The Thing About Things

by Cheryl Chen, age 17

978-1-49440746-9

Age 7 to 9 30 pages

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“There is nothing worse than being ordinary. At least, according to seven-year-old Joey Jones. When Joey gets picked not first, not last, but right in the middle for playing dodgeball at school, he feels unspecial and unwanted. But through an encounter with a certain monster who has been hiding in his bedroom all along, Joey learns that everyone, including Thing, is special in their own way.”

Opening

“The kids of Mrs. Larson’s second grade class were splitting up into dodgeball teams that day on the playground.”

The Story

Seven-year-old Joey finds himself picked just before Sheldon—“Smell-don” chosen last—for a game of dodgeball at school. Joey wanted to be first choice and that thought had him tossing and turning in his hammock that night. Joey loved his new hammock. He could see everywhere, even under. Then came the noises.

“Thump. Thump. Thump.”

As Joey watches, the moonlight turned into The Thing. Thing is not a scary monster despite his seven eyes and extra-large fangs, but Joey doesn’t yet know this. He runs for the door tripping on a toy instead. Thing tells Joey he had a bloody knee and then scoops him up. Joey bites down hard on Thing’s arm upsetting the monster, who was afraid Joey wanted to eat him. Joey tells Thing to go home to his family. Thing tells Joey Things do not have families.

“As a Thing, you are just like every other Thing.”

Thing sadly says he is nothing special but Joey protests saying Thing was the only Thing living in his bedroom.

Review

The Thing about Things is a cute picture book illustrated by Cheryl Chen. The author is a double dynamite, illustrating her story with cute images of Joey and Thing. For seven eyes, Thing could show emotion. I like the story of Joey feeling nothing special until he meets a monster who feels the same way. In showing Thing that he was special, Joey realizes he is also special in his own way. Joey goes from insecure second-grader to king of the school (in his dream). Thing also changes, now that he has a friend who thinks he is special. Both characters grow by this end of this picture book.

Thing is actually cute, like a big green teddy bear, only with six extra eyes and two teeth a kid could hold onto with both hands and still have tooth showing. Ms. Chen nicely presents a problem and then deftly solves it through Joey and Thing. Together the two pals comfort each other, both now able to sleep soundly. Thing suggesting Joey could have gotten bunk beds and shared a bunk was cute in its passive suggestion. Thing is as lonely as Joey. The segway into Thing’s, any Thing’s day, is humorous and unexpected. Kids will laugh at Thing eating his “Dust Bunny-O’s.” Details like that give the illustrations depth.

Cheryl Chen may only be seventeen, but she writes each part of her picture book with flare. Add her original illustrations and the result is a picture book author/illustrator that will soon be on everyone’s radar.

Cheryl Chen’s website: http://writercherylchen.blogspot.com/

Buy The Thing about Things at Amazon

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THE THING ABOUT THINGS. Text & Illustrations copyright © 2013/2014 by Cheryl Chen. Reproduce by permission of Cheryl Chen.

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