Worth a Thousand Words by Brigit Young

You can see Tillie (Matilda) with her camera. Tillie is an observer and through this she has become almost invisible to her classmates until they need things found. The kids have labelled Tillie "Lost and Found". She can find lost objects and her camera sometimes helps when she reviews the images she has captured through the day. Lost objects, are easy to find, and safe but what about a lost person? At times this story feels like a detective or mystery television program. Tillie and Jake gather clues, visit places linked with Jake's dad, and Tillie takes heaps of photos but then she takes one of Jake's dad in a compromising situation and this whole lost and found adventure becomes very serious. Tillie is about to lose her first and only friend since her serious accident but it seems impossible to tell Jake what she has seen.

The kids in this book uncover some adult behavior - the kind of behavior I don't think I have ever read about before in a middle grade book.

I have a suggestion of how to book talk Worth a Thousand Words with your readers aged 10+. Read the blurb. Talk about how Tillie loves her cameras, she has four different types, and talk about how they have helped her cope with her now complex relationship with her father who feels enormous guilt over the accident that left her with a painful disability. Now read chapter 18 - it will break your heart to read the scene where Tillie smashes all of her precious cameras. This scene should leave your library group with a heap of unanswered questions and make them keen to dive into this book.

You can hear an audio extract from Chapter One here.

Publisher blurb: Ever since a car accident left Tillie Green with lasting painful injuries, she's hidden behind her camera. She watches her family and classmates through the lens, tracking down misplaced items and spotting the small details that tell a much bigger story than people usually see. But she isn’t prepared for class clown Jake Hausmann’s request: to find his father. In a matter of days, Tillie goes from silent observer to one half of a detective duo, searching for clues to the mystery of Jake’s dad’s disappearance. When the truth isn’t what Jake wants it to be, and the photographs start exposing people’s secrets, Tillie has to decide what—and who—is truly important to her.

There are some hilarious scenes mixed in with some quite serious and scary ones!! Tillie is a smart and courageous young girl who, although hiding behind her camera lens, finds her inner self once she steps away from it. A great story of family and friendship for all ages!! Miss Mahee's Library

Worth a Thousand Words was published in 2018. I am not sure how I came to have my copy but it probably came from a recent charity bookfair. Worth a Thousand Words was a debut novel for Brigit Young. You can read Chapters One and Two here. I think the ebook might still be available. 

Companion books (I read both of these decades ago):

Half a Chance

Honk, Honk! Hold tight by Jessica Souhami

"I will share my kingdom with anyone who can make Princess Alice laugh."

Many people try but they all fail. Then along comes young Peter and as you might expect he is poor but also kind and honest. On the way to the palace, he sees an elderly lady who is tired and hungry. He gives her his bread and wine - I told you he was kind. YES of course, this is a fairy tale or should we call it a folktale? To repay this kindness the old woman reveals a golden goose under her cloak.

"Tuck this magic goose under your arm and carry it to the palace, where you will be rewarded."

As he travels along the road a woman reaches out and touches the fine feathers of the goose and immediately she is stuck. Seeing the problem a man on the road takes hold of the woman but - YES - he is now stuck. And so the procession is formed. Honk honk! Hold tight. A chain of people now travel behind young Peter. Can you guess what happens when Princess Alice sees this huge procession of characters? Yes she does laugh and YES they do get married (it is a fairy tale after all) but there is one delicious twist - it is Alice who proposes to Peter and he says YES!

"And they lived merrily ever after."

Notice the goose on the cover - the image above doesn't show this properly but the goose is actually gold foil. The end papers are filled with gold feathers. 

Bookseller blurb: This very funny folktale tells about the princess who will not laugh. Her father says he will give her hand in marriage to the man who can make her laugh â?? and one boy plus a golden goose set off to the palace to try their luck? As they go along, the animals and people they meet all try to steal one of the golden goose's feathers â?? and they stick fast to the goose. "Honk Honk Hold Tight!" says the boy, and the whole parade soon ends up at the palace. What will the princess do? A fabulous read-aloud, laugh-out-loud story that has its origins in Italy, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the UK, with variants discovered in Russia and Egypt.

Check my earlier post about Jessica Souhami. I should not have been surprised to discover the library I visit each week had so many books written and illustrated by Jessica Souhami including this one. 

Here are some other books about Princesses or daughters of wealthy men which include a set of challenges to find a prince and/or to make the princess smile or laugh or in some way be restored.

