There

by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

When will I get There? How will I know?

A little girl ponders what the future holds, steadfast in her determination to find out for herself. Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's gorgeous landscapes and the briefest of text speak to the power of imagination. Readers of all ages will find reassurance in this simple, beautiful book of ruminations about a lifelong journey toward tomorrow.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 27, 2009

About the author

I am an illustrator and a writer. I create picturebooks for kids and write novels – middle grade and YA. I love to travel but, so far, my books have travelled more than me - they've been translated into many languages, including Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Persian and Finish.

I'm Irish, a Dubliner, born, bred and buttered. I run on coffee and chocolate. My most recent novel, On Midnight Beach, is a YA reimagining of the legend of Cúchulainn, and it has been shortlisted for several awards, including the 2021 Carnegie Medal.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

*sigh* Once again, WHO is this for?

Loverly art, but doesn't connect with my inner child--more like my inner grandma.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked this book out from our local library last week. I loved the cover.

This was a rather strange and frustrating book. It is deliberately ambiguous. At first, I thought that "there" was adulthood, but that didn't fit some of the illustrations. Then, I thought maybe "there" was realizing one's dreams or "arriving", but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense for a children's picture book. My son is not concerned about "there" unless it is an actual destination, not an abstract concept of the future. He is more concerned about "here" and now. Quite frankly, even as an adult, I don't spend a whole lot of time dwelling on the "there"; I try to live in the "here".

This is a beautiful book. The illustrations are wonderful. I just don't really understand them.

[Melissa Dwyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Originally rated A by Amanda Perini
Large, watercolor illustrations make the illustrations easy to see, but not bright. The imagery is eye catching, but only for those willing to sit and look at it, this book will not catch the attention of “fidgety” children for long. The story is very abstract, with the child character wondering about an unspecified place called “There”. It is never clear where or what “There” is, interpretation is left up to the reader. This could make the book suitable for starting a discussion about the meaning of the word “there” and the many meanings of words. However, it could just as easily confuse readers. The words and vocabulary would make this easy for beginning readers to read. Purchase if you have room.

[Kayla Pleasants · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book recommended to read as we discuss goals within our classroom. Usually these books are very straightforward and boring, but There proved to draw me in as a reader and even hit my student's questions as goal-setters. Told through the eyes of a young girl going on a journey, the book takes you through the questions that go through your mind when the road seems long and the destination seems unreachable. The "when will I get there," "how will I get there," and "what will I look like when I get there," are not only allowed in this text, but asked over and over again. It is a great book to show that goals, no matter how large or small, are a journey, and it is ok to question the road to reach them.

[Rll520a_gaylehassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 7-yr. old son calls this "an odd book" and I agree. In this book, a child is pondering getting "There" and what that will be like. It is very ambiguous. Maybe "There" is adulthood, but there is an illustration with adults going "There" which doesn't seem to fit that idea. The illustrations are very nicely done. This book earned Ireland's Bisto Book of the Year award for 2009/2010. It also had an honor from Bisto for the illustrations.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those picture books that has a sophisticated and grown up feel to it. I love how the concept of "growing up" is loose and open-ended. I plan on reading this to my 7th Graders this upcoming fall. I think it will lend itself beautifully to easing the anxiety of transitioning to the middle school.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new favorite picture books. It's beautifully illustrated and I can hardly wait to read this aloud to my class.

"There" means different things here. You will be asking yourself questions as you read. I can imagine the great discussions this book would inspire!

[trijnewijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een pareltje. Zo mooi, zo eenvoudig, zo filosofisch, zo diepgaand. Hoe komt het toch dat zo veel pareltjes het label kinderboek opgeplakt krijgen, alsof de inhoud niet even relevant is op elke andere leeftijd? Ook al zijn de draken voor elke leeftijd anders, net als de antwoorden op de vragen. When will I get There? How will I know? Will there be a sign that says, “Here is There”? Can I change my mind and go Elsewhere instead?

Ik klasseerde het met opzet niet onder kinderboeken, want dit pareltje is er echt eentje voor alle leeftijden.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book and I'm left scratching my head. What's the point? Surely plenty of adults may have pondered the concept of success, or knowing when they've arrived, but kids of an age to enjoy picture books, do not. If the author had defined "There" as a specific place, yes, absolutely kids would get it and relate! But "There" as an abstract idea is just not appealing to little kids. Frankly, even as an adult I had no idea what the author was referring to with the use of the word "There."

Overall, gorgeous pictures, but a pretty disappointing read and I won't be using it in story time.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores the future through the curiosity, surprise, and wonder of a child. We all wonder when we will make it "there." This story gives some through provoking questions for adults and children alike as they continue growing towards their future.

[Hayley Chekal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I choose the book called There, because it can relate to goals that one has for themselves. You may not know the goals that you have. It also makes the child think about the future and they can relate to being unsure about what lies a head like the main character in this story!

[Mandy Robek · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about questioning and wondering but you have to stretch to see goal setting

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child wonders about the future - what will be there? will she be different? does she have to go? - and she decided not today.

[Paige Soughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great lead in to a discussion about growing up

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how opened ended so much of the writing in this book is.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seems like one of those that is only partially for kids, similar to the allegorical tales The Velveteen Rabbit or The Little Prince.

