Module 6 - Neville

Module 6 - Neville

Summary

Neville is about a young boy who has to move and in unhappy about it.  He is worried about making new friends.  His mother sends him outside, where he begins to call for Nevill.  Other children join him and try to help him find Neville.  He tells the other children about Neville and they are all interested to meet him.  Neville is not found, so the neighborhood children promise to come back and help look for him tomorrow.  They also mention that they like Neville's friend, the new boy.  The new boy goes home, where the reader finds out that he is Neville. 

My impressions

This is a cute story.  Readers will be able to relate to the boy being afraid of change of of learning to make new friends.  They will be entertained and hopefully inspired to find ingenious ways to make new friends themselves.  The illustrations are fun and complement the text well.

Reviews

Booklist reviewer Thom Barthelmes called this book a "tender, funny story about moving, settling down, and starting over" (Barthelmes, 2011). He calls the book "a harmonious blend of text and illustration, this is a warm, reassuring choice for all children who know the anxieties that come with big life changes."  School Library Journal reviewer Barbara Elleman called the book an "amusing and appealing story," and noted the "wit and energy" of the illustrations (Elleman, 2011).

Use in a library

This book would be good to include in storytime if one of the children who visits the storytime mentions a big event like moving away or a divorce in the family.  It could also be a really nice book to use at the beginning of a new school year to get the kids talking about things that change and how it can be really good, even if it is new and different.  This book would seem most relevant if tied to some event involving change.  

References

Barthelmes, T. (2011). Neville. Booklist: 44. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.

Elleman, B.  (2011). Juster, Norton: Neville. School Library Journal.  Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/reviews/pretograde4/891494-319/preschool_to_grade_4.html.csp.

Juster, N. (2011). Neville.  New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade.