Neville

Author: Norton Juster
Illustrator:   G. Brian Karas
Publisher:  schwartz & wade book
Publication Year:   2011
Location: Knox County Public Library- Powell

Awards:   featured on "Calling Caldecott" blog, SLJ & Booklist starred reviews

Summary:  When a boy moves into a new neighborhood, he is worried about trying to make new friends. Then he stops and (strangely) calls out "Neville." Soon all the kids in the neighborhood come to join in. The illustrations start grey and uniform and soon turn to varied colors and fonts. All the kids want to know about Neville and are excited to learn more about him from the boy. The kids soon wander off and when the boy returns home the reader discovers that he himself is Neville.

Classroom Ideas: This book is a great one for problem and solution. The mood is very obvious in the illustrations as Neville becomes more hopeful about his new life. And, everyone will want to know what happens next, so a story about Neville's next day would be a perfect writing assignment.