What do you think?
Rate this book
The Thing at 52
Spark meaningful discussions about loneliness, friendship, community and coping with loss with this enchantingly illustrated story about a girl who befriends a monster.
There’s a Thing on my street.
He lives at number 52.
I see him sitting in his garden when I walk to school.
He was big and lumbering and a wore a tiny top hat perched on top of his rather large head. She didn’t think he had any friends, so she brought him a flower.
It wasn’t long before their friendship bloomed… the Thing was gentle and kind and the adventures they went on were the best she could ever imagine.
The girl soon discovered that there were many Things, living all over the place… which gave her an idea. She invited them all to a party, and the Things danced till midnight. Thing had never felt so happy.
But one day the Thing had to go and their adventures came to an end.
All Things have to go sometime…
In this poignant story, discover how small acts of kindness can grow into great friendships, and how the community you build from those friendships can provide comfort and companionship when you need it most.
Written by one of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, Ross Montgomery, and illustrated by the incredible Richard Johnson, The Thing at 52 offers a comfortable starting point for discussing difficult topics with children. The book’s magic will draw you back again and again.
There’s a Thing on my street.
He lives at number 52.
I see him sitting in his garden when I walk to school.
He was big and lumbering and a wore a tiny top hat perched on top of his rather large head. She didn’t think he had any friends, so she brought him a flower.
It wasn’t long before their friendship bloomed… the Thing was gentle and kind and the adventures they went on were the best she could ever imagine.
The girl soon discovered that there were many Things, living all over the place… which gave her an idea. She invited them all to a party, and the Things danced till midnight. Thing had never felt so happy.
But one day the Thing had to go and their adventures came to an end.
All Things have to go sometime…
In this poignant story, discover how small acts of kindness can grow into great friendships, and how the community you build from those friendships can provide comfort and companionship when you need it most.
Written by one of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, Ross Montgomery, and illustrated by the incredible Richard Johnson, The Thing at 52 offers a comfortable starting point for discussing difficult topics with children. The book’s magic will draw you back again and again.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2023
1 person is currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Ross Montgomery
33 books420 followersRoss Montgomery has worked as a pig farmer, a postman and a primary school teacher, so writing books was the next logical step. He spent his childhood reading everything he could get his hands on, from Jacqueline Wilson to Beano annuals, and it taught him pretty much everything that's worth knowing. If you looked through his pockets you'd find empty crisp packets, lists of things to do, and a bottle of that stuff you put on your nails to stop you biting them. He lives in London with his girlfriend, a cat called Fun Bobby, and a cactus on every available surface.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 16, 2023
It was quite good.
MY THOUGHTS:
📌 Illustration and the colors
I loved the illustration; it was perfect for me. "Flawless," I would like to say. And the colors that used in this book, were very good; they reminded me of the colors that I usually see in Disney or Dreamworks animation.
📌 The Story
I didn't really like the story in this book; I think the author wanted to try to introduce difficult topics to children, such as loneliness, grieving, and how you cope with that. But the author failed to make it suitable for children, and the story ended up being all over the place for me.
📌 If the author is trying to explain those difficult topics, I think it needs to be 10–20 pages longer. So maybe it will be easier to understand it..
MY OWN CONFUSION:
🤔 I didn't know what kind of creature was used to portray "Thing" ('Thing' is a name that is used in the story). Is that a dog or some kind of weird creature? But it seemed like a dog since that thing has a lot of fur.
A QUIZ FOR YOU:
⁉️ So I have a quiz for you, my friends, and people who have read this book. Can you see the cover of this book? That white creature with a lot of fur is our "Thing." Tell me what kind of creature that is.
Share your opinion in the comment section....😆
CREDIT:
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🐥
MY THOUGHTS:
📌 Illustration and the colors
I loved the illustration; it was perfect for me. "Flawless," I would like to say. And the colors that used in this book, were very good; they reminded me of the colors that I usually see in Disney or Dreamworks animation.
📌 The Story
I didn't really like the story in this book; I think the author wanted to try to introduce difficult topics to children, such as loneliness, grieving, and how you cope with that. But the author failed to make it suitable for children, and the story ended up being all over the place for me.
📌 If the author is trying to explain those difficult topics, I think it needs to be 10–20 pages longer. So maybe it will be easier to understand it..
MY OWN CONFUSION:
🤔 I didn't know what kind of creature was used to portray "Thing" ('Thing' is a name that is used in the story). Is that a dog or some kind of weird creature? But it seemed like a dog since that thing has a lot of fur.
A QUIZ FOR YOU:
⁉️ So I have a quiz for you, my friends, and people who have read this book. Can you see the cover of this book? That white creature with a lot of fur is our "Thing." Tell me what kind of creature that is.
Share your opinion in the comment section....😆
CREDIT:
Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🐥
July 2, 2023
In a Nutshell: A beautiful story but too abstract. Will work in niche situations.
Written from the first person point of view of a little girl, the narrator tells us of a “Thing” who lives on her street in house no. 52. He seems lonely, so she takes permission from her mother to befriend him. The Thing and the girl quickly bond, and spend a lot of time together doing relaxing activities. But as the Thing reminds his little friend, all Things have to go some time. And when the sad day comes, the little girl obviously grieves the loss of her friend, but knows that it is but the way things are and life moves on.
As an adult, I can see how the story can be correlated to many themes such as the loss of a loved one or grief over someone’s moving. However, the logical side of me (which, ideally, shouldn’t have been active while reading something so surreal) has many questions. I don’t do very well with metaphorical reads, and this book is proof of my ineptitude to gauge what it is actually attempting.
In terms of physical characteristics, the Thing appears to be a weird amalgamation of several creatures, and seems closely related to a Yeti. But in terms of the metaphorical meaning, it could have been an old relative or a kindly but lonely neighbour or just a random lonely stranger. Honestly though, every meaning I applied went for a toss when I saw one page had Mom making Thing have a bath in a clawfoot bathtub while the girl sits next to them, writing party invites. It was a bit creepy!
But this does not tie up all the segments of the story. Why was the Thing loving alone despite there being so many other Things in the vicinity? Then again, who were all the other Things? Why did each of them appear so different from each other? Also, why did the girl not have any human friends? Why did Thing not have a proper name? (Actually, I just hated the use of the word “Thing” to depict a living creature. It felt somewhat demeaning.)
One thing I truly loved about the book was how the girl sought permission from her mother before befriending the Thing. The Thing could have any creepy old guy, so it was nice of the book to emphasise to its little readers how parents need to be kept in the loop before they go approaching random lonely strangers with offers of friendship. The mom plays an active albeit silent role in the story.
I also like the themes of loneliness, friendship, loss and moving on. But most of these were too abstract. Moreover, the ending feels quite rushed as the girl’s coping process after Thing goes away isn’t described at all.
The illustrations are the star of the book, with them having a Pixar-movie kind of appearance.
If you are looking for something obvious and clear on the page, this book won’t work that well. But I guess every book has the right reader, and I hope this one will find its target set too, preferably someone who is more comfortable with figurative content. The book is aimed at readers aged 4-7 years, but I don’t think this book will work for independent reading.
3 stars.
My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Thing at 52”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Written from the first person point of view of a little girl, the narrator tells us of a “Thing” who lives on her street in house no. 52. He seems lonely, so she takes permission from her mother to befriend him. The Thing and the girl quickly bond, and spend a lot of time together doing relaxing activities. But as the Thing reminds his little friend, all Things have to go some time. And when the sad day comes, the little girl obviously grieves the loss of her friend, but knows that it is but the way things are and life moves on.
As an adult, I can see how the story can be correlated to many themes such as the loss of a loved one or grief over someone’s moving. However, the logical side of me (which, ideally, shouldn’t have been active while reading something so surreal) has many questions. I don’t do very well with metaphorical reads, and this book is proof of my ineptitude to gauge what it is actually attempting.
In terms of physical characteristics, the Thing appears to be a weird amalgamation of several creatures, and seems closely related to a Yeti. But in terms of the metaphorical meaning, it could have been an old relative or a kindly but lonely neighbour or just a random lonely stranger. Honestly though, every meaning I applied went for a toss when I saw one page had Mom making Thing have a bath in a clawfoot bathtub while the girl sits next to them, writing party invites. It was a bit creepy!
But this does not tie up all the segments of the story. Why was the Thing loving alone despite there being so many other Things in the vicinity? Then again, who were all the other Things? Why did each of them appear so different from each other? Also, why did the girl not have any human friends? Why did Thing not have a proper name? (Actually, I just hated the use of the word “Thing” to depict a living creature. It felt somewhat demeaning.)
One thing I truly loved about the book was how the girl sought permission from her mother before befriending the Thing. The Thing could have any creepy old guy, so it was nice of the book to emphasise to its little readers how parents need to be kept in the loop before they go approaching random lonely strangers with offers of friendship. The mom plays an active albeit silent role in the story.
I also like the themes of loneliness, friendship, loss and moving on. But most of these were too abstract. Moreover, the ending feels quite rushed as the girl’s coping process after Thing goes away isn’t described at all.
The illustrations are the star of the book, with them having a Pixar-movie kind of appearance.
If you are looking for something obvious and clear on the page, this book won’t work that well. But I guess every book has the right reader, and I hope this one will find its target set too, preferably someone who is more comfortable with figurative content. The book is aimed at readers aged 4-7 years, but I don’t think this book will work for independent reading.
3 stars.
My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Thing at 52”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
July 20, 2023
5★
“There’s a Thing on my street. He lives at number 52.”
