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Nothing
Otis has an antique shop crammed to the gills with stuff. So he's delighted when someone comes in and buys it all. Next day, Suzie Gump arrives, the shop is empty, full of nothing, and Suzy loves it-and takes it all. Suzie has set a trend, and soon everybody is craving nothing-the stores are full of it. It's only when there's not even a towel for drying off after a bath that Suzie realizes she may have gone a bit too far.
Audio CD
First published September 4, 2007
3 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Jon Agee
53 books163 followersI grew up in Nyack, New York, just up the street from the Hudson River. In our house, there was always an art project going on.
My early drawings were very animated: a lot of stuff zipping around, airplanes, racing cars, football players. No surprise my first published drawing was a pack of rats running along a highway (The Rat Race). I did that for the New York Times Op Ed page when I was still in high school.
I went to college at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. I studied painting, sculpture and filmmaking, but what I loved doing most—in my spare time—was drawing cartoons and comic strips.
When I graduated, I hauled my pile of doodles into the offices of a bunch of editors, with the wild notion that somebody might publish them. When that failed, I wrote a story for kids to go with my pictures (If Snow Falls). It was two sentences long (which counts, by the way). Frances Foster, a wonderful editor at Random House, saw something in that book and signed me up.
The next book, Ellsworth, was about a dog who teaches economics at a university. When he gets home, he throws off his clothes and acts like a dog, which is fine, until some fellow teachers discover this and he loses his job. Somebody told me that Ellsworth was a story about "being yourself." I never realized it had a moral.
I moved to another publisher with Ludlow Laughs, the story of a grumpy guy who laughs in his sleep. This book was doing very poorly until the comedienne Phyliss Diller read it on PBS's Reading Rainbow. It stayed in print for over twenty years.
My fourth book, The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau, was a hit. One of the first people to see it and give it the thumb's up—literally, hot off the press—was Maurice Sendak. We bumped into each other at the printers. It was a lucky first meeting, and happily not our last.
That was all a long time ago. Since then I've written many other picture books, illustrated a few by other authors, and created a series of offbeat wordplay books, beginning with the book of palindromes, Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog!
I visit schools across the country and sometimes around the globe. I live with my wife, Audrey, in San Francisco.
My early drawings were very animated: a lot of stuff zipping around, airplanes, racing cars, football players. No surprise my first published drawing was a pack of rats running along a highway (The Rat Race). I did that for the New York Times Op Ed page when I was still in high school.
I went to college at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. I studied painting, sculpture and filmmaking, but what I loved doing most—in my spare time—was drawing cartoons and comic strips.
When I graduated, I hauled my pile of doodles into the offices of a bunch of editors, with the wild notion that somebody might publish them. When that failed, I wrote a story for kids to go with my pictures (If Snow Falls). It was two sentences long (which counts, by the way). Frances Foster, a wonderful editor at Random House, saw something in that book and signed me up.
The next book, Ellsworth, was about a dog who teaches economics at a university. When he gets home, he throws off his clothes and acts like a dog, which is fine, until some fellow teachers discover this and he loses his job. Somebody told me that Ellsworth was a story about "being yourself." I never realized it had a moral.
I moved to another publisher with Ludlow Laughs, the story of a grumpy guy who laughs in his sleep. This book was doing very poorly until the comedienne Phyliss Diller read it on PBS's Reading Rainbow. It stayed in print for over twenty years.
My fourth book, The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau, was a hit. One of the first people to see it and give it the thumb's up—literally, hot off the press—was Maurice Sendak. We bumped into each other at the printers. It was a lucky first meeting, and happily not our last.
That was all a long time ago. Since then I've written many other picture books, illustrated a few by other authors, and created a series of offbeat wordplay books, beginning with the book of palindromes, Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog!
I visit schools across the country and sometimes around the globe. I live with my wife, Audrey, in San Francisco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
May 17, 2019
Otis is sweeping out his antique shop when Suzie Gump, the riches woman in town, walks into his store. "'Goody, goody!' she said. 'Now, what's for sale?' Otis looks around, 'Uh, nothing.' 'Nothing?' said Suzie. 'How much do you want for it?'" Suzie hands Otis a check for $300 dollars. Soon, other stores are selling 'nothing.' People rush out to purchase 'nothing.' They have to make room in their homes for 'nothing.' In time, Otis has something to sell in his shop. But people aren't buying something, until Suzie Gump walks into his store.
This hilarious story will keep readers turning the pages. The detailed illustrations, coupled with the satirical text, will open the discussions to several topics, such as advertising, following the crowd and society trends. I highly recommend this book for first grade and up.
This hilarious story will keep readers turning the pages. The detailed illustrations, coupled with the satirical text, will open the discussions to several topics, such as advertising, following the crowd and society trends. I highly recommend this book for first grade and up.
