Nothing in Common

by Kate Hoefler, Corinna Luyken (Illustrator)

Two neighbors both love to watch the old man and his dog from their windows, but they never wave to each other. After all, they have nothing in common. But everything changes when they are the only ones who notice that one day is different—there is the old man, but where is the dog?

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Dogs, Realistic Fiction, Romance

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2020

About the author

Kate Hoefler received her BA in English and creative writing from Ohio University, and her MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan, where she studied as a Colby Fellow. She is the author of Real Cowboys, Great Big Things, and Rabbit and the Motorbike (with more forthcoming). She makes her home in the rolling hills of Ohio with her two children, a young dog, and an old cat.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book went over my children's heads and quite frankly, didn't engage me at all.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This charming story about two neighbor children, an old man and his beloved dog will touch your heart. Corinna Luyken’s @corinnaluyken (one of my favorite illustrators; have you seen MY HEART???) stunning illustrations gently capture the mood of the story and invite you in to learn about a boy and a girl, who even though they live next door and spend much of their days observing the world around them, know they can’t be friends because they have nothing in common. One day they both realize an old man and his marvelous dog, a charming duo they watch everyday, has disappeared. And then they both hear an old man’s heartbreaking pleas for his dog to come home. And then, they quietly launch a marvelous search for a marvelous dog who can do marvelous things and then they finally realize “the other is marvelous too - even though they’d had nothing in common.”

This is a book you’ll want to read over and over with your little ones because each time you’ll find another starting point for a conversation; about noticing the wonders of the everyday world, about finding friendship with those who are different and about compassion toward others. And finally, please don’t forget those simply beautiful illustrations.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the illustrations and how slowly the two figure out what they have in common. It gives the reader a chance to find all the ways we are connected even when we don't think so initially.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rarity among picture books, in that it "breaks the rules" on many fronts, but succeeds beautifully. It also feels limuted ke a winner in its ability to speak sweetly and strongly to very young audiences while bringing adults to tears.
The two central characters appear to be teen or near-teen age, which is the most significantly rare aspect of a picture book. Add to that an elder with a much loved pet dog, one that is said to be very smart, and the story is ready to launch.
The blend of minimalist figurative language and muted, dark-toned illustrations enhance the story in similar ways. Phrases like "landed on the floor of their hearts", and illustrations whose blurred edges could cloud our attention but instead attract the eye to the smallest, softest, most significant details.
The truth that wraps this story from cover to cover is that reality in which we all live- surface differences and isolation could be masking the fact that we share deeply felt connections to the world, and to others.

[Jackie Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

FABULOUS! more later :) this book! The one I am carrying around with me and showing everyone who might read/listen, is a library book. But! I'll likely be buying multiple copies (preferably not from Amazon) pretty sure our local book stores are carrying it. I'll check ✔ ☺

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two neighbours live next to each other but their lives have never intersected as they have nothing in common… or so they think. This is a sweet and charming tale, but what stood out even more for me are the beautiful illustrations.

[Mary Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship united by an adorable dog? What can be better than that!? Serene illustrations and prose that will leave you with goose pimples. Love it!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully told and illustrated, meditative story about compassion and connection.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet. Almost too sweet.

[Heather R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile, I read a special children’s book. This one is particularly lovely. The plot is not exactly heady stuff but the artwork is so beautiful and wakes the imagination. 5 stars!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, imaginative, and soooooo sweet.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from HMH Books for Young Readers through Edelweiss+.
Two young people watch the same events without acknowledging each other though each feels many of the same things and values the same older man and his dog. It's only when the dog is lost that they work together and realize they just might have more in common than they thought.
Lovely illustrations in soft colors capture the emotions surrounding these characters and their story. Splashes of darkness show the sadness they all feel as well.
Elementary readers will appreciate them searching for the dog and working together to bring it home. A read aloud that can lead to discussion on looking for things others have in common rather than their differences.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was only intending to flip through this book quickly to get an impression of it before it gets checked in to my library, but I ended up going back and reading every page. What a beautiful story! Now this is a good one for bridging divides and accentuating that even people with nothing in common share some commonalities they are not yet aware of. Also lovely that it is about two children who, without being asked, set out to help an elderly man they have never spoken to. Also amazing that they have enjoyed him and his dog from afar, just watching the marvelous things going on around them every day. There is a lot to like in this subdued story. It would be a great one for a thoughtful child, or for before bedtime. Lots to dream about--that dog sure is incredible!

