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By Frances Tosdevin (author) , Ali Pye (illustrator)
"This captivating cautionary tale showcases the magic of valuing what you have — and the magic of friendship — through revealing the consequences of avarice."
Paperback Temporarily Out Of Stock £7.99 £7.19
Hardback In Stock £12.99 £11.69
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One of the beautiful things about Frances Tosdevin’s The Really Beautiful Thing is the empathetic, age-appropriate manner in which it imparts its anti-consumerist, anti-greed message i.e. it’s far better to value what you have, and what really matters, than to always want more.
While Squirrel “loved sharing his home with friends”, with its big bouncy bed and fridge full of food, he has his eye on something more. Something really beautiful that sparkles! He’s not even sure what it is, but still he longs for it — such is the power of consumerism. Unfortunately for Squirrel, the price set by Mr Wolf’s Emporium is beyond his budget, but still he can’t stop thinking about the really beautiful thing, which is how he comes to sell all his possessions, including the home he shared with his friends.
But, after buying the really beautiful thing he thought would make his life all the better, it dawns on Squirrel that buying it has all-but cost him everything. He has nowhere to live, nowhere to sleep and nothing to eat. Happily, though his friends come to his aid, revealing that those who love are most will remain true, no matter what mistakes we make.
Certain to spark valuable discussion around the fact that we can’t always get what we want, with Ali Pye’s atmospheric illustrations providing little ones with intriguing characterful detail to delight in, The Really Beautiful Thing is a well-told story to share with toddlers who tend not to take no for an answer! Many adults with a shopping habit might take much from it, too.
Squirrel is prepared to sell everything he has for The Really Beautiful Thing, but at what cost?
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A cautionary tale with a heartwarming ending about the force of greed and the power of friendship and family.
Squirrel isn't sure what The Really Beautiful Thing is - or even what it does - all he knows is that he wants it. When he can't afford the price, he sells his comfy sofa, his fridge full of food, and even the house he shared with his friends . . .
The Really Beautiful Thing costs Squirrel everything, and when it turns out to be A Really Useless Thing, will his friends be there to help him pick up the pieces?
The perfect story to share with little ones about consumerism, greed and obsession, that teaches us we can't always have everything we want . . . and that our loved ones will always be there to help us when we lose our way.
As Frances hasn’t quite grown up (not properly, anyway), it’s perhaps no surprise that she loves writing imaginative stories for children. Having studied Archaeology, Anthropology and Classics at Cambridge, she has a certain fondness for old things, and when she was little, she longed to own a real dinosaur. Sadly, despite writing a particularly persuasive letter to her parents on this matter, aged about four, no dinosaur was forthcoming— but she still lives in hope.
Frances has taken several picture book courses and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has been shortlisted five times in picture book competitions, and spends her days turning her numerous ideas into new stories. An observer of small things, she is constantly in awe at the natural world. Her debut picture book, The Bear and Her Book , was published by Uclan Publishing in October 2021 to critical acclaim.
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An essential picture book - beautifully written and illustrated
This captivating and thought-provoking story is expertly told and charmingly illustrated, with important lessons - subtly delivered, and of benefit to both children and adults alike - about consumerism, materialism, and the value of the things that truly matter in life. Highly accessible, it would make an excellent entry point to discussions with young children about the themes mentioned above. The text and illustrations marry perfectly.... Read Full Review
Squirrel is prepared to sell everything he has for The Really Beautiful Thing, but at what cost? A cautionary tale with a heartwarming ending about the force of greed and the power of friendship and family.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Really Beautiful Thing and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-4 years old
The Really Beautiful Thing features in the following genres: Featured Books for 3+ readers, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Romance / Relationship Stories, Politics, Law, Philosophy & Ethics, PSHE: Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem and Wellbeing, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Picture storybooks, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Money, Children’s / Teenage: Social topics: Poverty / precarity, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Drugs and addiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s picture books, Children’s: picture books, activity books, early learning concepts, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Practical interests, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics, Work / Industry
Paperback, Hardback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Really Beautiful Thing was written by Frances Tosdevin and published by Andersen Press an imprint of Andersen Press Ltd
The Really Beautiful Thing has 32 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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