The narrator is a young child, maybe ten or twelve, who walks to school every day past the Thing’s house. In the first picture we can see a big, soft, grey shape in a garden, and on the crosswalk at the very edge of the page is the child and the mother.
“I see him sitting in his front yard when I walk to school.”
The child is worried. The thing seems to be all alone at home and when out shopping.
“I don’t think he has any friends.”
And that’s where a lot of us would leave it, right? We’d say what a pity, and go about our lives. Not this youngster. They ask ‘Mom’ if they could buy the Thing a flower. It was a hit!
“ ‘Come inside,’ he said. ‘I was just about to have a cup of gravy.’”
In the picture, we can just see mom outside the gate, letting the child and the Thing get acquainted, but keeping an eye on the interaction. Not only a cup of gravy is on the menu, but the Thing has a fridge full of jars of mustard!
“ ‘Don’t you get lonely living by yourself?’ I asked him.
‘All things are lonely sometimes,’ said the Thing.”
Children don’t like lonely, so this kid starts to visit, sit outside, go on the train, take excursions with the Thing. Mom doesn’t seem to be along on these outings. One day, as they’re sitting out in the open somewhere, they look up.
High in the sky, another Thing is floating!
“ ‘Where is it going?’” I asked.
‘Who knows?’ said the Thing.
‘But all Things have to go sometime.’”
The child asks if there are more Things in the world. Of course. Hundreds! That sparks an idea, so the child writes out invitations, Mom makes the Thing have a bath, and the party is on! All the Things have tiny hats, and Mom is rocking out in the top left corner, too.
“The Things danced till midnight and drank all the gravy.”
It was a great success. They wander outside to sit under the stars and the Thing says thank you for the party. The child wants to plan one for next year, okay?
“But the Thing didn’t say anything.
Suddenly he looked very old.
And then I realized what was happening.
‘No,’ I said.
‘All things have to go sometime,’ said the Thing sadly.”
“The Thing hugged me. The wind blew through the trees, and he was gone.”
That is the Thing’s tiny hat sitting near the feet of the child. Unbelievably sad.
Life goes on. Mom and the child clean up the Thing’s house and reminisce about the fun and adventures they had. Then a young family with a baby move in. The Thing would have liked that, thinks the child.
In the last picture, we see the child happily playing board games with more Things, everyone enjoying afternoon drinks that Mom is bringing.
I’ve included so many pictures to show how universal this story can be. The advertising blurbs speak of a little girl and a monster. I don’t think the child is necessarily a little girl. In one illustration, the corner of the backpack looks pink, but that’s it.
We don’t really know anything about the child – the age, gender, ethnicity, or culture. We assume it’s North America because the mother is Mom. Mom is in overalls and a tee-shirt, looking more modern than agricultural, but we can’t really tell her ethnicity either.
Whether or not this was intentional, I think this makes this story accessible for many families and children. The faces and hair could be from different backgrounds, and with people from all over the world moving to countries that are foreign to them, I think this a wonderful way to make sure that many young readers could see themselves in this story.
The topics are serious ones – “others”, difference, inclusion, empathy, loss, grief – it covers a lot of territory, and it deserves to capture the attention of the public. I hope it does.
The illustrations are magnificent. Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review.
The right Richard Johnson, illustrator, (also an author) on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
illustrator Richard Johnson's website
“There’s a Thing on my street. He lives at number 52.”
The narrator is a young child, maybe ten or twelve, who walks to school every day past the Thing’s house. In the first picture we can see a big, soft, grey shape in a garden, and on the crosswalk at the very edge of the page is the child and the mother.
“I see him sitting in his front yard when I walk to school.”
The child is worried. The thing seems to be all alone at home and when out shopping.
“I don’t think he has any friends.”
And that’s where a lot of us would leave it, right? We’d say what a pity, and go about our lives. Not this youngster. They ask ‘Mom’ if they could buy the Thing a flower. It was a hit!
“ ‘Come inside,’ he said. ‘I was just about to have a cup of gravy.’”
In the picture, we can just see mom outside the gate, letting the child and the Thing get acquainted, but keeping an eye on the interaction. Not only a cup of gravy is on the menu, but the Thing has a fridge full of jars of mustard!
“ ‘Don’t you get lonely living by yourself?’ I asked him.
‘All things are lonely sometimes,’ said the Thing.”
Children don’t like lonely, so this kid starts to visit, sit outside, go on the train, take excursions with the Thing. Mom doesn’t seem to be along on these outings. One day, as they’re sitting out in the open somewhere, they look up.
High in the sky, another Thing is floating!
“ ‘Where is it going?’” I asked.
‘Who knows?’ said the Thing.
‘But all Things have to go sometime.’”
The child asks if there are more Things in the world. Of course. Hundreds! That sparks an idea, so the child writes out invitations, Mom makes the Thing have a bath, and the party is on! All the Things have tiny hats, and Mom is rocking out in the top left corner, too.
