Nobody - Hardcover

Rosenberg, Liz

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1596431202 ISBN 13: 9781596431201

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2010

Synopsis

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO FALL IN LOVE WITH NOBODY, George's imaginary friend.

When they decide to fix breakfast together, Nobody suggests chocolate meat loaf, but they settle on pancakes, and cook up a storm . . . and a mess. Eventually order is restored, and pancakes are served. And Nobody eats more than anybody. Filled with clever wordplay that tells a story true to so many children’s experience, NOBODY will soon have many friends.

About this title

About the Author

Accalimed poet, novelist, and professor, LIZ ROSENBERG is the author of ON CHRISTMAS EVE and THIS IS THE WIND, among other titles. Her books have received numerous awards, including an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice, and have been featured on Reading Rainbow. She lives in Binghamton, New York.

JULIE DOWNING has written and/or illustrated more than thirty books for children, including A RIDE ON A RED MARE'S BACK and TOM MOUSE. She lives in San Francisco, California. Visit her at www.juliedowning.com.

Reviews

PreSchool-K—Young George wakes up early one morning while his parents are asleep. His imaginary companion, Nobody, is there to keep him company and inspires plenty of mischief. George decides to create omelets using lots of ingredients, just like Dad does. Into the bowl go eggs (bits of shell included), grapes, corn chips, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, strawberries, and dog biscuits. Thankfully, George remembers he's not allowed to turn on the stove with Nobody around, and without parental supervision. After losing a game of Go Fish to Nobody, he ups the stakes with a new challenge that requires lines of ketchup to be drawn on the kitchen floor. Finally, mom and dad arrive at the kitchen; instead of losing their cool, understanding and love prevail. George fesses up to his parents about Nobody, creating a story arc with depth. Color pops off the page with playful illustrations done in watercolor, colored pencil, pastels, and china marker. Downing cleverly contrasts Nobody in black and white. The visual impact is strong but simple and underscores the tightly written text, and the facial expressions are priceless. Perspective is creatively used, particularly in a spread where George and Nobody are exploring the contents of the refrigerator. Kids and their parents will love this one.—Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY
(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When George wakes one Sunday morning before his parents, Nobody, a polka-dot-sleeper-clad imp of George’s size, suggests, “Let’s make a feast!” With Nobody’s help, George stirs up a festive omelet (and kitchen mayhem), although cooking must wait, because he is not allowed to turn on the stove when “Nobody is around.” When George’s parents enter the kitchen, they eye the odd omelet mixture and suggest pancakes, instead. But as the trio cooks together, Nobody grows sad and small, until a few words from George cheer him up again. The colorful, animated illustrations include expressive close-ups of puckish Nobody, whose imaginary status is reinforced by gray hues and improbable positions, like atop George’s chair back. Young children may miss some of the subtler wordplay here, but they’ll enjoy the basic pun on nobody, the duo’s antics, and the whimsical, supportive presentation of how imaginative play can make time alone fun. Grades K-2. --Shelle Rosenfeld

Edition details

• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1596431202
• ISBN 13: 9781596431201
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Downing Julie
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32