From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won't stop talking--until he gets laryngitis. You don't have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even
himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.
From the author-illustrator team behind
The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening.
On sale: July 3, 2018
Age: 5-8 years
Grade: Grades K-3
Page count: 40 Pages
ISBN: 9780399557132
Reading level: Lexile: AD530L | Fountas/Pinnell: L
TRUDY LUDWIG is a nationally acclaimed speaker and an award-winning author who specializes in writing children's books that help kids cope with and thrive in their social world, including
My Secret Bully and
Confessions of a Former Bully. She has received rave reviews from educators, experts, organizations, and parents at schools and conferences around the US for her passion and compassion in addressing peer aggression and friendship issues. An active member of the International Bullying Prevention Association, Trudy also collaborates with organizations like the Committee for Children and ConnectSafely.org, and has served as content advisor for Sesame Street Workshop. Trudy's books have won the Mom's Choice Gold Award, the IBPA Gold Benjamin Franklin Award, and the NAPPA Gold Medal, and also been recognized as NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Books for Young People. Visit her at trudyludwig.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TrudyLudwig.
PATRICE BARTON earned a BFA in studio art from the University of Texas in Austin, where she lives with her husband and son. Her books include
Sweet Moon Baby by Karen Henry Clark,
Mine! by Shutta Crum,
I Like Old Clothes by Mary Ann Hoberman, and
Rosie Sprout's Time to Shine by Allison Wortche--all available from Knopf.
Thought-provoking . . . An accessible addition to libraries that may function as a springboard for a discussion on positive communication and the importance of listening."—
School LIbrary Journal
"Like Ludwig and Barton’s previous picture book,
The Invisible Boy (2013), which concerns a quiet child, this book has a purpose. It deals with a recognizable problem, offers some points to discuss, and delivers its message lightly." —
Booklist
"Sympathetic and most of all, hopeful."—
Publishers Weekly
"The ending reflects real life in that Owen still has bouts of talkativeness, though now he does also listen for others' input. . . . Similarly talkative youngsters struggling with social interactions may want to schedule their own laryngitis days." —
Kirkus Reviews
“This delightful story shows the beauty and benefits of tuning in and listening to others in compassionate, caring ways—something we definitely need more of in our chatter-filled world!” —Dr. Michele Borba, bestselling author of
UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World
A Junior Library Guild Selection