“The Things danced till midnight and drank all the gravy.”
It was a great success. They wander outside to sit under the stars and the Thing says thank you for the party. The child wants to plan one for next year, okay?
“But the Thing didn’t say anything.
Suddenly he looked very old.
And then I realized what was happening.
‘No,’ I said.
‘All things have to go sometime,’ said the Thing sadly.”
“The Thing hugged me. The wind blew through the trees, and he was gone.”
That is the Thing’s tiny hat sitting near the feet of the child. Unbelievably sad.
Life goes on. Mom and the child clean up the Thing’s house and reminisce about the fun and adventures they had. Then a young family with a baby move in. The Thing would have liked that, thinks the child.
In the last picture, we see the child happily playing board games with more Things, everyone enjoying afternoon drinks that Mom is bringing.
I’ve included so many pictures to show how universal this story can be. The advertising blurbs speak of a little girl and a monster. I don’t think the child is necessarily a little girl. In one illustration, the corner of the backpack looks pink, but that’s it.
We don’t really know anything about the child – the age, gender, ethnicity, or culture. We assume it’s North America because the mother is Mom. Mom is in overalls and a tee-shirt, looking more modern than agricultural, but we can’t really tell her ethnicity either.
Whether or not this was intentional, I think this makes this story accessible for many families and children. The faces and hair could be from different backgrounds, and with people from all over the world moving to countries that are foreign to them, I think this a wonderful way to make sure that many young readers could see themselves in this story.
The topics are serious ones – “others”, difference, inclusion, empathy, loss, grief – it covers a lot of territory, and it deserves to capture the attention of the public. I hope it does.
The illustrations are magnificent. Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review.
The right Richard Johnson, illustrator, (also an author) on Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
illustrator Richard Johnson's website
October 9, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Thing at 52 is an adorable picture book for children with a very important message told in such a simple but effective way. The little girl in the story becomes friends with the thing at 52 after walking past its home every day and seeing it always alone. The girl throws the Thing a party, but after the party, the Thing grows old and blows away in the wind, teaching the girl that all things have to go/come to an end one day. This book teaches about life, friendship, compassion, kindness, and empathy, and I loved every second of it. It even brought a tear to my eye!
The Thing at 52 is an adorable picture book for children with a very important message told in such a simple but effective way. The little girl in the story becomes friends with the thing at 52 after walking past its home every day and seeing it always alone. The girl throws the Thing a party, but after the party, the Thing grows old and blows away in the wind, teaching the girl that all things have to go/come to an end one day. This book teaches about life, friendship, compassion, kindness, and empathy, and I loved every second of it. It even brought a tear to my eye!
April 13, 2024
There's a thing living at nr 52. It's large and woolly, which sounds like my cat, but it isn't a cat. A little girl living on the same street is scared of the thing, but then her mother gently pushes her to approach the thing, and a lovely friendship develops. But then the time comes for the thing to leave, something the girl has to accept and deal with.
Quite a complicated little book, without actually being complicated.
(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)
May 12, 2023
Oh, it is heartwarming! It addresses loneliness, companionship, grief, and moving on. Also, it includes gorgeous illustrations that will put you in comfort. Though I enjoyed it, I think the story could be a little bit deeper.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC.
May 20, 2023
A girl befriends a lonely monster that lives in her neighborhood. Her and the monster go on adventures. She introduces the monster to other monsters. The monster grows old and has to go away. The story deals with friendship, differences, acceptance, loneliness and change. The illustrations were beautiful.
May 10, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for an Arc of this!
“All things are lonely sometimes”
I moved a lot as a child so this one really hit home for me. I see this as a book where you either relate to the narrator, or you relate to the Thing she befriended. Sometimes you are the one that leaves, sometimes you are the one being left. And loneliness can grow from either situation.
This story puts a positive spin on this, while still acknowledging the emotional difficulties of being alone. I really enjoyed how this story portrayed how friendship does not bow to appearances, but the bonds created amongst people over gestures of kindness and attempts to spread love and joy
“All things are lonely sometimes”
I moved a lot as a child so this one really hit home for me. I see this as a book where you either relate to the narrator, or you relate to the Thing she befriended. Sometimes you are the one that leaves, sometimes you are the one being left. And loneliness can grow from either situation.
This story puts a positive spin on this, while still acknowledging the emotional difficulties of being alone. I really enjoyed how this story portrayed how friendship does not bow to appearances, but the bonds created amongst people over gestures of kindness and attempts to spread love and joy
December 6, 2023
It is a story of a girl who befriended a monster named Thing. This Thing live`d at house number 52. She watched him daily with tiny hat on his head sitting on his terrace roof.
One day when she watched him sitting in his front yard, she thought of bringing him a flower considering he has no friends as he always looked alone. It wasn't long when they became very good friends and started meeting often. She found him very kind and humble even though considering his big giant size.
One day she invited him to her home party and Thing danced all night and enjoyed with her. But one day he had to leave as all things have to, sadly.
This is a nice story on friendship & the hesitation we usually have in befriending people we find different from us in looks and appearances. Illustrations were too good to take us on adventure of their innocent friendship.
My NetGalley review
One day when she watched him sitting in his front yard, she thought of bringing him a flower considering he has no friends as he always looked alone. It wasn't long when they became very good friends and started meeting often. She found him very kind and humble even though considering his big giant size.
One day she invited him to her home party and Thing danced all night and enjoyed with her. But one day he had to leave as all things have to, sadly.
This is a nice story on friendship & the hesitation we usually have in befriending people we find different from us in looks and appearances. Illustrations were too good to take us on adventure of their innocent friendship.
My NetGalley review
June 23, 2023
The Thing at 52
"Don't you get lonely living by yourself?" I asked him. "All things are lonely sometimes," said the Thing.
11 of 36
Although this book is only 40 pages long, it leaves a punch I did not expect.
Highly recommend it if you are dealing with grief or need to explain to your children where our loved ones have gone once they've passed away and if you are trying to move on... it deals with this topic very delicately, and it will make you cry once you realise what the story is all about.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the free book copy.
"Don't you get lonely living by yourself?" I asked him. "All things are lonely sometimes," said the Thing.
11 of 36
Although this book is only 40 pages long, it leaves a punch I did not expect.
Highly recommend it if you are dealing with grief or need to explain to your children where our loved ones have gone once they've passed away and if you are trying to move on... it deals with this topic very delicately, and it will make you cry once you realise what the story is all about.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the free book copy.
July 13, 2023
Gorgeous illustrations are paired with an affecting story of a lonely creature and a girl who befriends him.
The colours and mood are soft as we see the friendship develop between the two beings. Then, the Thing leaves, and though there is sadness because one friend was gone, the ending is hopeful because the girl had made many more friends through reaching out to the lonely neighbour.
I love the theme of friendship, and how integral the girl's mother was in helping the girl forge the first friendship.
I felt a little like there were one or two panels missing in the story, showing how the girl coped with the loss of her friend the Thing, and how her life later opened up to include many more friends. Other than that, it's a sweet little story about making connections and change.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Quarto Publishing - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The colours and mood are soft as we see the friendship develop between the two beings. Then, the Thing leaves, and though there is sadness because one friend was gone, the ending is hopeful because the girl had made many more friends through reaching out to the lonely neighbour.
I love the theme of friendship, and how integral the girl's mother was in helping the girl forge the first friendship.
I felt a little like there were one or two panels missing in the story, showing how the girl coped with the loss of her friend the Thing, and how her life later opened up to include many more friends. Other than that, it's a sweet little story about making connections and change.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Quarto Publishing - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 19, 2023
Richard Johnson’s illustrations are gorgeous, with a dreamy quality that supports the imaginative, yet metaphorical, quality of the story. A little girl befriends a monster, invites others to come for a party and then sadly says goodbye to her friend and welcomes new residents to his homes. Straight-forward story that can be left at that OR, if guided, can be used to help children talk about loneliness, loss, grief and recovery, but it is unlikely that this book will be purchased for that purpose in libraries. The beautiful illustrations and imaginative girl-monster relationship will encourage K-3rd grade readers to turn the pages and think how much fun it would be to have a monster for a friend and maybe even pretend to have one and that is enough reason for libraries with healthy budgets to add this book to their collections.
Thanks for the finished copy, Amazon Vine program.
Thanks for the finished copy, Amazon Vine program.
May 24, 2023
The art illustrations is lovely in this children’s picture book. It is a gentle story about making a new friend and loss. You can relate it to making friends, acts of kindness and the sadness when someone leaves or moves away. It could even be used to gently discuss death (not mentioned) or other changes in life. Reading this I thought about this being the last week of school and children I’ve known since kindergarten are moving on to middle school and I may never see them again. Short and easy to read. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Book for the temporary ARC. I am leaving a voluntary review.
April 11, 2024
"None. No stars."
"Why?!"
"'Cause it was too sad!"
Mum had to surreptitiously wipe away tears. We quickly read We Planted a Pumpkin.
But we are pretty subdued, still.
(Very sweet, very sad)
"Why?!"
"'Cause it was too sad!"
Mum had to surreptitiously wipe away tears. We quickly read We Planted a Pumpkin.
But we are pretty subdued, still.
(Very sweet, very sad)
January 9, 2024
A story about loneliness, friendship, and loss.
June 15, 2023
After finishing this one, a peek through the window will carry the wish to discover a Thing living next door.
A little girl sees the 'Thing' living next door every day on her way to school. It's always alone and seems lonely. So, she decides to bring it a flower. Soon, a friendship forms, and the two have wonderful times together.
