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Andries Anders

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Andries Anders is ’n skaap. Hy voel eensaam omdat hy anders as die ander skape is. Maar diep in sy hart glo hy daar moet êrens ’n plek wees waar dit normaal is om anders te wees. Gedryf deur hierdie verlange gaan hy op ’n soektog …

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

28 people want to read

About the author

Miriam Koch

20 books
Miriam Koch was born in 1980, studied Communication Design with an emphasis on illustration in Trier, Germany. Her love for the North Sea and its coast inspired her to create Digby Differs. She works as a freelance writer and illustrator in Germany.

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5 stars
30 (32%)
4 stars
24 (25%)
3 stars
27 (29%)
2 stars
10 (10%)
1 star
2 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
223 reviews
January 6, 2018
In my personal opinion, this one hits you over the head a little too hard with its message, and the illustrations, especially in the background, are really aimed more at adults than children.

My kindergartners don't mind, though, they like it just fine, mostly for the pretty pictures.
Profile Image for Bernice.
64 reviews3 followers
October 1, 2024
Een van my gunstelling boeke! So mooi.
Profile Image for Mary Ann.
1,485 reviews315 followers
November 11, 2013
Ending didn't make sense to me -- why does Digby feel at home with the second group of sheep?

Also, why did the author/illustrator choose to make this book so large & unwieldy? The size doesn't seem to add to the artwork or story
960 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2022
4.5. I really enjoyed the text and its message, as well as the art style. However, the choice of dimensions for the book is baffling. It's not a 5 star book solely because the non-traditional sizing made it challenging to read.
Profile Image for Storywraps.
1,968 reviews39 followers
July 12, 2013
This book makes a "big" statement. It is 18" long and just 7" high. It was originally published in Germany in 2007. It has a cloth binding and is perfect to share, as it needs two laps (yours and your child's) to cuddle up and make the best reading experience ever . Perfect marketing.

Ever feel like the odd person out? Ever feel like you don't fit in or you don't belong? Ever wonder why those around you won't accept you as their friend? Digby, a very special sheep wrestles with all these questions and his emotions as every day he asked himself why? He truly is physically different from the other sheep in his flock as his fleece is red and white striped. The flock ignore and snub him, making him feel sad and very lonely ... an outcast.

One day a hot air balloon, which is a perfect match for his fleece, floats by and Digby follows it. It leads him into another strange world where he discovers he doesn't belong either. He caught glimpses of facsimiles of himself in that world but the sense of him belonging there, eludes him. Downcast and forlorn he spots a train and climbs aboard hoping that the train's journey will take him to a place where he can feel comfortable and call his home. He falls asleep on the train and finally wakes up to "a wonderful, soothing sound that warmed his heart." He looked at his new surroundings and immediately feels right at home. He has landed in a beautiful place where he is destined to live out his days and be happy. The wonderful story begins and ends with a wise saying from Confucius.."Wherever you go, go with all your heart." - and Digby did!

The illustrations are engaging, displaying emotion, and the colour palette is soft and natural in sharp contrast to Digby's splashes of red and white. The attention-getting format and wonderful storyline combine to create a memorable story about being different, belonging and home.
Profile Image for Linda Gill.
128 reviews9 followers
December 11, 2013
This LARGE format book (18-1/4 inches wide by 7 inches high), the simple picture, and the title drew me right into this wonderful book.

Have you ever felt like you just did not fit in? Like you are different from the rest? Do you wonder where you belong? Well, that is how Digby, a red and white striped sheep, feels. Digby is different. Digby yearns for a place that feels like home, a place where he belongs. One day, he sees a hot air balloon with red and white stripes just like his own and he begins following it, eventually losing site of it as well as his way. But he has begun a journey in search of that something, that place, that feeling, that...oh, you know, that something inside each one of us which speaks of belonging and being able to be ourselves. Digby discovers far more than he could have ever imagined.

This unique book speaks to the "beautifully different" in each one of us. It can lead to wonderful discussions about expressing ourselves in our individual ways, needing to feel accepted for who we are and not for who we may pretend to be so that we fit in. Follow Digby as he searches for that different kind of place that he can call home.

