Silly Billy - Hardcover

Browne, Anthony

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763631248 ISBN 13: 9780763631246

Publisher: Candlewick, 2006

Synopsis

A funny, sympathetic antidote to worry from a Hans Christian Andersen Medalist

Billy worries about everything, from shoes that might march out the window to giant birds that might carry him away. One night on a visit to Grandma's, Billy is so anxious that he can't sleep. But Grandma has just the thing for a boy like Billy — tiny, colorful worry dolls, made to do his worrying for him. That night when Billy puts the dolls under his pillow, he sleeps like a log. But soon it dawns on Billy that something is not quite right — now he has all those worry dolls to worry about! Leave it to Anthony Browne, with his surreal illustrations and a final clever twist, to come up with a solution that puts Billy at ease at last.

About this title

About the Author:

Anthony Browne is the author-illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including INTO THE FOREST and the Willy books. He was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2000 and has twice won the Kate Greenaway Medal, for GORILLA and ZOO. He lives in England.

From School Library Journal:

PreSchool-Grade 2–In bed at night Billy frets about everything, from standard clothing items (shoes) to normal weather phenomena (clouds). His parents do their best to reassure him, but to no avail. Staying over at Grandma's, he is overwhelmed with anxiety until she gives him Guatemalan worry dolls, the perfect antidote for night terrors. This works until he starts to worry that he's overburdening the dolls. The boy's clever way of resolving the problem is sure to bring smiles to readers. The story is bookended by illustrations of Billy, first literally weighed down with apprehension, and finally full of optimistic self-confidence. An opening full-color illustration in watercolor and pencil depicts Billy lying stiffly in his bed. This is followed by a series of his monochromatic fright-filled imaginings layered with background details that add levels of interest for close observers (his pillow reveals a worried profile while his wallpaper is covered with shoe prints). The bright colors of Guatemalan yarns and patterns are echoed throughout. Billy's parents and grandmother are rounded, comforting figures, but in almost every spread it is the boy's small, pale face, pinched with worry, that is given the most visual weight and holds readers' attention. Children will appreciate that Billy's problems are solved both through the efforts of encouraging adults and through his own resourcefulness. A witty way to address the issue of ever-present childhood presentiments.–Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT
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About this edition

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0763631248
• ISBN 13: 9780763631246
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Browne Anthony