I picked this one up simply because of the cover. The Thing and girl together on the roof promises tons of warmth and adventure...and after reading the blurb, I hoped it wouldn't head into too much melancholy. Luckily, these pages held a story better than I even expected.
Thing is large and fuzzy and clumsy and oh-so-friendly. There's no sense of fear as the girl and it become wonderful friends. Instead, it reminds of an older, lonely, and very friendly neighbor next door, who simply isn't able to make contacts on their own. The small adventures the two have remain in reality but are kept entertaining and whimsical enough to keep young readers/listeners invested in the tale. There is a more serious message about dealing with loss, but it is not nearly as heavy as many books with similar intentions. It does offer food for thought but in the most lovely way (quite clever) and ends with a lightness and the same fun a monster book should have.
The illustrations bring across each scene wonderfully. It's hard not to wish that Thing could step right out of the pages and plop down at the listener's side. Warmth, fun, and friendship radiate from each moment and do invite to flipping through after the story's been read.
This tale is appropriate not only for story times in groups but also for bedtime reads. The author and illustrator have understood their audience, and not only given warmth and thought, but let children's fantasies fly. I received a DRC and enjoyed this one quite a bit.
A little girl sees the 'Thing' living next door every day on her way to school. It's always alone and seems lonely. So, she decides to bring it a flower. Soon, a friendship forms, and the two have wonderful times together.
I picked this one up simply because of the cover. The Thing and girl together on the roof promises tons of warmth and adventure...and after reading the blurb, I hoped it wouldn't head into too much melancholy. Luckily, these pages held a story better than I even expected.
Thing is large and fuzzy and clumsy and oh-so-friendly. There's no sense of fear as the girl and it become wonderful friends. Instead, it reminds of an older, lonely, and very friendly neighbor next door, who simply isn't able to make contacts on their own. The small adventures the two have remain in reality but are kept entertaining and whimsical enough to keep young readers/listeners invested in the tale. There is a more serious message about dealing with loss, but it is not nearly as heavy as many books with similar intentions. It does offer food for thought but in the most lovely way (quite clever) and ends with a lightness and the same fun a monster book should have.
The illustrations bring across each scene wonderfully. It's hard not to wish that Thing could step right out of the pages and plop down at the listener's side. Warmth, fun, and friendship radiate from each moment and do invite to flipping through after the story's been read.
This tale is appropriate not only for story times in groups but also for bedtime reads. The author and illustrator have understood their audience, and not only given warmth and thought, but let children's fantasies fly. I received a DRC and enjoyed this one quite a bit.
May 26, 2023
Thank you so much to Quarto Publishing/ Frances Lincoln and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
A little girl sees a Thing all alone and she and her mother decide to befriend him, becoming incredibly close and learning so much. She didn’t want him to be lonely anymore and the two end up the best adventures together.
This was cute, I liked it, it was illustrated really beautifully and told a sweet story of kindness and friendship. I liked that she wanted him to not feel alone anymore and even found him more friends.
It was sad what happened but also it felt very brief and didn’t really explain or deal with it very much. He goes away and she is left with the loss of him and how she learn to over come that loss. It really felt like it was rushed at the end and didn’t stop to explain how she actually over came it much. Unfortunately it felt more like, he’s gone, that’s sad, I miss him and now we have new neighbours. Sadly that was how it felt, this beautiful story but then a big element rushed into a tiny space, it did let me down at the end.
I think children would have fun trying to figure out which animals have been used to inspire the image of The Thing, he was funny looking and very unique, you could clearly see multiple animals within his design and I think young children would find themselves enjoying looking at him.
This was a cute book on friendship, on kindness and on lonliness. It was written very sweetly and was nice to read. It came with really sweet illustrations and think is a book that younger children would enjoy.
A little girl sees a Thing all alone and she and her mother decide to befriend him, becoming incredibly close and learning so much. She didn’t want him to be lonely anymore and the two end up the best adventures together.
This was cute, I liked it, it was illustrated really beautifully and told a sweet story of kindness and friendship. I liked that she wanted him to not feel alone anymore and even found him more friends.
It was sad what happened but also it felt very brief and didn’t really explain or deal with it very much. He goes away and she is left with the loss of him and how she learn to over come that loss. It really felt like it was rushed at the end and didn’t stop to explain how she actually over came it much. Unfortunately it felt more like, he’s gone, that’s sad, I miss him and now we have new neighbours. Sadly that was how it felt, this beautiful story but then a big element rushed into a tiny space, it did let me down at the end.
I think children would have fun trying to figure out which animals have been used to inspire the image of The Thing, he was funny looking and very unique, you could clearly see multiple animals within his design and I think young children would find themselves enjoying looking at him.
This was a cute book on friendship, on kindness and on lonliness. It was written very sweetly and was nice to read. It came with really sweet illustrations and think is a book that younger children would enjoy.
May 18, 2023
Knocking a host of books about grief and post-death comfort to one side, this perfectly done book doesn't pin the mortality on any one person – grandparent, sibling, mother – or dog, for example, but has the full cycle of a friendship with a 'thing'. Our heroine sees a lonely seeming 'thing' in the neighbourhood, and befriends it when she finds his diet and life seem to be on the poor side. But once a great friendship is made, and with other 'things' besides, the worst comes to pass. I can still see a place on school shelves for books dealing with the loss of each and every specific I mentioned above, but the general feeling of bereavement has never been done to my knowledge with such a broad approach – and surely never, ever with artwork of this quality. This is exactly the epitome of a five star read, a real encrypt-on-gold-disc-and-attach-to-a-probe-to-the-stars creation. The phrase 'a must buy' just doesn't do it.
June 11, 2023
As someone whose job was reading picture books, it is something that I haven't shaken and now and again they are exciting and fun to read. It also shows people that picture books do teach children life skills. The Thing at 52 by Ross Montgomery introduces us to a little girl who is constantly walking past the house at Number 52 and notices a lonely monster. She decides to befriend the monster and soon the lonely monster is no longer by himself as he makes a good group of friends including a group of other monsters. Books like this show it only takes one person to help someone be less lonely and often that one person can help others make the step they need as they might have been nervous as well and hanging back. The other thing that I loved about this book was that Richard Johnson's illustrations are some of the most beautiful I have seen in a long time in a picture book. The Thing at 52 by Ross Montgomery and Richard Johnson is suitable for children aged 4-10 years old.
June 17, 2023
When a young girl notices a Thing lives on her street, her interests are piqued. Alongside her mother, she visits the creature and learns of its unique lifestyle and isolation. Noting its need for friendship, she takes it upon herself to rally a community for the Thing, but as the evening winds down a heart-breaking reality disrupts her world. When she is left to experience the same loneliness the Thing had dealt with, she is faced with a choice to shield herself from loss or share in the comfort and knowledge of others.
Featuring Richard Johnson’s stunning illustrations, The Thing at 52 is a tale of loneliness, acceptance, loss, and community. While Ross Montgomery’s plot is imaginative and magical for any empathetic child, it is especially poignant for those who have befriended elders in their community and anyone who has lost of a friend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Featuring Richard Johnson’s stunning illustrations, The Thing at 52 is a tale of loneliness, acceptance, loss, and community. While Ross Montgomery’s plot is imaginative and magical for any empathetic child, it is especially poignant for those who have befriended elders in their community and anyone who has lost of a friend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2023
I was expecting from the artwork this was going to be a more solemn story but I wasn’t expecting to cry reading this as an adult. It is a fun and whimsical story while in other places poignant and touching. The artwork is absolutely stunning and unique. Well done! The hardcover is large in dimension and nothing feels cramped or rushed. Like any good book it left me wanting more!
While every child is different when it comes to life experiences and maturity, in general I would recommended this for ages 5+. It is my belief kids 4 and under might struggle to grasp some of the concepts of grief and loss. Unless, for instance, they lost a pet or loved one etc, this might be a useful tool to help with coping, grief, etc. I think, in general, it’s a kind, gentle, and more “lighthearted” way to introduce kids to the concepts of loneliness and loss.
While every child is different when it comes to life experiences and maturity, in general I would recommended this for ages 5+. It is my belief kids 4 and under might struggle to grasp some of the concepts of grief and loss. Unless, for instance, they lost a pet or loved one etc, this might be a useful tool to help with coping, grief, etc. I think, in general, it’s a kind, gentle, and more “lighthearted” way to introduce kids to the concepts of loneliness and loss.
May 16, 2023
My review will be live on my blog - donnasbookblog on 18th July 2023 - publication day!
I thought that this was a beautiful book with some truly perfect illustrations that really bought the story to life, they were some of the best I have seen in a children’s book for a long time and they really worked with the story to be soft and gentle
The story was easy to read and understand, I read it with my 5 year old daughter, or rather she read the book to me, and we really enjoyed it
She understood why there was sadness but really liked the ending and the way the book had progressed. It would be a great book to use to discuss loss and changes
It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!
I thought that this was a beautiful book with some truly perfect illustrations that really bought the story to life, they were some of the best I have seen in a children’s book for a long time and they really worked with the story to be soft and gentle
The story was easy to read and understand, I read it with my 5 year old daughter, or rather she read the book to me, and we really enjoyed it
She understood why there was sadness but really liked the ending and the way the book had progressed. It would be a great book to use to discuss loss and changes
It is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!
May 23, 2023
To be a kid is to be very observant. Their heart is always in the right place to make things right. In this story the child catches a glimpse of loneliness and is certain of what they must to help.
