LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
November 2022 Debut of the Month
There are lots of things that makes us feel whole. Little Sunny says finishing a jigsaw, slotting in the final piece, is what gives her the most happiness, though her much-loved Gran wonders if that’s really true. Gran gives her a 1000 piece jigsaw to complete and Sunny fits it together carefully until disaster! The final piece is missing.
Sent out by Gran to the neighbours who borrowed the puzzle, Sunny makes new friends, one after another, and they dance home together as evening comes in. Searching for something is as important as finding it, and Sunny has discovered new forms of completeness and happiness.
Sunny’s journey is beautifully depicted in Beth Suzanna’s bold, bright illustrations, the scene in which the new friends run home under the evening sky is particularly striking, and the story has much to tell us about friends, family and learning new truths about ourselves.
Andrea Reece
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About
The Missing Piece Synopsis
A heart-warming, fresh and original story about family and friendship from brandnew picture-book author, writer and performer Jordan Stephens.
Sunny loves jigsaw puzzles – the bigger the better. When she completes one, she gets a warm, happy honeybee buzz. One day, her Gran gives her a ONE-THOUSAND-PIECE puzzle. Piece after piece, all by herself, she puts together the picture, until … DISASTER!
The final piece is missing.
Sunny may be small, but she is very determined – so she sets off to find it. As the day whizzes by in a whirl of new places and friends, Sunny discovers that looking for something is every bit as fun as finding it, and that perhaps the missing piece was there all along …
“I wrote the book in an attempt to deconstruct my own uncomfortable search for something. In a world of people, colour and connection, I found myself searching for destinations when in fact I’m always where I need to be.
Ultimately the book is about finding peace in creating pictures and taking solace in their beauty, rather than hurrying to finish them and wishing that you could start again. In a world of targets sometimes we need to shoot the breeze. The book also encourages children to understand the cultural differences between families that live in England as well as the world, and to revel in how eye opening those differences are. Whether that be Caribbean, South Asian, British or otherwise.”
- Jordan Stephens
About This Edition
ISBN: |
9781526618047 |
Publication date: |
2nd February 2023 |
Author: |
Jordan Stephens |
Illustrator: |
Beth Suzanna |
Publisher: |
Bloomsbury Childrens Books an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |
Format: |
Paperback |
Pagination: |
32 pages |
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Press Reviews
Jordan Stephens Press Reviews
A heart-warming picture book, perfect for the whole family to read together - Fearne Cotton
A beautiful debut picture book story that contains a powerful message about empathy - Books for Keeps
Author
About Jordan Stephens
Jordan Stephens is a writer and performer best known for being one half of pop duo Rizzle Kicks, achieving fame at only 19. Jordan is now a writer, performer and campaigner. He’s also passionate about books and reading.
The Missing Piece is his first picture book.
Having been publicly open about his own struggles surrounding mental health, Jordan has also been very active in creating awareness around the stigma attached to it and helping young people to open up about how they feel. His mental-health campaign #IAMWHOLE reached over 120 million people online and made enough of an impact to be mentioned in the Houses of Parliament.
More About Jordan Stephens