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Serendipity
Gabby (Serendipity) by Stephen Cosgrove
Little Gabby, a Furry Eyeful, just loves to talk. However, her constant babbling is driving her friends crazy and driving them away. She becomes sad and lonely until she meets a special friend who listens, understands, and explains. Illustrated by Robin James.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 14, 2025
‘Gabby’ was a pleasant read but was lacking in depth towards the end of the narrative. Also, the theme or moral of this particular PYP book did not come out completely at the end of the tale and so it forced me to give the book a 3-star.
I chose to read this PYP or Primary Years Book and picked it up from one of my many lending local libraries to read because of a special reason. I felt I saw the jovial and always optimistic and hilarious personality of one of my senior students in the personage of the protagonist of this story. I even went to my school and her section of her grade to show her the book and mention the same to her. However, sadly or rather to my unbearable sorrow, I learnt that my student had passed away by taking her own life.
I was broken and sullen after hearing this tearful and most disturbing, not to mention, heartbreaking piece of news. I can’t forgive the fact that I was not made aware of my student’s passing by my superiors, even though most teachers and students were aware that I was very fond of this senior student and her exuberance. I saw a lot of my otherwise magnanimous self in her and loved her to bits.
She was the brightest spark in all the classrooms I used to observe classes in or even teach or practice my assistant teaching duties in and the news of her passing has broken me. She made me very comfortable in the school as a newbie International School Teacher Trainee and did not discriminate against me even though I was not as wealthy as her and not from the majority community in my country. She never paid attention to such factors, I believe she considered them as irrelevant to making meaningful connections. I have never seen such a beautiful spirit in such a young body, and I pray to God and hope that my young student’s soul rests in peace, a peace which she could not find in this life, and which prompted her to take her own life.
Coming back to this book titled ‘Gabby’ by Stephen Cosgrove who is the internationally bestselling writer on the Serendipity Junior School Books, as I have stated it is a beautifully illustrated and crafted book, but is lacking in depth and clarity in the theme or moral especially at the end of the text. Where a PYP storybook is concerned, it is important to have an ultimate objective in mind and not to preach more than show in action. Actions through story plots and illustrations in PYP books always brings out the moral or objective/objectives of the book more effectively than just mere talk or preaching.
However, the protagonist was a really exuberant and lovable person to root for and was probably the winner in this book titled ‘Gabby’. It was painful to read under the circumstances as I have mentioned to you earlier, and the portions where the protagonist Gabby felt low, depressed and like a failure in life made me weep as I felt it was my senior student coming out with her own pain through the pages of this hardback Junior School book. It is even more painful to know that the end did not come peacefully to her and that she suffered greatly and for a long while before the end finally came.
Serendipity is exactly what my student did not gain but which ultimately the protagonist of this story did. Most people who know me personally at the school where I currently learn, have nicknamed me ‘Sunflower’. Gabby the protagonist of this book could also have been nicknamed in the same manner, and so also my late student. I can tell you most certainly though, these days we hardly have any genuine ‘Sunflowers’ in human form in the world, especially ever since the sun of democracy has finally set and Right-Wing Toxic Nationalism seems to have reared its dark head over the face of the whole globe from West to East, North and South.
But I assure you, in this age when there will be no sunrise, it will be Sunflowers in human form that will remind you that love, inclusiveness and happiness still exist. And that there was once a time when the Sun used to shine in the bright blue sky of a morning more beautiful than yours or mine is now or shall ever be. Try not to lose these tender Sunflowers to the cruel world, because it is very easy to crush a Sunflower underfoot in the absence of the sun. Because the night has come Sunflowers cannot be seen or identified in the dark – watch where you are going, lest you step upon a Sunflower accidently – or even intentionally!
The book ‘Gabby’ was otherwise beautifully crafted novel. It started out with a unique concept, and the blind snake character reminded me so much of myself. But I rarely preach. I prefer putting my thoughts into action for the betterment of others. I am a person of ‘less talk- more action’ and that keeps me happy, joyful and exuberant daily – with every rising and setting of the physical sun. I am at peace with my God and don’t need to go distances therefore to search for Him. Because I see him in every human being I meet, including those who hurt me - and even those who hurt me brutally.