June 27, 2016
Nothing tells the story of a misunderstanding that leads to a wealthy woman paying $300 for nothing. Soon, “nothing” is in high demand as stores pop up to sell it and people get rid of their belongings to make room for this exciting new product. Ultimately, the story is a fun play on words, but it also makes a point similar to the folk tale of the “emperor’s new clothes.” It could be enjoyed on its own, but a teacher could also lead a discussion on following the crowd when it comes to new trends, and kids could brainstorm examples they’ve seen in their own lives. You could also easily work in a discussion to critique consumer culture and consider living a simpler lifestyle. Kids could talk about which things they see as really necessary and which they could probably live without. Nothing is a fun story with a lot of possibilities for deep conversation.
August 29, 2017
I do love Agee's satires for all ages. A child can appreciate the basic plot, even though there are almost no children in story, and an adult can appreciate the subtleties. Funny and highly recommended.
March 3, 2013
Nothing by Jon Agee - I mentioned this book on Thirsty Thursday...How much I appreciate Jon Agee, his books always amuse, enlighten, and entertain. I particularly am fond of his word play books such as Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp? and Elvis Lives and other Anagrams. This book, Nothing, did not disappoint! Interesting stores with a lady so loaded with money and pretentious that she hears a shopkeeper say he has nothing and she agrees to buy “nothing” on the spot! Then there is a rush on buying nothing. Interesting book, threw me into thoughts on nothingness/living a simple life/reducing material objects- which you could lead a discussion on if you were in the mood BUT you could also just enjoy a hilarious book and talk about following the crowd and letting others influence what you’re interested in. Think I will share this with my Year 3 team next year when they’re talking about advertising/media awareness/marketing, what a perfect book for this!
September 3, 2013
Nothing brings insight to the meaning of objects all around us. A rich woman in town goes to a local antique shop to buy "nothing." Soon, the entire town has caugt wind. Everyone wants nothing. The streets are littered of objects that no one wants. The rich woman is soon sick of nothing and wants everything, which she buys from the same antiuque shop. This book demonstrates the whirlwind of fads, and how quick people follow instead of being their own person. Agee shows this with humor and fun; the book is an enjoyment for all ages.
April 7, 2018
I keep reading this book. I must have read it 8 times in the past day - and each time I learn something new! This book is pure genius!! Do you want to organize your home? Read this book. Do you want to eliminate clutter? Read this book. Do you want to stop eating snacks? Read this book. All the answers to EVERYTHING are right here.
*BTW - I haven’t even shared this book with my 7 year old yet. It is all mine!!!
*BTW - I haven’t even shared this book with my 7 year old yet. It is all mine!!!
February 17, 2022
Gotta find that balance between materialism and space?
August 2, 2022
What a fun, irreverent book. A book with frivolity that makes sense and isn’t just random nonsense.
December 31, 2013
The art reminds me of William Steig, so of course I love it. The book is almost a play on THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES.
December 9, 2021
Great book.
It's kind of a mix between the emperor's clothes and "the Madness of Crowds".
It's about how a crowd of people can be influenced to do really stupid things, very easily, just because everyone else is doing it. It teaches the lesson very well and at a very age-appropriate level. Kids will think it's funny, adults will nod their heads and think quietly to themselves "This is so true...example a, b, c, d,...."
I think it's a commentary on how easily the human race can fall into idiocy. It is overblown, it is based on the slippery slope fallacy, it is gregarious, but it still has a large grain of truth. And that is what makes stories awesome. They encode deep psychological or philosophical or moral truths and present it in an easily digestible way.
Story: Narrative
Art: Simple
Price: $16.99
It's kind of a mix between the emperor's clothes and "the Madness of Crowds".
It's about how a crowd of people can be influenced to do really stupid things, very easily, just because everyone else is doing it. It teaches the lesson very well and at a very age-appropriate level. Kids will think it's funny, adults will nod their heads and think quietly to themselves "This is so true...example a, b, c, d,...."
I think it's a commentary on how easily the human race can fall into idiocy. It is overblown, it is based on the slippery slope fallacy, it is gregarious, but it still has a large grain of truth. And that is what makes stories awesome. They encode deep psychological or philosophical or moral truths and present it in an easily digestible way.
Story: Narrative
Art: Simple
Price: $16.99
September 13, 2017
Fans of Jon Klassen and Oliver Jeffers will love this mischievously funny read-aloud from award-winning author/illustrator Jon Agee
Mysterious noises keep waking up the Wimbledon family. "That's very odd," says Mr. Wimbledon each time, but when he returns from checking on the sounds, he's always reassuring: "It's only Stanley; he's fixing the oil tank." "It's only Stanley; he's clearing the bathtub drain."
But what Stanley the dog is actually doing while his oblivious family goes back to bed is deliciously absurd: he's turning the house into a rocket ship to zoom himself and his family to another planet for an alien encounter. This is a perfect rhyming read-aloud for fans of irreverent tales like Click Clack Moo and I Want My Hat Back.
Mysterious noises keep waking up the Wimbledon family. "That's very odd," says Mr. Wimbledon each time, but when he returns from checking on the sounds, he's always reassuring: "It's only Stanley; he's fixing the oil tank." "It's only Stanley; he's clearing the bathtub drain."
But what Stanley the dog is actually doing while his oblivious family goes back to bed is deliciously absurd: he's turning the house into a rocket ship to zoom himself and his family to another planet for an alien encounter. This is a perfect rhyming read-aloud for fans of irreverent tales like Click Clack Moo and I Want My Hat Back.