The Glassmaker's Daughter

The Seeing Stick

The Most Wonderful thing in the World

The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup

With all the people stuck to each other you might also like to revisit this classic story or a variation:

The list of things that will not change by Rebecca Stead

 

This is a heartfelt personal account where Bea (Beatrice) gives us an insight in to her family and the changes she has to navigate during the year she has turned ten.

Mum and Dad have split up and so Bea now spends time in each of their houses. It all seems quite complicated but I am sure many middle grade readers will identify with arrangements like these: 

MONDAY dad; TUESDAY mum; WEDNESDAY dad; THURSDAY mum; FRIDAY is part of the weekend; the weekend is Friday and Saturday. The weekend alternates. SUNDAY also alternates. 

Luckily Bea has a list of things that will not change. Her mum and dad love her; mum and dad love each other "but in a different way."; Bea's two homes will never be far apart; and "we are still a family, but in a different way."

The difference is dad has found true love in a new same sex relationship. Bea really likes his new partner Jesse. She also likes Jesse's sister Sheila. Bea has one very special friend - Angus and over time she has developed a friendly relationship with her counselor who offers good advice and coping strategies. Everything in Bea's life should be okay but she carries some heavy guilt. Now dad and Jesse are getting married which is also fine but Bea discovers Jesse and Shelia have a brother called Mission. The aptly named Mission is on a mission to stop the wedding and it was Bea who sent him the invitation.

Colby Sharp loved this book - he says "it will burrow into your heart."  "An unforgettable novel."

Uplifting without sentimentality, timely not trendy, and utterly engaging. Kirkus Star review

You can read more plot details on these reviews from Book Page, Ms Yingling and Book Trust.  I would pair this book with these:

To Night owl from Dogfish

Fanny's dream by Caralyn Buehner illustrated by Mark Beuhner

I have made a plan for this year to bring home five or six picture books several times each week - books we have in our school library that I have not yet read.

Among my collection this week was Fanny's Dream. This is a book for all fairy tale fans.  I loved this book because I am a great believer in "they all lived happily ever after" just like Fanny and of course I did expect a prince would arrive!

Fanny is a sturdy girl living in Wyoming.  "She was going to marry a prince."  She hears the mayor is giving a grand ball.  She waits in the garden for the arrival of the fairy godmother but the fairy does not arrive instead along comes Herber Jensen. "Herber was cheerful and pleasant, and he had always liked Fanny, but heavens, he was so short!"

Fanny does not want to give up her dream but Herber talks things over with her.  He helps Fanny identify her skills.  She can harness a horse, cure a ham and even spread manure.

Fanny marries Herber and the routines of daily life on the farm take over.

"As for Herber, he figured that it hadn't been easy for Fanny to give up her dreams, so he made a point to wait on her at least once a day, as if she were a princess ... "

Babies are born, the house burns down but they rebuild and the farm prospers and then, many years later, the fairy godmother finally arrives.  Click the quotes below to read some reviews :

A delightful wedding of winsome story and ingenious illustrations; there is no more to be asked of a book.

Fanny Agnes is a delight: a feminist with a wry sense of humor, she balances her dreams 

with common sense and a loving heart.

The most wonderful thing in the world by Vivian French illustrated by Angela Barrett

"Once, in the time of your grandmother's grandmother, there was a kingdom.  In the middle of the kingdom was a large lagoon dotted with islands, and here a city had been built; a city of sky-blue water and golden bridges.  It was a small city, but it was a beautiful ... and the king and queen were very proud of it.  They were also proud of their daughter Lucia  ..."

And so the scene is set.  Lucia needs a husband.  The parents write a letter to the wise man and he replies they must find a young man "who can show you the most wonderful thing in the world."

Lucia is brought roses, a snow-white horse, performing dogs, magical beasts, a piece of frozen sky and many more strange and amazing gifts but none of these things see quite wonderful enough.  You may have guessed the ending - although I hope not.  Find this book and I hope you gasp with delight as I did at the outcome. (Spoiler alert don't click the Kirkus review below until you have read this book)

Here we have the perfect author and illustrator team who have produced a sumptuous, romantic picture book with a completely satisfying story.

Here is the author web site and you might also like to dip into my review of the series Tales of the Five Kingdoms also by Vivian French.   We also have several books illustrated by Angela Barrett in our library including one of my favourites The Hidden House by Martin Waddell.

Following this book I suggest reading The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King, The Quilt Makers Gift and The Dragon and the Minstrel pup.

Lightly wraps the love of family as the center of life in a silken gown of word and image, with a playful undercurrent of both whimsy and irony.