Neville [Hardcover]

Norton Juster (Author), G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: October 25, 2011 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 600L (What's this?)

“[T]his ingenious foray into breaking into a new neighborhood makes for an amusing and appealing story,” raves School Library Journal.

Written by the acclaimed author of The Phantom Tollbooth, this Amazon Best Picture Book of the Year is a simply told story about a boy who moves to a new neighborhood and finds a unique way to make friends. With whimsical illustrations by award-winning illustrator G. Brian Karas, here is a read-aloud that's great for storytime, and is sure to be a hit among fans of Juster, Karas, and anyone who is "the new kid on the block."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amazon Best Books of the Month, November 2011:Neville puts an inspired twist on the age-old challenge of making new friends.  Author Norton Juster, best known for The Phantom Tollbooth, uses a minimum of text to great effect, melding beautifully with G. Brian Karas's mixed media illustrations to tell the story. Neville begins with a boy sent by his mother out into their new neighborhood to "take a little walk down the block."  He’s not at all happy about the situation, but comes up with a brilliant idea that soon has all the neighborhood children rallied around him.  The enthusiasm and joy of their undertaking and the ease in which a unified effort can forge childhood friendships are spot-on.  The surprise ending invites gales of laughter and--fortunately--Neville is a book that can be read over and over again without losing the fun. --Seira Wilson

Review

Starred Review, School Library Journal, September 2011:
"...this ingenious foray into breaking into a new neighborhood makes for an amusing and appealing story."

Starred Review, Booklist, October 15, 2011:
"The story’s simple charm comes to life in Juster’s well-paced, spare language. Karas’ deft mixed-media sketches carry remarkable weight. 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."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (October 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375867651
• ISBN-13: 978-0375867651
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 0.4 x 8.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! A perfect story of making friends in new places! October 25, 2011

By DrewFromNY

Format:Hardcover

NEVILLE is a wonderfully written and illustrated picture book, suitable for any age, really, but certainly 4 and up. My focus group is my 4.5 year old son and his 6 year old cousin (female). The story revolves around a boy who has just moved to a new town. Knowing nobody--and not excited about the move--he ventures out (at Mom's urging) to find something to do, someone to meet. However, he is well aware that you don't meet people just by walking down the street. I don't want to spoil the story, but I can say that he does encounter other people who join him in searching for his friend, Neville. A great story for all ages, written by Norton Juster, the masterful author of the classic, THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH, and beautifully illustrated. Juster's tone is pitch-perfect and appealing to kids without talking down to them. This book was a wonderful find that I highly recommend. I read it based on my knowledge of TOLLBOOTH and Juster's other illustrated tale, THE ODIOUS OGRE.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not The Phantom Tollbooth, but still good November 21, 2011

By E. Strickenburg

Format:Hardcover

This sweet unassuming book tells the story of a young boy who is unhappy to be moving to a new neighborhood. He's particularly skeptical when everyone tells him he'll love it - that's what they always say when they know he won't love something. On a walk down the block, he takes a deep breath and shouts, "Neville!" Soon other children join him to see what the ruckus is about.

This story of a creative and unusual approach to handling a move is perfect for children facing transition in their lives, or for those learning to be accepting of new people they encounter. It's filled with the sketchy mixed media illustrations of G. Brian Karas, which are quite expressive. I love the way he blends text and pictures in his illustrations.

I admit that I was disappointed at the lack of puns and wordplays in this book. I expected it to be more like Norton Juster's classic The Phantom Tollbooth. I'm afraid it's not nearly that good. But laying my expectations aside, it's a pleasing and appealing book in its own right.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Neville January 9, 2012

By SRE

Format:Hardcover

Do you know what it is like to be the new kid in town? Well, this story is about a boy who moves to a new home in a new town. His mom says, "Go for a walk." The boy goes for a walk and yells, "Neville!" A few kids come to help, and before he knew it the whole neighborhood was screaming, "Neville!" It gets late and the kids go home. They never find Neville. Our favorite part is when we find out who Neville is. You should read this book, because it is funny and teaches you how to make new friends. If you want to find out who Neville is, then you should read the book, "Neville," by Norton Juster. This is a great book, with a really big surprise ending.