The Invisible

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A couple of years before I was born my parents (and siblings) were in a house fire. They lost everything and my mother had not paid that week’s house insurance as she hadn’t managed to get to the bank the day it was due, which happened to be the same night as the house fire and so the insurance refused to payout. Isabel realises that those around her, bustling to jobs or fun activities she can’t afford – are completely ignoring her. As if she doesn’t exist! Isabel knows she must do something, before she is Invisible for real. He grew up in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. On reflection this seemed rather more remote than beautiful, owing to the fact that he lived in a small caravan without electricity, mains water or any sensible form of heating. He thinks that he’s probably one of the few people in his peer group to have learnt to read by gas lamp. This book is very powerful, especially for children who could be going through hard times; it allows all children to learn about how it is okay to feel alone but you never are truly alone. Helping others also defeats any form of loneliness of sadness because it makes you as a person feel better. Moving areas/dealing with ‘adult’ problems (i.e. the financial problems) are what Isabella, the main character, learns about. She is a young girl ging through many changes and for children to be exposed by this it means that children learn to not judge but also look out for their friends If they seem quiet or down.

C'est un bel album, sur un enjeu social réel et actuel, qui conviendrait aux enfants d'âge scolaire. This is a very personal message from the author, who had a very happy childhood even when his family had very little – underlining the message we can all contribute somehow, and that we all belong! A book that should be in all classrooms and school libraries for its message and its powerful pictures. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children...Tom Percival ρίχνει με τις λέξεις και τα χρώματά του (είναι απίστευτο το πώς καταφέρνει να κάνει τον αναγνώστη να κρυώσει, να πονέσει, να εξαφανιστεί) φως σε όσους συνυπάρχουν ανάμεσά μας και αισθάνονται «αόρατοι», αναδεικνύοντας με τρυφερότητα τη σημασία του να αντιλαμβανόμαστε την αλήθεια γύρω μας. Το βιβλίο αυτό καταρχάς δείχνει σε κάθε παιδί και ενήλικο ότι ανεξάρτητα από την οικονομική κατάσταση της οικογένειάς του μπορεί και πρέπει να διεκδικεί το δικαίωμά του στην ευτυχία και στην ομορφιά, πάντα με τη συνεργασία και την αγάπη των γύρω του. Isabel is a small girl who lives with her family, and though they have little they have each other, so life is happy. Then disaster strikes and they have to leave their home to move to the other side of town - where everything is grey and cold and sad and lonely. As she walks about Isabel realises she is ignored by people, and feels she is literally fading away. It is not until she has faded and become truly invisible that she notices all the other invisible people sitting or working away at different things – like planting flowers in old paint pots or mending a bike – but they are all alone too. So, Isabel decides to help, she helps to fix things up and gradually others join in too. As more people join in they become less invisible, until they have created a vibrant area where they can all be seen. By doing as she did Isabel has learned that one of the hardest things is to make a difference.

Who or what was your biggest influence in deciding to become a writer? I just love making up stories and drawing pictures – it was inevitable. Not that I’d get published of course, but even if I hadn’t got published I’d still sit there coming up with ideas and writing them down. It’s just what I do. Parmi les thèmes majeurs dont la pauvreté, la famille et la disparité de richesse , nous avons surtout le pouvoir d'agir collectif. L'implication auprès de la communauté est au coeur de cette histoire et le moyen est plutôt simple: s'intéresser aux autres. With The Invisible, Tom Percival has created one of the most beautiful books I have read in recent years. Centred around Isabel, a young girl who lives with her family, we are treated to a story that teaches us the important lesson that everyone in the world has a right to belong. My class really engaged with this book, and it led to a much wider class discussion than I had originally planned. A few of the children commented on how the book made them feel like they can make a real difference. Themes The judging criteria call for the selection to be from a "wide and inclusive range" of publishers and for books which "recognise a broad range of perspectives, experiences and voices". Judge Theresa Gooda said "The rare opportunity for such reflective book talk with colleagues, which then translated into rich classroom conversations with students, has been invaluable professional development."Ein Buch, dass leider auch aufzeigt, welche Schere oft zwischen Arm und Reich klafft. Ein wenig weniger Egoismus und mehr Miteinander würde viel helfen. Dieses Buch ist ein kleiner Appell an alle Leser und zeigt auf schöne Weise, dass niemand vergessen werden darf.

Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. Jon Klassen. I have a huge amount of time for Jon Klassen’s hyper-minimal style, it’s SO stark and yet so full of character and humour. Very impressive. And that was how Isabel made something very special. One of the hardest things anyone can ever make… What's the best thing you've ever written?A poem I wrote about a badger when I was six. It included the phrase, ‘He dragged his lumbering frame across the leaves’ which I MUST have stolen from a book I’d read that day. Sadly it was never photocopied and is now lost FOREVER. I even drew a scratchy pen and ink picture of the said Badger – we learnt to write with italic metal nibbed pens at my frankly archaic primary school.Tom Percival. Το να αισθάνεται κάποιος πως είναι αόρατος και πως δεν ανήκει πουθενά είναι ένα πολύ βαρύ συναίσθημα για όλους τους ανθρώπους πόσο μάλλον για τα παιδιά που έχουν μια έμφυτη χαρά και αισιοδοξία. The Invisible is a wonderful book that, despite its heavy subject matter, is filled with optimism and hope. Through his book, Tom Percival nurtures a discussion around poverty and the importance of kindness and belonging regardless of circumstances, handling everything with the utmost care and compassion.