November 8, 2020
“Buying nothing as if it was something? She was nuts!”
Suzie Gump has plenty of money, but maybe not much common sense. When Otis, the shopkeeper, says there’s nothing for sale, she says she’ll take it! Otis is befuddled, but carries nothing to the car and receives a check for $5. The next day she’s back, but Otis doesn’t feel right about selling her nothing again, so she goes to other shopkeepers who are more than happy to oblige the wealthy woman. Pretty soon everyone is buying nothing and getting rid of something to make room for it. Until all that’s left is nothing.
A definite connection to The Emperor’s New Clothes and also a good demonstration of the importance of word choice.
Suzie Gump has plenty of money, but maybe not much common sense. When Otis, the shopkeeper, says there’s nothing for sale, she says she’ll take it! Otis is befuddled, but carries nothing to the car and receives a check for $5. The next day she’s back, but Otis doesn’t feel right about selling her nothing again, so she goes to other shopkeepers who are more than happy to oblige the wealthy woman. Pretty soon everyone is buying nothing and getting rid of something to make room for it. Until all that’s left is nothing.
A definite connection to The Emperor’s New Clothes and also a good demonstration of the importance of word choice.
August 30, 2017
I'm just getting to know Jon Agee books and really enjoying them. The illustrations are simple, contrast busy pages of everything with pages of nothing, and are comic book like. The absurdity of buying nothing and the motifs of consumerism and conformity make it both an enjoyable read and a cause for reflection for all ages.
May 17, 2018
Copyright - Jon Agee
Number of Pages - 30
Book Format - Print
Reading Level- Grades K-2 ; GR level L
Genre - Fiction
Lit Requirement -Picture storybook
Summary: Otis gets one last customer right before close, who sets a trend for the entire town. This trend doesn’t last long, read to find out what happens!
Response: This book is super silly and fun to read. I would only recommend this book for readers who can grasp the idea that it would be funny to pay money for “nothing.” An easy enjoyable read for young students!
Number of Pages - 30
Book Format - Print
Reading Level- Grades K-2 ; GR level L
Genre - Fiction
Lit Requirement -Picture storybook
Summary: Otis gets one last customer right before close, who sets a trend for the entire town. This trend doesn’t last long, read to find out what happens!
Response: This book is super silly and fun to read. I would only recommend this book for readers who can grasp the idea that it would be funny to pay money for “nothing.” An easy enjoyable read for young students!
April 26, 2022
"Nothing? I must have it!"
This was a capitalistic riff on "The Emperor's New Clothes." It left my 4-year old a little confused. I thought it was just okay. Seemed like it was aiming to be funny to both kids and adults, but on different levels.
I'd check out some of this author's books even though this one was only okay to us.
This was a capitalistic riff on "The Emperor's New Clothes." It left my 4-year old a little confused. I thought it was just okay. Seemed like it was aiming to be funny to both kids and adults, but on different levels.
I'd check out some of this author's books even though this one was only okay to us.
December 4, 2017
I thought this book was really funny, but I also thought the idea behind it (The everyone wanting nothing after the rich, well-known person asked for nothing) was very realistic. I liked the colors and style of illustration used in this book.. The illustrations gave details that added to the text.
October 9, 2018
Oh, my gosh! This is very funny. My kids did appreciate the humor, though kids younger than kindergarten might not get it. Owning nothing becomes a craze. I like that the shop owner in the end chooses not to join in the craziness, even though it could mean financial gain for him.
February 29, 2024
Agee Assignment #12
Quite humorous look at trends and fads and materialism which could provoke some really interesting conversations about keeping up with the Jones's.
A hint of The Emperor's New Clothes without a little boy to shout the alarm, and an amusing ending.
A good read!
Quite humorous look at trends and fads and materialism which could provoke some really interesting conversations about keeping up with the Jones's.
A hint of The Emperor's New Clothes without a little boy to shout the alarm, and an amusing ending.
A good read!
May 16, 2017
So cute, play on words "Nothing is for sale" ....she'll take it! Lol.
August 14, 2018
Great idea! A woman goes into a store and when she asks what is for sale, the storekeeper says "nothing." She has to have it!
January 5, 2018
Susie Gump, the richest woman in town, starts a trend for buying “nothing.” Silly, sure to appeal to kids.
October 3, 2018
A funny look at how nothing can become something. Great picture book for older readers.
August 8, 2019
Very simple and very clever.
August 26, 2019
I like this book because there's nothing in the book... well, not that kind of nothing. Everyone wants nothing, and everyone became a frenzy.
February 20, 2021
This is an awesome and thought provoking book for kids
November 9, 2021
Beware of fads!
January 16, 2022
Humorous commentary on consumerism. Agee entertains the adult reader whilst keeping the little listener engaged. What a fun children's book!
March 10, 2022
A must read
June 28, 2022
A funny story that casts a satirical eye on humans' mania for buying stuff. What if we bought "Nothing" instead?
August 20, 2022
Lol, very fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews