Author/Illustrator: Quentin Blake
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, 1995
Ages: 3-8yrs
Themes: wordless stories, toys, home
Summary: (from my library catalog)After being discarded, Clown makes his way through town having a series of adventures as he tries to find a home for himself and his other toy friends.
I like this book because: I too have once been discarded (some friendships just don’t last), and immediately found myself able to empathize with Clown and understand his struggle to feel secure again. I’m glad he didn’t give up either! Yeah, it made me a little weepy, but happy too! I’ve been on a Quentin Blake spree, reading books he has illustrated and/or written, biography materials and interviews too. Whew – it’s been a fun and enlightening ride! He also helped establish the House of Illustration, a home for the art of illustration. Read more on Blake’s exhibit there- HERE, or a visit to the museum by kid-lit author Pippa Goodhart from the Picture Book Den blog – HERE
Resources/activities: this is a great book to read when discussing emotions, understanding them, learning the difference between sympathy and empathy, as well as character traits like perseverance. One could also touch on hygiene and why it would be a good thing to clean toys found in the trash before we use (and love!) them.
For more PPBF selections including resources and activities, go to Susanna Hill’s blog: HERE
Check out the red button in the sidebar – yes, that one. Click it. Now go make your own – HERE
julie rowan-zoch 
Huge QB fan here. I love how recognizable his style is yet still each book’s illustrations are so different. Just the handful os spreads you show us here are so rich with emotion.
Love the Hey Hey button.
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I can’t see the button myself! Oh, well! Have a great weekend not readi g Moby Dick! Hee hee!
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I can’t believe I haven’t seen this one before. So cute. I can’t imagine anyone discarding you sweetie.
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I love your personal link to this book — makes me want to read it. I love the emotion in the pages you share. Sounds like a wonderful discussion book. And, a story that could have many different stories.
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The wonderfulness of picture books resides in the diverse ways in which they get their “message” across. Case in point are all the wordless books out there — those that really make the reader(s) work to find meaning and develop the story. Blake’s book is a beautiful example of how this can succeed. Thanks for posting this and continually wetting my appetite for more and more books!
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Glad you see it that way with wordless PBs too – not the case with many I know. And thanks again for popping in!
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I enjoy researching picture books, both as a hobby and to use in one of my classes. I think they are much more complex and diverse than people think. Keep up the reviews!
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Thanks – no problem for me to keep at it – love sharing great PBs!
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Lovely book. I sure hope Clown returned for his friends. It’s sad seeing them in the trash can. How could that woman?! Seriously. Good for clown. Once again, a book I’ve never heard of and one that is fantastic. Great taste, Julie.
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Do read it to find out, Sue!
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I just go nuts when a reviewer will NOT give away the ending. 🙂
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Ever since a movie reviewer ruined The Sixth Sense foe me, I have avoided movie reviews. But book people are kind, or kinder. So what’s your favorite nut?
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My favorite “nut” just might be you.
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Hahaha! Thanks! I needed that! Been sick all week with no reason to smile.
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Feel better soon. And laugh more!
Do you know why the dragon would not cross the road?
He was a draggin’ (his feet).
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I also had never heard of this picture book, and it sounds so lovely! Its amazing the emotions they can evoke in all ages isn’t it? Thank you for sharing it. Lindsey
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Hope you can find a copy, Lindsey!
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What a great recommendation! We haven’t read this book in ages! I think it is time to fix that! Thank you for the review and Happy Friday!
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Hope you had a great weekend too!
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We have a lot of Quentin Blake from our UK days. If toys in the trash make you weepy, now I understand your aversion to toys in the sewer, lol. Have a great weekend.
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Haha – I did have a great weekend and hope you did too!
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I so love this book because the kids are as much the storytellers as QB. When my son was younger, his take on the story would ALWAYS veer off course in a major way.
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Your comment makes me miss reading to mine, boo hoo!
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Thanks for the recommendation! On hold.
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Library accounts are for out-maxing!
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Poor clown. Yes, I, too, have been discarded at various times in my life. It’s a spitty, pitty feeling.
I love the free-squiggle (how’s that for a professional artist’s term?) quality of these illustrations. Does that make sense? They make me giggle.
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A very good description, Jilanne! It’s energy, right?
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Yes! Energy. Like the squiggling scribble that becomes Shoe Dog. Have you read that book? If you haven’t, it’s very funny.
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Shoe Dog, right?
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Yes! It’s by Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Katherine Tillotson.
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Yes – a good ‘un!
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Can’t wait to ”read” this book. I love the water color illustrations. Makes Clown’s feelings kinda fluid, free, flowing. Therefore changeable, not so permanent. Can’t keep a good Clown down!
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Quentin Blake books are always so different. Love his illustrations.
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His ability to give each book and character a different feel is amazing!
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This sounds like a great pick! I like the style! 😀
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Hi Julie, I love seeing your blogs. This illustrator reminds me a lot of the Sylvester and the magic pebble illustrator (I can’t remember who that is right now!) I hope you are good. Happy Spring, Heather Stenner
Please excuse any spelling errors. Sent from my phone.
Heather Stenner Owner Enthusic Music Company, LLC
Our newest release! http://www.CampfireSongsForModernKids.Com
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Quentin Blake and William Steig do share a great looseness of hand with good energy in their renderings, which is so much harder to achieve than you’d think, Heather.
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