I don’t concern myself with converting people to my own thoughts or religion or perspectives in life because if I am doing so, then that means obviously that I am not at peace with my God until I can colour everyone the same shade that I see ‘my perspective of the world in’. But that would make the world a very boring place to be. The world would then seem too black or too white or too red or too yellow to see anything clearly or anything else. We would be rendered blind therefore, and I think you can ask any blind individual how dark their world looks like. It is horrible therefore says God – when your own eye which is technically not ‘sightless’ also becomes dark – then how gross that darkness can be! It is then worse than a blind man’s darkness or a visually impaired person’s darkness!
‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!’ (Matthew 5:22-23)
I chose to read this PYP or Primary Years Book and picked it up from one of my many lending local libraries to read because of a special reason. I felt I saw the jovial and always optimistic and hilarious personality of one of my senior students in the personage of the protagonist of this story. I even went to my school and her section of her grade to show her the book and mention the same to her. However, sadly or rather to my unbearable sorrow, I learnt that my student had passed away by taking her own life.
I was broken and sullen after hearing this tearful and most disturbing, not to mention, heartbreaking piece of news. I can’t forgive the fact that I was not made aware of my student’s passing by my superiors, even though most teachers and students were aware that I was very fond of this senior student and her exuberance. I saw a lot of my otherwise magnanimous self in her and loved her to bits.
She was the brightest spark in all the classrooms I used to observe classes in or even teach or practice my assistant teaching duties in and the news of her passing has broken me. She made me very comfortable in the school as a newbie International School Teacher Trainee and did not discriminate against me even though I was not as wealthy as her and not from the majority community in my country. She never paid attention to such factors, I believe she considered them as irrelevant to making meaningful connections. I have never seen such a beautiful spirit in such a young body, and I pray to God and hope that my young student’s soul rests in peace, a peace which she could not find in this life, and which prompted her to take her own life.
Coming back to this book titled ‘Gabby’ by Stephen Cosgrove who is the internationally bestselling writer on the Serendipity Junior School Books, as I have stated it is a beautifully illustrated and crafted book, but is lacking in depth and clarity in the theme or moral especially at the end of the text. Where a PYP storybook is concerned, it is important to have an ultimate objective in mind and not to preach more than show in action. Actions through story plots and illustrations in PYP books always brings out the moral or objective/objectives of the book more effectively than just mere talk or preaching.
However, the protagonist was a really exuberant and lovable person to root for and was probably the winner in this book titled ‘Gabby’. It was painful to read under the circumstances as I have mentioned to you earlier, and the portions where the protagonist Gabby felt low, depressed and like a failure in life made me weep as I felt it was my senior student coming out with her own pain through the pages of this hardback Junior School book. It is even more painful to know that the end did not come peacefully to her and that she suffered greatly and for a long while before the end finally came.
Serendipity is exactly what my student did not gain but which ultimately the protagonist of this story did. Most people who know me personally at the school where I currently learn, have nicknamed me ‘Sunflower’. Gabby the protagonist of this book could also have been nicknamed in the same manner, and so also my late student. I can tell you most certainly though, these days we hardly have any genuine ‘Sunflowers’ in human form in the world, especially ever since the sun of democracy has finally set and Right-Wing Toxic Nationalism seems to have reared its dark head over the face of the whole globe from West to East, North and South.
But I assure you, in this age when there will be no sunrise, it will be Sunflowers in human form that will remind you that love, inclusiveness and happiness still exist. And that there was once a time when the Sun used to shine in the bright blue sky of a morning more beautiful than yours or mine is now or shall ever be. Try not to lose these tender Sunflowers to the cruel world, because it is very easy to crush a Sunflower underfoot in the absence of the sun. Because the night has come Sunflowers cannot be seen or identified in the dark – watch where you are going, lest you step upon a Sunflower accidently – or even intentionally!
