Nothing - Softcover

Mick Inkpen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340656743 ISBN 13: 9780340656747

Publisher: Hodder Children's Books, 1996

Synopsis

The family is moving house. A new baby is one the way. But alone in the attic lies a little creature who doesn't even know its name. So begins the story of Nothing and his journey to discover who he really is. On the way he meets all kinds of creatures who unwittingly jog his memory and help him find his way home. There is a wonderful pull out surprise at the end. This is perfect bedtime reading.

About this title

About the Author

Mick Inkpen has been a bestselling children's author for over 25 years. He is one of today's most popular picture book author/illustrators and the famous creator of both Kipper and Wibbly Pig. Mick has won the Children's Book Award for Threadbear and the British Book Award twice, for Penguin Small and Lullabyhullaballoo. Kipper won a BAFTA for Best Animated Film.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2AA new baby is on the way and the family is moving to a bigger house. In the attic, the movers uncover an old stuffed toy. The little abandoned creature, newly conscious after having been squashed and forgotten for years, hears the men say, on catching sight of him, "Oh, it's nothing" and concludes that Nothing must be his name. As he wanders about trying to figure out where he belongs, Nothing meets various animals, and memories of his past begin to return in snatches. Eventually, a cat befriends him and carries him to the new house. Grandpa recognizes the toy as one of his childhood favorites and all ends happily. This is a charming tale in the tradition of The Velveteen Rabbit. The watercolor illustrations are full of interesting perspectives. A foldout page that depicts Nothing's transformation ("with the help of a good wash, some scraps of material...and some thread") back into a little cloth tabby cat is particularly endearing. The spirited prose moves along at a lively pace. However, the ending is quite complicated and may prove confusing to the young children for whom this book is intended. Because of the complex denouement, this fetching picture book is more suitable for one-to-one than group sharing.ASue Norris, Rye Free Reading Room, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0340656743
• ISBN 13: 9780340656747
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 40