Boy

by James Mayhew

A little cave boy wakes up in his cold cave and wishes he were warm. The warmest place for Boy is in bed with his mother and father, but he doesn't want to share. Instead, he wants to find a warm place all for himself!So Boy goes off exploring the world outside his cave. But the spaces of warmth Boy finds all belong to creatures who are unwilling to share with him! As Boy wanders on, he soon learns that where he truly belongs is with his own family---in a circle of warmth, safety, and love.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, History, Family, Animals

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

James Mayhew's first book for children was Katie's Pictures Show, (Orchard Books 1989) establishing the long running series about a child's adventures in an art gallery. Many of his books have a cultural agenda and James is passionate about introducing children to art, music, opera, ballet and traditional tales.

He has published over 60 books, and illustrated and written for many other colleagues including Philippa Pearce, Martin Waddell and Jackie Morris.

As a storyteller he has devised and performed a series of sell-out concerts for children with the de Havilland Philharmonic Orchestra, and has participated in prom performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

He has also created designs and illustrations for the Kirov Mariinsky Opera of St Petersburg and in 1994 won the New York Times award for one of the ten best illustrated books on the year (The Boy and The Cloth of Dreams).

He has made regular appearances at the National Galleries in Edinburgh and London and visits many schools, and arts and literary festivals.

James is a member of the Art Worker's Guild and the Society of Authors.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is cute and has nice artwork. And, my kids were enjoying it until about halfway through. That is the only reason I am giving it one star as opposed to none. The huge problem in this book comes in the form of a dinosaur portrayed as coexisting with paleolithic humans and animals. Dinosaurs, except for some of their avian descendents, went extinct many millions of years before humans were roaming the earth hunting bison and woolly mammoths. I had wanted to use this as a fictional compliment to the non-fiction studies in doing on the paleolithic era with my kids. Even my seven year old immediately pointed out, "What?! But dinosaurs didn't live at the same time as humans." Fortunately, they already knew that. But for any child who didn't, this would create a big misconception for them. There are much better picture books representing this era.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad enough Mayhew says 'saber tooth tiger' instead of smilodon, but then to include a dinosaur! Just, no, I don't care that the rest of the book is cute... the bad science is egregious and unacceptable. Sorry.

[Marissa Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has not won any awards.

"Boy" is appropriate for pre-k to kindergarten students.

This book is about a little boy during prehistoric times. He lives in a cave, and he shares a bed with his mother and father, but one day he decides he doesn't want to share. So he goes out looking for a place of his own. All of these places are already taken by different animals alive during that time. The boy realizes that family and sharing are important parts of life.

This is a great book to introduce young students to the prehistoric era. Although this is a work of fiction, it mentions several different animals alive during the prehistoric era, and the circumstances that early humans had to live in. Also, this book focuses on family and sharing, which is a good topic to talk about with young students.

This book can be used in the classroom to talk about the prehistoric era, and to teach students about history during that time. Also, students can work on a writing project that talks about the importance of sharing, and a time when they shared with someone or when someone else shared with them.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy is cold, but doesn't want to share Mom & Dad's covers. He goes out and finds a bunch of places that would be perfect, but every spot is already claimed.

Not perfect from a historical perspective -- we have dinos and humans living at the same time, for one thing.

But good to talk about sharing, love, and family.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

My children (one now studying astrophysics and the other Politics at Uni) both loved this book. What children read when they are young does not need to be scientifically accurate / it needs to story tell. A gentle, subtle and beautiful book that you can apply some cracking voices to. We have fabulous memories of this lovely book.

[Savannah Atwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would use this book to teach young children the importance of sharing in the classroom. I would read it at the beginning of the year and again if there were any problems.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, but beautiful pictures and a fun sequence for young children.

[Deri · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite children's books

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gorgeous art, but really dislike the portrayal of dinosaurs living at the same time as humans

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is kinda like Sally from the Charlie Brown special, who found Woodstock's bird's nest and thinks it's a prehistoric bird's nest. "It's so ridiculous it HAS to be prehistoric!" So the same rule of thumb applies: this wonderful fable is so ridiculous that...well, you know! A small cave boy needs comfort in his dino-world, and can't find it in the hides of his friends the sabre-tooth, wooly mammoth or the brontosaur. The last straw is when he sleeps too near to the volcanic activity. OOPS!!!! He finds that warmth is near his family, where it's safe and comfy. This follows a Biblical the author never intended to figure: where treasure is--be it a warm home, a family or anything that says "comfort zone", even if it's a bird's nest--there will your heart be also!

[Gail Barge]

This is a sweet story of a boy discovering the love and warmth of his family. I would use this class is a study of prehistoric times because of all of the animals and locations the boy travels to which could be a good way to study this period in time. I would also talk about why students think the boy returned to the cave to be with his family. I would ask students to talk about where their own "warm place" is and why they love that place the most. A fun book with a simple and predictable story which could also be good for sequencing and retelling.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5-year-old said this book was, "ok". He did like that the boy would sit somewhere and you wouldn't know what was going to happen until you turned the page. It takes place during the prehistoric age.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pulled this one to go with the "Nomads" chapter in SotW Book 1. It was a very sweet story about a boy living in prehistoric times who is looking for warm. I enjoyed the simple adventure and the warmth of family. Recommended.

[Aiza Yparraguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 5 favorite children's books. I can't help telling the story to my cute students over and over again. Very good plot and children can easily relate. Is heartwarming too.

[Erica Eyestone]

Not my favorite book. About a boy trying to find warmth but he ends up finding it in his cave with his parents.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story for little tots and some beautiful pastel artwork.

Read & reviewed for The Bookbag.