PPBF: Little Boy Brown

Author: Isobel Harris
Illustrator: André François
Publisher: Enchanted Lion, 2013; originally by J.B. Lippencott, 1949
Age: 3 – 6 yrs
Themes: families, city life/country life
Opening: My mother is Mrs. Brown and my father is Mr. Brown – that’s why I’m little boy Brown. I’m four and a half years old.
Summary: (from my library catalogue) Little boy Brown is a lonely city kid, though he doesn’t really know he’s lonely, who spends the best day ever with his nanny and her family in the country”– Provided by publisher.

I like this book because: though it does not follow a contemporary schema, little boy Brown walked straight into my heart – and has taken up permanent residency! And I don’t often come across picture books told so believably in first person. The illustrations were a surprise; I would have guessed the style to have been from the 60’s. This is an excellent example of how a mood can be translated in a lively manner with just one extra color too.

Resources/activities: This could lead to great discussions on living arrangements – apartment, hotel, or house, but also traditional cultures and other forms of housing around the world. Students could design and build model housing out of recycled materials too.

For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.