbooth.
by Norton Juster, illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Random House, 2011. Unpaged. Picture Book.
When a young boy moves with his family away from his beloved home to a cookie cutter new neighborhood, he is horrified to find himself in "a new house where he'd never feel at home. And a new school where nobody knew him." He imagines his new teacher will introduce him as a recent resident of the South Pole available for teasing and abuse. When his mother suggests he walk down the block in hopes of meeting someone, he strolls off. When he comes to the corner he starts shouting at the top of his lungs, "Neville! Neville!" Soon another kid comes along who joins in the shouts. More and more kids show up looking for Neville and sending up a great shout for him. All the kids want to know what Neville is like and when it's time to go home, they want to know if they can come help look for him tomorrow. "I hope we find Neville," they all say, but "even if we don't, I like his friend a lot." As the boy starts home, he finds the neighborhood looks very different, suddenly filled with trees, basketball hoops, kids watering the lawn. A place he might like to live. When his mom tucks him in, she tells him again that she hopes he will like it there. "Good night, Neville," she says. "Pleasant dreams." A splendid little book about making friends and starting over, by the author of The Phantom Tollbooth.
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