Most of us have experienced times when we feel as if we are invisible, when the people around us don't seem to realize that we are even there. The alone and cut-off-from-the-world feeling is horrible. In this picture book the author looks at one little boy who is made to feel invisible, and who still manages to be generous to someone else.
The invisible Boy
The invisible Boy
Trudy Ludwig
Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
Random House, 2013, 978-1-582-46450-3
Brian is not really an invisible boy but he is so quiet
and makes so little fuss in class, that it is almost as if he really is
invisible. Mrs. Carlotti has her hands full dealing with Nathan, who shouts all
the time, and Sophie, “who whines and complains” whenever she doesn’t get what
she wants. Somehow Brian never gets picked when the children play kickball, and
when one of the children has a birthday party, Brian isn’t invited.
Then one day a
new boy called Justin joins Brian’s class. At lunch Justin eats something
called bulgogi with chopsticks and when he offers some to the other children they
make fun of him and his strange Korean food. Brian wonders which is worse;
being laughed at or feeling invisible.
The next morning
Justin finds a note waiting for him in his cubby. The note is from Brian and in
it Brian says that he thinks Justin’s bulgogi “looked good.” One the note Brian
even drew a little picture of himself eating bulgogi with chopsticks.
In this
wonderful picture book Trudy Ludwig shows young readers how painful it is to be
the child who is always left out of everything. Her story is thoughtfully
sensitive and she explores the idea that being kind to one another is simple to
do, taking little effort, and yet it makes such a difference to someone who
feels alone and lonely.
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