Reading Level: ages 4 - 8

Miriam Koch first published this book in 2007 in Germany where she lives. Digby Differs has been much acclaimed and now the United States is getting to share in this special story of Digby. Ms. Koch's love for the North Sea and its coast inspired this book which she wrote and illustrated. It was translated by Ann Garlid. One place you can catch a glimpse of Ms. Koch is @ http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Peter Pauper, the publisher, shares a write-up here:
http://www.peterpauper.com/digby-diff...


Book Information:
ISBN-13: 9781441313065
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press, Incorporated
Publication date: 8/1/2013
Pages: 40
Product dimensions: 6.80 (w) x 18.30 (h) x 0.50 (d)
Profile Image for K.L. Bernard.
Author 1 book22 followers
September 19, 2013
October 4th is National Diversity Day. We should all embrace this day along with all the wonderful things that make us unique. Author Miriam Koch shares with readers a very interesting story wrapped in a very unusual manner.

Digby was a little sheep who was very different from all other sheep you may have ever seen. You see, Digby had big red stripes on his fluffy wool. And yes, he was born that way. Unfortunately for Digby, he knew he was different and he felt very alone. He hadn't felt as though he belonged. He longed for a home. One day a red and white stripped hot air balloon drifted over the field where Digby sat. He felt compelled to follow and it took him on a journey. Digby saw things that were stripped with red like he was, for instance, a candy cane, a cola cup and an eave over a little shop. But still, he was alone, different and disconnected, that is, until a train approached. Again Digby was on a journey. You will have to read the story yourself to see if Digby finally finds a home where he is accepted.

Parents and teachers can utilize Digby and his story as a tool to seek out all the little nuances and differences found on the pages. The simplistic sentence structure and unique illustrations help readers truly see what the author is trying to portray. The elongated shape of the book makes for a fun and interesting sight.
Profile Image for Kelsey.
2,354 reviews66 followers
January 26, 2014
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Emotions: Feeling different

Although the size is going to be real awkward on the library shelves, the story is a charming one.
"Digby was different. He sensed it...and it made him feel very alone."

This is a very interesting way to start this type of book because Digby feels excluded but the other lambs aren't necessarily excluding him. In fact, they are peering over at poor Digby as he sits alone off in the distance. One day a giant striped balloon passes by and Digby feels drawn by the balloon's similarities to himself, a striped lamb. The book goes on with Digby finding assorted striped objects until he is truly alone in a strange place. He longs for "someplace where it was okay to be different, where feeling different felt just right." He eventually finds his way to a seashore land full of sheep where he immediately feels at home, where everything is "beautifully different." You have to wonder if this is the same hill he chose to leave.

Another plus about this book is the artwork and Koch's ability to create a picture within a picture, oftentimes a zoom or a slight passage of time. All in all, a very attractive and delightful book.
Profile Image for Erin.
1,769 reviews17 followers
January 23, 2014
The story in this book is fine. There's a red and white striped sheep named Digby who doesn't feel like he belongs. So he goes out in search of a place where he does belong--and finds one.

What I dislike about this book is its size. It's about 6 inches tall and 20 inches long. There is absolutely no reason that I can see from the story to make it such a long book. What shelf is this going to fit on? How quickly are the pages going to rip/tear/fold just because they're so long? Maybe if there were some panoramic views, I would understand. But there are not. One side has one or two sentences on it in large type. The other side has pictures. I do not like it.

If the physical book had been in different dimensions, I would have said it would be good for preschool storytimes. Holding this book up for an audience would be a task, not a pleasure.
Profile Image for oliviasbooks.
784 reviews530 followers
February 13, 2013
Some picture books are also for adults, but some - though not inappropriate or difficult - are sold as children's books but seem to be secretly aimed at adults all the way. The popular book about a red-and-white-striped sheep named Fiete, who goes on a day-dream-voyage round the globe together with the wind and his seagull girl-friend only to return to his familiar beach and say "I like it best at home after all" certainly tastes like one of those. All the merchandise that is available (including litte satchets of sugar for tea, postcard-collections and beach towels) heavily underlines that theory.

