From School Library Journal
EMPATHY; PERSPECTIVE-TAKING
For the first half of Ludwig’s picture book, a lonesome-taking a look boy appears rendered in gray and white. Even the teacher has no time for “invisible” Brian, as she is busy dealing with the noisy children in her class. Brian, with his big glasses and toothy smile, gets his hopes dashed when he isn’t picked for the kickball team. He finds solace in his drawings, where fire-breathing dragons scale tall buildings and superheroes have the power to make friends. When new student Justin arrives, Brian befriends him when the others don’t, and so they turn out to be buddies and even add a third boy to turn out to be a trio. Now visible in glorious color, Brian and his new friends present a project to their newly appreciative classmates. The joyful last pages show Brian with the children playing happily in real and imaginary activities. Brian’s childlike drawings, done in ink and collage, are spot-on in representing the way children depict their imaginary world and their very real feelings. “Questions for Discussion” in the back matter provide guidelines for teachers and parents. Preschool-Grade 2. --Lolly Gepson
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A simple act of kindness can turn out to be an invisible boy into a friend...Meet Brian, the invisible boy. No one ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that may be, a new kid comes to class.When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.From esteemed writer and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton, this gentle story shows how small acts of kindness can assist children feel included and make allowance them to flourish. Any parent, teacher, or counselor on the lookout for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource. Includes backmatter with discussion questions and resources for further reading.
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