Told almost entirely in question form, a small girl is wondering when she will get there. How will she know? How long will it take? Will she never be silly again? Can she pick daisies? Will there be rainbows? Will she finally know everything - all the secrets? Can she change her mind and go Elsewhere instead?

Finally, much like Scarlett O’Hara, she decides she has lots to do, and she’ll deal with the issue tomorrow.

The author is also the illustrator, using sweeping two-page paintings to show how wide the world is to this little girl, and perhaps how boundless the future possibilities for her.

Evaluation: Adults may understand this book even better than the young audience to whom it is directed. But I think with guidance, children will get the message that they, too, have endless opportunities ahead of them.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked at this book because a list said it was a good idea for goal setting with kids. It took me a while to see that, but in the end, I like how it works for that. Really, what I see is a book that could be used to discuss moving, growing up, setting goals, or any changes in life that a child faces. The child spends most of the book asking questions about "there" because when we are trying something new, or making a change in our lives, we don't know where it will take us or what will be the end result and we all ask many questions and doubt our choices (if we were even the ones to make the choices). Sometimes we question out loud and sometimes we just run the questions around in our heads. We all want to know how things will turn out, but then, where is the fun in the journey?

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another gem of a story picture book. It is filled with all of the little BIG questions that children love to ask ("Will it take long to get there?" "How will I Know?" "When will I get There?") and some not so typical but equally fun questions ("Will there be dragons? Will they be fierce? Do you know how to tame dragons?") and as such is truly a multi-layered story that will appeal to children and grownups alike during story time. Using very few words this book manages to evoke all of those concerns children have about growing up yet the lovely panoramic illustrations act to balance Fitzgerald's very provocatively phrased questions. Truly a must have storybook!

[Andrew Strang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: There
Author/Illustrator: Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
ISBN: 978-1596430877
Date of Publication: April 28, 2009
Review: This was a great story about a little girl trying to find out what her future holds. I think the title "There" refers to when adults tell children, "You'll get THERE." or, "You're just not THERE yet.", and the little girl is just trying to figure out where "There" is, and how she can get there! The illustrations were phenomenal and the colorful backdrops and landscapes complimented the text very well. The text was short and sweet (something I appreciate). This was a great book with a very intriguing plot line.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When will I get there?” The little girl in this story explores the possibility of the future. She questions “There” and what it’s like “There” and in the end decides that she can wait, there is still so much to do now.

Every parent has heard, “Are we there yet?” This story explores the innocent wonder of a child exploring the future. The illustrations are beautiful paintings that evoke the quiet and innocence of the story. The author Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick is also the illustrator of this story. There is different for everybody and generates some fantastic discussions with children and with adults. The ambiguity of “there” is the delight and mystery of this story.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick's, There was not a hit at our house. Unfortunately my daughter became a little frustrated by the story or lack of one for her age, 4. The constant questions of what is There and how long will it take to get There was a little annoying for my daughter. And while this book is very philosophical and parents may love it, it definitely doesn't get a second read at our house.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book leaves you questioning what "there" is, because it is made up of mainly questions. The character is asking "where is there?", "what will I look like?", and "will I know when I am there that this is there?" The questions could be applied to anybody and their situations in life. The uncertainty of the life ahead of us, our future, scares us all but my certainty of life is in the One who knows it all, God. He alone will guide and direct me!

[Erin Weldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

There by Marie-Louise FitzPatrick is an interesting but filled with lots of wonders. This story would bring interesting discussions by students in a classroom. Students will constantly be asking questions or answering the questions. The illustrations in the story help a reader use his or her imagination to dig deeper into the text. This is a great book for students to use their imagination and build on each other's discussions.

[KimBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When will I get There? How will I know? Will there be a sign that says, "Here is There"? Will it take long to get There? Till tomorrow? Next week?"

One of the interesting things about this book is that most of it is told in questions...questions that mainly children might ask about growing up, but while reading it I couldn't help but think that some of them could be questions adults may ask about the afterlife. It is definitely worth a read to make up your own mind. :)

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

An abstract children's book, There is a series of questions. The main character considers where 'there' is and what it is like. The illustrations are clever and amusing, capturing the spirit of what children know and imagine. A thought-provoking read aloud for children, it will encourage children to consider the literal and figurative meanings of 'there.'

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This charmingly illustrated, large format picture book will appeal to young ones, but the abstract qualities of the questions could confuse. It does not provide a fable-llike or metaphorical story to satisfy the youngest listeners, but children beyond concrete stages should be able to use it to explore the philosophical equivalent of "Are we there yet?".

[Ali Mccauley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the message in this book about getting "There." I feel like often we get so caught up in getting there that we forget to enjoy the ride. We simply want to be there and know what it is going to be like, but the really joy is in the journey it takes to get there and all the learning experiences you will have to walk through.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully-illustrated, insightful story that can be, perhaps, far better appreciated by those of us "grown-up" kids who've asked ourselves questions about our destinations... about where our lives are headed and how will we know when we get there.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book. The only text is present in questions. A little girl questions what the future holds, and what she will be like when she gets their. A great book to talk about growing up and the future with children.