As you spend time with someone, you have the power to lift up their spirits, and renew their hope. That’s quite a feat!
I was drawn to pick up this book because of the cover— two figures sitting on top of a rooftop and viewing an evening that is making way for that blue that lingers after a beautiful sunset. It’s dreamy and appropriate for a reading experience near nighttime or in my case 2:22am lol
It also seems to touch at loss and grief at the end in a way that can help a child understand it as more than just sadness and a farewell…
As you spend time with someone, you have the power to lift up their spirits, and renew their hope. That’s quite a feat!
I was drawn to pick up this book because of the cover— two figures sitting on top of a rooftop and viewing an evening that is making way for that blue that lingers after a beautiful sunset. It’s dreamy and appropriate for a reading experience near nighttime or in my case 2:22am lol
It also seems to touch at loss and grief at the end in a way that can help a child understand it as more than just sadness and a farewell…
May 23, 2023
This is a pleasant children’s book that addresses loneliness and friendship. It’s about a young girl who befriends a “Thing” who lives in a house on her street.
I thought that the concept was charming and cute but it felt like something was missing. I think the meaning at the end could have been extended a bit to fully capture the lesson that the little girl experiences. Maybe a few extra pages where the girl starts to understand loneliness and how we can help others just by being friends. Those things are present but I would have liked a little more.
Other than that, the book was lovely. The art is very pretty and I especially liked the character design for the “Thing” - adorable!
All in all a nice read!
I thought that the concept was charming and cute but it felt like something was missing. I think the meaning at the end could have been extended a bit to fully capture the lesson that the little girl experiences. Maybe a few extra pages where the girl starts to understand loneliness and how we can help others just by being friends. Those things are present but I would have liked a little more.
Other than that, the book was lovely. The art is very pretty and I especially liked the character design for the “Thing” - adorable!
All in all a nice read!
July 27, 2025
A girl observes a monster living alone in her neighborhood and decides to befriend him. This friendship transforms both of their lives. They listen to music together and he helps her with math homework. They go on trips to far-flung locations. The girl and her mother help the monster spruce up and send invites for a monster party, so he meets others of his kind. He’s never been so happy in his life. But then the girl notices that he looks old and tired, and this means soon he’ll no longer be part of her life. This is a poignant story about loneliness, friendship, and loss. The ending pulled at my heart and I felt the girl’s grief, as well as a spark of joy when a lovely family moves into the monster’s house. The dreamy illustrations are gorgeous and truly add to this amazing story.
May 11, 2023
This picture book has cute illustrations, and it tells a story about a girl who befriends the lonely Thing next door, has adventures with the Thing, and must then say goodbye. The story will resonate with people who have moved a lot or are coping with loss, but I found this too vague and abstract for my tastes. The story seems to go in too many different directions all at once, trying to pack in as many metaphorical takeaway messages as possible. Adults will have the life experience to impose meaning on everything that happens, but young children are likely to find the story confusing and abrupt.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a temporary digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 21, 2023A girl reaches out to a large, lonely monster with a simple act of kindness—a flower. As their bond strengthens, they create memories filled with joy. The girl introduces the monster to other creatures in the neighbourhood. However, as time passes, the monster grows old and eventually has to leave. The community, created by the girl, provides comfort during this loss.
In The Thing at 52, friendship, community, loneliness, and coping with loss are woven together, showing how kindness and acceptance can bridge differences, build connections, and provide comfort during times of change.
In The Thing at 52, friendship, community, loneliness, and coping with loss are woven together, showing how kindness and acceptance can bridge differences, build connections, and provide comfort during times of change.
May 22, 2023
A compassionate daughter-mother duo befriend the Thing that lives at No. 52 on their street, and their adventures will delight readers of every age. This picture book will open doors to conversations about making and being a friend and about appreciating people — and Things — despite their differences.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books.
May 25, 2023
A young girl notices her odd neighbor, who is a Thing. The Thing is lonely so the young girl befriends him. She embraces his lifestyle and odd habits of drinking gravy and eating mustard. She notices how sad he can be, so she invites other Things over to have a party for him. But little do we know that it turns out to be a going away party, as the Thing soon leaves after.
“All Things have to go sometimes.”
This book is touching and heartbreaking. I think this could spark dialogues like “what things do you think come and go?” Like people, and moods.
I loved the artwork!
4/5 stars
“All Things have to go sometimes.”
This book is touching and heartbreaking. I think this could spark dialogues like “what things do you think come and go?” Like people, and moods.
I loved the artwork!
4/5 stars
May 26, 2023
Major indicator that this is a great story: The moment it ended my kiddos (5 & 7) immediately asked if we could read it again. This is a beautiful story about kindness, community, and friendship. We enjoyed watching their friendship blossom and grow. The illustrations were so well done. The story was well written. We just really liked this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & Quarto Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley & Quarto Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews