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Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Eleanor Public Library | LIN | Juvenile | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
An Unexpected Thing is a beautifully illustrated, touching children's picture book about facing fears, dealing with anxiety and learning to explore the world.
Fred is afraid. Of everything. He spends his days jumping at loud noises, recoiling from scary shadows and hiding from new people. So you can imagine how he felt when a huge, menacing spot appears as if from nowhere. Too terrified to do anything else, Fred hides away from the spot and imagines all the awful things it could be...
Luckily, Coco isn't afraid of anything! She loves exploring new things and sees the best in every new experience that comes her way. When Coco sees the spot she knows that it must be something wonderful. And she's going to find out what it is. And this time, Fred is going to come with her and face his fears once and for all.
This is a story of different perspectives, overcoming those feelings of worry and uneasiness, facing your fears and finding out that the world isn't such a bad place afterall of all if you're ready to explore.
Author Notes
Ashling Lindsay is an illustrator from Belfast, Northern Ireland. The first book she illustrated was called The Night Box and was written by Louise Greig. It has sold in 10 territories, been nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Illustration award and many other prestigious prizes.
Reviews (1)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--This thought-provoking and moving story will give hope to children with anxiety. Readers will relate to Fred, who is afraid of many things, especially the unexpected. While in the forest, he encounters a spot hanging in the sky and cowers in fear. A girl named Coco sees the same spot, but feels curiosity instead. While the soft watercolor illustrations are dark on pages featuring Fred, they are bright on Coco's pages, accentuating the foil between the characters. Coco reaches out to Fred, and together they discover the opportunity the unknown can bring. The ending is ambiguous and feels a bit sudden; however, its very unexpectedness and complexity opens the door for rich conversations about the author's intentions with older students. With its short sentences and pacing that motivates every turn of the page, the story is perfect for read-alouds. VERDICT The book is certainly timely, as anxiety among youth is on the rise. An excellent addition to all library collections.--Maria Bohan
