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< Picture Books Library
Little Parachutes Gold Star Winner
Categories: Acceptance & Inclusion, Anxiety, Being Different & Being Yourself, Confidence & Self-esteem, Curiosity & Creativity, Friendship & Getting Along, Kindness, Shyness

The Invisible Boy

This beautiful book promotes inclusivity and empathy, encouraging children to 'leave no-one behind' in friendship groups and to consider other people's feelings.
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The Invisible Boy

Author: Trudy Ludwig
Illustrator: Patrice Barton
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

“He sits there wondering what is worse – being laughed at or being invisible.”

Brian feels invisible. Nobody seems to notice him or think to include him. His teacher is too busy dealing with his attention-seeking classmates, and his peers don’t invite him to their parties, pick him for their sports teams, or ask him to join in their games. Brian retreats into his imagination. When a new boy (Justin) arrives, Brian notices him being teased for having something unusual in his lunchbox (some Korean Bul-go-gi). Brian leaves Justin a drawing and note, commenting on how good he thought the food looked, and the first foundations of a friendship begin to develop. Justin repays Brian’s kindness by encouraging the other children to include Brian in their games. The story concludes with Brian realising that he’s ‘not invisible after all’.

Sensitively written by Trudy Ludwig, complimented by stunning illustrations by Patrice Barton, who cleverly mixes black and white sketches with coloured ones to reflect Brian’s feelings of being invisible. Sharing this story with a child could be a useful starting point for a conversation about inclusion, kindness, bullying, considering other people’s feelings and cultural diversity. There are some useful notes in the back of the book with questions for discussion and further reading links.

This video link is provided to help an adult assess the book's suitability for a child's situation before purchasing it. It has been filmed by a third party and hosted on YouTube and is not made by Little Parachutes. More info

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

  • It can be distressing for a child to be excluded, either deliberately or inadvertently, from social groups.
  • Quiet, unassuming children can sometimes go unnoticed in groups (“Brian doesn’t take up a lot of space”). It’s easy to overlook a shy child when other ‘big personalities’ are vying for attention.
  • Children can sometimes be wary of change, new situations and differences

Hope & Inspiration:

  • Justin empathises with Brian and takes positive steps to include him.
  • Brian extends the hand of friendship to Justin. Both boys benefit from the other’s kindness.
Review by: Claire Ward-Dutton

Categories: Acceptance & Inclusion, Anxiety, Being Different & Being Yourself, Confidence & Self-esteem, Curiosity & Creativity, Friendship & Getting Along, Kindness, Shyness
Tags: anxiety, behaviour, co-operation, confidence, feelings, friends, friendship, loneliness, multicultural, prejudice, self-esteem



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What is a Parachute Book?

A challenging experience can make a young child feel as if they are in emotional free fall. As a parent, you can’t stop them falling, but you can offer them a softer landing:
a Parachute Book.

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The information provided on the Little Parachutes website is not a substitute for professional care by a qualified practitioner, and is not intended to provide medical advice. If you are concerned about the health and wellbeing of yourself or children in your care, you should always consult an appropriate healthcare professional.