I am one of those adults who'd rather read something fun or interesting for kids than a feel-good-about-life-picture-book from the don't-know-what-to-buy-gift-book-display.
Profile Image for Laura Filtness.
Author 3 books9 followers
December 8, 2013
This book will be a centerpiece in your office. It's long and eye catching, like a fine piece of art work. I just have to have it. The story is heart warming and will make every student smile. Digby, the adorable sheep, feels different because of his red strips and goes on an incredible adventure to find a place where he fits in. In the end he discovers that he was in the right place right at home. The illustrations are beautiful and I love spotting the red and white object in each page. My self esteem groups are going to love this. The perfect holiday gift for your favorite counselor, teacher, or librarian.
Profile Image for Brenda at MyShelf.
88 reviews
December 9, 2013
“Dig was a sheep—a very special sheep.”

I’m not sure what I enjoyed most about this book because it has so much to offer. The storyline is perfect for all ages. Digby shows us that it’s okay to be different and it’s okay to feel the need to belong. As I read I so wanted Digby to find his happy ending. And I wanted to share it with my grandson.

The book format is unique (18.2 x 7 inches). The illustrations are imaginative and inspiring. And the muted colors so beautiful. I highly recommend Digby Differs and hope the book makes its way to many schools and local libraries.

Digby debut in Germany in 2007. The US version was translated by author Ann Garlid
Profile Image for Eva Kelly.
410 reviews4 followers
January 8, 2015
This is a great one and it's gotta be the longest book ever. I bet it's two feet long. It's almost as tall as I am! Mama has a book like this about bridges and another one about buildings, but this is the first kid book I saw that was this big. Wow!
It's about Digby. He's this red and white sheep and he wants to find things so he doesn't feel different, but then when he finds them, guess what? He's STILL sad!
And just when you think there's just no pleasing that sheep, guess what? He goes to the beach and then he's HAPPY!
I love the pictures and how BIG everything is, so it's a GREAT BIG book! Ha!
Profile Image for Erin.
4,616 reviews56 followers
August 13, 2016
The extremely long format of this book makes for an unusual experience, but Digby is an ernest and charming sheep who eventually finds a place where he can be comfortable.

The rats in the dump did look like they were into some questionable substances, but that may not even register with kids.
Profile Image for Kristen.
181 reviews
March 24, 2016
The story and illustrations are both very enjoyable. This book is something like 8x20 inches, which makes it very awkward to hold/flip and shelve. I'm not sure why the publishing company thought that was a good idea.
Profile Image for Jennifer Heise.
1,762 reviews61 followers
October 25, 2016
A charming little story in hard-to-manage format. I enjoyed reading this to my son, but the hugely wide format made it hard to handle the volume. However, that "different" Digby found his home, with a lighthouse striped like him and also sheep nearby, was a nice ending.
Profile Image for Brenda Kahn.
3,819 reviews62 followers
November 3, 2013
Digby feels different and even the design of this book gets into the act as it will be impossible to shelve in most libraries! Lovely illustrations and a sweet, gentle journey for a striped sheep.
Profile Image for Ashleigh.
925 reviews15 followers
November 30, 2013
Pillowman fans may be reminded of the little green pig.
Profile Image for Timothy.
Author 1 book7 followers
December 29, 2013
I love the format and the artwork. The point of the story is somewhat lost, though, so the conclusion was not satisfying to me.
Profile Image for Beth.
3,084 reviews228 followers
January 29, 2014
The width of this picture book is a bit strange and cumbersome plus it leaves a lot of unnecessary blank space. The illustrations are lovely and the story is pleasant enough.
Profile Image for Edward Sullivan.
Author 6 books226 followers
March 13, 2014
Digby the sheep finds a place where he feels at home. The choice of the long format for the book is puzzling. It doesn't seem at all necessary to the story or illustrations.
Profile Image for Jeffrey West.
90 reviews181 followers
April 6, 2014
A cute picture book about finding where you belong and self-acceptance.
Profile Image for Katie.
273 reviews
May 30, 2014
"Wherever you go, go with all your heart."
-Confucius
Profile Image for Con Robinson.
Author 2 books9 followers
May 30, 2014
Great book about discovery and accepting yourself with your differences and getting along with others. . .
Profile Image for Jeimy.
5,652 reviews32 followers
January 8, 2014
Meh... Doesn't really explain why he stopped feeling different.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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