The book ‘Gabby’ was otherwise beautifully crafted novel. It started out with a unique concept, and the blind snake character reminded me so much of myself. But I rarely preach. I prefer putting my thoughts into action for the betterment of others. I am a person of ‘less talk- more action’ and that keeps me happy, joyful and exuberant daily – with every rising and setting of the physical sun. I am at peace with my God and don’t need to go distances therefore to search for Him. Because I see him in every human being I meet, including those who hurt me - and even those who hurt me brutally.
I don’t concern myself with converting people to my own thoughts or religion or perspectives in life because if I am doing so, then that means obviously that I am not at peace with my God until I can colour everyone the same shade that I see ‘my perspective of the world in’. But that would make the world a very boring place to be. The world would then seem too black or too white or too red or too yellow to see anything clearly or anything else. We would be rendered blind therefore, and I think you can ask any blind individual how dark their world looks like. It is horrible therefore says God – when your own eye which is technically not ‘sightless’ also becomes dark – then how gross that darkness can be! It is then worse than a blind man’s darkness or a visually impaired person’s darkness!
‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!’ (Matthew 5:22-23)
August 18, 2019
I guess I didn't like this one. Gabby just wanted to talk to everyone and tell them about her dreams and stuff she saw or did but they either hushed her, or ignored her and walked away, instead of just telling her 'tell me later' or 'I'm busy right now'. It seemed pretty mean and I ended up feeling really sorry for her.
February 7, 2019
Adorable book beautifully written and illustrated about a little furry eyeful named Gabby who learns about when to talk and when to listen.
July 3, 2017
Bringing back the characters from Kartusch we are actually given a chance to meet up with Gabby who is a talker that just cannot sit still. The simple and easy-to-read story shows how too much the things we do to the exclusion of anyone else can drive us further apart.
The best part is Kartusch returns in this book and in his wise ways helps Gabby to learn the important lesson of listening and to share a story before learning more about her. I just the snake and he is so beautifully shown while it warming to know that he can taste tears with his tongue, which can also be a bit creepy for some.
The best part is Kartusch returns in this book and in his wise ways helps Gabby to learn the important lesson of listening and to share a story before learning more about her. I just the snake and he is so beautifully shown while it warming to know that he can taste tears with his tongue, which can also be a bit creepy for some.
May 12, 2025
Basic plot: Gabby learns to listen.
I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.
I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.
June 26, 2011
These wonderful Serendipity books were introduced to me by my favorite teacher I ever had, my first grade teacher. Gabby, was my favorite one. Probably because we share a common trait, we both talk a lot, hence the name of the title Gabby. These books are so well written and illustrated that the draw you into them. They started my love of books as a first grader that is still with me today 26 years later!
May 19, 2012
This is a wonderful book series for kids that want to work toward reading chapter books but are not quiet there yet. Every other page has a beautiful illustration next to a page that is not overwhelming with text.
Gabby likes to gab... endlessly. Simple observing what is going on around her or listening to others is a challenge. When she finds the right balance she may find friendship too.
Gabby likes to gab... endlessly. Simple observing what is going on around her or listening to others is a challenge. When she finds the right balance she may find friendship too.
April 3, 2007
Despite my quietness at school, my family considered me talkative at home. These books all had lessons. This one was about a little talkative animal and I connect the memory of this book with that perception my family has of me being so talkative, particularly as a little kid.
December 13, 2011
Stephen Cosgrove's Serendipity books are always full of beautiful pictures, vocabulary that doesn't speak down to children, visually descriptive wording, and excellent morals. These are some of my all time favorite children's books.
July 3, 2008
This series has some of the greatest life lessons in them!
July 4, 2013
I love these books. So cute.
June 30, 2014
This book was so cute. I read it with my kids. It's good life lessons learned. I think that they appreciate it as much as I do.
September 9, 2014
This is a beautifully illustrated book that teaches fantastic lessons to young children.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews