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It won the CBCA award for junior readers back in 1983.
Thing written by Robin Klein & illustrated by Alison Lester is a sweet tale about a girl called Emily who dreams of having a pet. But Emily lives in an apartment and the landlord doesn't allow animals on the premises.
Everything changes when Emily discovers a vegemite coloured 'rock' in the park.
Thing works so beautifully because Klein treats the drama of having a pet stegosaurus so normally. Thing likes to watch TV, it can disguise itself as pieces of furniture or shrubbery and loves to play hide n seek.
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Belonging & friendship are the underlying themes that link most of Klein's books.
She went on the publish a spate of Thing books in the mid 1990's called Thing Finds A Job, Thing's Concert, Thing's Birthday and Thingitis. As well as enjoying success with her series for older readers starring Penny Pollard and Alison Ashley throughout the 80's and 90's.
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These books sounds so sweet! I wonder they're available in the US... They look like they'd be so much fun to read with a younger child.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Aww, these books sound delightful! Don't think I came across these growing up...
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever read any Robin Klein (shame on me)- I guess most of her books were after my childhood. My library has Thing and I've just reserved a copy, thanks for highlighting this book Brona, it sounds lovely.
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