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Neville | November 17, 2011

by Norton Juster illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Random House, Oct. 2011)

I’ve been the new kid a good many times, but I’ve never dealt with it quite so well as does Neville, Norton Juster’s title character in his newest picture book, Neville, illustrated by G. Brian Karas. The story is a simple one: Neville’s just moved to a brand new neighborhood, and he’s scared that he’ll never make friends. He’s shy, you know? But what ensues is pure genius. Though our socially-reticent hero can’t muster up the courage to introduce himself to the other kids, he sells them all on his great best friend, Neville. Equal parts wit and insight (and witty insight) make any Norton Juster book run, and this one’s no exception. G. Brian Karas’ wonderful, whimsical illustrations move Neville from the stark, lonely stairs of his new porch to the rip-roaring, multi-colored, scribbled-all-over-the-page outdoor voices of Neville’s big batch of new friends. Though it’s probably not to be used as a friend-making how-to guide, I hope Neville winds up in the hands of every new kid on the block.

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