Highly recommended. Would be a great read-aloud in a classroom (K-3) because there are some repetitive bits that remind me of oral stories. Just lovely.

[Abby Johnson]

Two children live across the alley from one another and each watch the same old man and his dog but otherwise have nothing to common. When the old man's dog goes missing, the two children are the only ones that notice and so they come together to start searching for the dog and thus form a new friendship. This beautiful picture book is whimsical and hushed, and it reminded me a lot of Oliver Jeffers's quirky and moving picture books.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was visually interesting; I liked the art style. It did seem more artistic than entertaining and is probably geared more for older children than younger. I did like the message of how helping a neighbor brought two kids together who didn't have much in common. The story is rather nonsensical and and full of whimsy (the lost dog is found in a hot air balloon!) and the text was more lyrical than straightforward. All in all I enjoyed it.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure how this book got my radar, but I Looooooved the author's Real Cowboys book, so I'm glad it landed in my holds locker at the public library. The lyrical repetitive writing is once again lovely, but I'm not sure this is effective. The characters who have "nothing in common," clearly have many things in common, most importantly their interest and concern for an elderly neighbor and his dog. Lovely words and illustrations, but why?

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like lyrical books, but for some reason I wasn't a huge fan of this one. Two neighbors help an older man find his dog...in a bit of a fantastical approach. The point was supposed to be that the two neighbors (kids) had nothing in common so this event brought them together. And while that was true, it wasn't really believable as it kept reiterating "they had nothing in common". Which seemed a bit over the top.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my third reading and my new thoughts about the book:

The author, I 'noticed' put her heart and soul into writing it, so I thought I should reread it and give it a rating. In the back of the book jacket, she states that she loves connections between others and people who notice things.

After rereading I saw that the children are very observant and notice that "The dog could do marvelous things and. And did." Later the children are each identified as "Someone marvelous like that " and later the they "Each thought the other [each other] was marvelous too - even though they'd had nothing in common." I think the book is about being sensitive to and open to one's surroundings and people in it and finding commonalities, and finding respect for oneself and others. Looking for the specialness in others.

I changed my mind about the dog being in a balloon and not seeming believable.

Here is my original review, below:

I have multiple feelings about this book, so I'm not sure what to rate it. Here are my feelings:

What I enjoyed about it:

The illustrations were so evocative of the feelings of the 2 main characters and the mood of the story. The reality of their being isolated from each other and each a universe in themselves was reinforced. They did each have daily observations of the elderly man and his dog though they didn't interact with him and that was also very well expressed. Later, when the children, the man and his dog are together and they have all found a connection, the paintings embrace this idea wholeheartedly, but in a soft quiet way. Overall, the illustrations have a magical, muted, almost otherworldly feel to them, which is actually quite beautiful.

The concept of this book was a welcome topic. The book starts out showing the isolated life of two children who feel sure they have nothing in common so they "wisely" keep to themselves. They both (unknown to each other) have interest and compassion for a man and his dog from afar. Concern for the man's lost dog propels them to help find the dog and discover their commonalities and build a friendship among themselves and with the man and his dog. They is portrayed/expressed very well.

I liked the lyrical and sparse text that was also easy to understand.

What I wasn't as enthused about:

The story appeared to be about middle school aged children or older, but was written as a picture book for younger children. The verbal descriptions seem like they would be hard for a younger child to understand. It also seems that they would not be experiencing these things or not in this way and maybe not be able to relate to it? I haven't read it to a younger child so it would be unfair to say this is absolutely true, but it is my intuition. It could be that very sensitive children could have a similar experience, but that it would have occurred in a different, more childlike way. I do like juvenile and YA fiction as well, but the picture book seems out of place for younger readers. I found this aspect of the book less enjoyable, too. It just seemed out of sync to combine the 2 in this way.

Additionally, when the children found the dog in the air balloon, it seemed too unbelievable. I do love stories with fantastical, magical, humorous things happening, so it isn't that. In the book, Good Morning, Good Night, one of my all time favorite children's books, for example ~ all kinds of impossible things happen, but the way it was written, makes them seem like very natural, "normal" occurrence, even as I know they are outrageously unrealistic. It just felt like they could happen in that book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2.... In this book, however, something about it seemed implausible, though I am not sure why.

Overall, some aspects of the book didn't fully convince or engage me, yet I am glad I read the book. I did like the concepts behind it and it did touch my mind and heart. I will explore any future books the author writes. The illustrator has beautiful work and I would like to see her other books, as well.

[Rebeca Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two neighbors assume that they're not having anything alike or in common. In the beginning, the two watch the love of a dog and an old man. The strangers learn that there are ways to connect with each other and this comes from the way that they try to help out the old man. The girl has long straight hair while the boy has a quiff. They both live in an apartment where they don't communicate at all, so they just wave at each. They both get fascinated by the man and his dog, but this dog did marvelous things. One day, the old man loses his dog and the two strangers try to locate the dogs. Once they both find the dog, they find something in common. The illustrations are more abstract-like and the paint swirls that are seen that create a cheerful environment in the book. From the misty swirls and the "bright colors" used for the surroundings. As a children's story and young readers will understand the value of love and what draws people together.

I liked the book overall from its common theme of unity and community to the two strangers who cared about their neighbor and his son. I would use this book for the use of understanding lyrics and for the first day of school. I see that the colors and lines were used for the nature of knowing that people care of each other.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two neighbors who have nothing in common watch an old man walking his dog every day. When the dog goes missing, the two neighbors who have nothing in common, will separately search for the pet, but it is when they work together, that they'll find they have something in common after all.

The beautiful and simple illustrations by Corrinna Luyken paints with a broad stroke of basic figures and designs, showcasing minute details with a varying array of brushes. The story by Kate Hoefler is perfect for this time period of isolation. It does a great job of both word and wordlessly conveying selflessness, communication and community unity to kids and adults who may glean something from this book too.
I must also commend Corrinna a second time for something I hadn't noticed before about the illustrations: the two youths are both painted in a separate color-scheme. Nice touch!

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm... not sure what to say. Let's try this:

*A poetical attempt at a preachy message. With magic & metaphor. Somewhat successful.*

Well, that's kinda it. But try others' reviews, or just read it yourself. But probably not to littles.

Compare, if you like MG novels, to Weird Little Robots, about young friends who don't realize how much they have in common, and small magical companions.

[charlene.librarian]

I really like the texture the gouache, pencil, and ink make on the page in this sweet book about being different and being the same all at once. When the two main characters are drawn to the little dog and old man, something begins to happen to bring them together. Neither of them had ever seen an old man cry before. This book is a gentle story with mostly quiet text that highlights two who notice things in the world. And sometimes, noticing saves the day.

[Kelly Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This concept was a little lost on my 5 yr old, as the phrase “in common” was a little beyond his reach. After some more discussion and reads, he may grasp it better. The vocabulary was more advanced, but the concept of finding common ground, especially with the current events and views that divide us in mind.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about two children who have nothing in common and the illustrations show they don't interact until something they are both watching changes and they search for the answer to what happened. They solve the problem by working together and appreciate the other for the one-time event working together.

[FM Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story felt a bit all over the place in the way of things that tell but don't show. It felt like it kept being like "THEY HAD NOTHING IN COMMON!!" but I didn't feel like I knew that much about either of the characters. But a cute story nonetheless where kids are problem solving and building a relationship with an elder.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two neighbors have nothing in common except their interest in a little old man and his marvelous dog. One day, when the dog disappears the two neighbors look for the dog. They end up finding the dog and together they reunite the two.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never know what to think of books like this. It feels aimed at adults. It's sweet to the point of being saccharine, and I can completely get behind sweet if it feels genuine. I also really disliked the illustrations. Sooo, this was a miss for me, but I see why people like it.

[Heidi Doyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two kids who live across form each other have nothing in common, or so they think! As they discover they have one thing in common, they discover that they might actually have more than that. This book has a lovely message and is well worth the read.

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this one may take multiple readings although I love the illustrations. I do remember I didn't love Adam Simpcox Has a Horse until I saw how kids reacted to it as a read aloud. Possible this will be the same.

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes me feel all magical, sparkly, and amazing. Breathtaking gouache, pencil and ink illustrations. Feel good story of how a dog and an old man find each other again through two people who have nothing in common.