A little girl is intrigued by the Thing on her street. He lives at number 52 and she notices that he is always alone. She persuades her mum to buy him a flower and a friendship blossoms between the two. We watch them spending time together, going on trips to the seaside and more.
Discovering that there are hundreds of Things, the little girl organises a party, which turns out to be a great success. Huge and hairy, the Thing is a towering presence, but clearly gentle, childlike in many ways though getting on in years. The excitement of the party turns to sadness when the Thing has to go, as all Things do.
This touching exploration of friendship, loss and recovery has a dreamy quality, text and illustrations drawing readers into its world, waves of light and colour depicting changing emotions and the passing of time. Children will understand the special relationship that develops between these two friends in all its depth and poignancy, and it’s a book to stay in the imagination.
Spark meaningful discussions about loneliness, friendship, community and coping with loss with this enchantingly illustrated story about a girl who befriends a monster.
There's a Thing on my street. He lives at number 52. I see him sitting in his garden when I walk to school.
He was big and lumbering and a wore a tiny top hat perched on top of his rather large head. She didn't think he had any friends, so she brought him a flower.
It wasn't long before their friendship bloomed… the Thing was gentle and kind and the adventures they went on were the best she could ever imagine.
The girl soon discovered that there were many Things, living all over the place… which gave her an idea. She invited them all to a party, and the Things danced till midnight. Thing had never felt so happy.
But one day the Thing had to go and their adventures came to an end. All Things have to go sometime…
In this poignant story, discover how small acts of kindness can grow into great friendships, and how the community you build from those friendships can provide comfort and companionship when you need it most.
Written by one of the UK's best-loved children's authors, Ross Montgomery, and illustrated by the incredible Richard Johnson, The Thing at 52 offers a comfortable starting point for discussing difficult topics with children. The book's magic will draw you back again and again.
