The Boy and the Giant
by David Litchfield (Author)
There is a Secret Giant in Gableview who has hands the size of tabletops, legs as long as drainpipes, and feet as big as rowing boats. But little Billy thinks the Giant is just a tall tale that his grandad likes to tell.
According to Grandad, the Giant keeps the bears away when they go camping and rescues Billy's favorite kite when it gets tangled up in the tallest tree. Grandad swears the Giant is real, but Billy's not buying it.
Why has he never seen the giant before? Why does the Giant stay hidden? Grandad knows why: People are afraid of things that look different. When Billy suddenly finds himself face-to-face with the Giant, he runs away in fear--and hurts the Giant's feelings.
But now he's got an opportunity to make it up to him, and, just maybe, to be friends with the nicest guy in town.
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Publishers Weekly
A boy learns the importance of accepting those who are different from him in this message-driven story by Litchfield (The Bear and the Piano). When a town's residents struggle to complete the highest section of a mural welcoming visitors, a boy's grandfather suggests that the shy local giant will come to the rescue, just as he has in the past, having previously saved the family from bears, storms, and other mishaps. "Those aren't real--they're just legends," the boy scoffs. Predictably, on the very next morning, the boy interrupts the giant, who is working to complete the mural. Terrified, the boy races home. He instantly regrets his unfriendly behavior, and, determined to make things right, he and Grandad come up with a plan to reassure the giant that he's a welcome member of the community. Though the dialogue feels overly purposeful, the text's message of inclusion is valuable. What stand out most are the richly textured illustrations, which give readers an excuse to linger on each spread and try to spot the semi-hidden giant. Ages 4-8. (Nov.)
Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV037000 - Juvenile Fiction | Fantasy & Magic
Picture books
Fear
Helpfulness
Giants
