Nobody likes me by Raoul Krischanitz translated by Rosemary Lanning

"Buddy was the new dog in town. He sat outside his house with nothing to do. He was bored."

Stop reading after each of these short sentences and ask your young reading companion or group of children to think about each sentence one at a time. Buddy was new - how does this feel? How might Buddy make friends? Have you ever tried to make a new friend? What advice would you give to Buddy. 

He sat outside with nothing to do. Is this the way to make friends? Should Buddy just wait for friends to come along and talk to him? Is this likely to happen? What would you do?

What does the word bored mean? Do you have some suggestions for Buddy? 

Then Buddy sees a mouse looking out of her hole. He asks her to play but she says NO. Think about why the little mouse might react this way. I guarantee that no one will predict the true reason which is revealed at the end of the story. At this point we have only explored half of the first page of this book.

Buddy is sure the mouse doesn't like him. He walks on and tries to talk to a group of cats but you can imagine their reaction. Then he approaches three rabbits, a small flock of sheep and even another dog but in the end it is only the fox who offers to help him. The fox suggests Buddy should try again - go back and talk to the other animals and explain he is just looking for a friend or two or three or more! And YES as with all good books this one has a happy ending and a party!

Here is nearly all of the Kirkus review: Buddy is the new dog on the block, a chartreuse pudge-ball of immense visual appeal. His problem is that he can't make any friends; every creature in the vicinity - mouse to sheep, cats, rabbits, and even other dogs - either leaves him, glowers at him, or chases him off. Buddy, reduced to tears, is approached by a sympathetic fox. When Buddy relates that nobody seems to like him, the fox suggests he ask why, a question that demands courage. The fox accompanies Buddy on his friendship quest, ... , it turns out to be a case of mistaken intentions - the cats thought Buddy was going to attack them, the sheep thought he was going to herd them, and so forth. Once things get straightened out, they all become friends. Krischanitz's message - that making that second effort is fraught with emotional landmines, but might be worth the effort - is a noble one, and that it was recommended by a fox will give it the seal of approval with children.

This is a wonderful book about how to make friends and about the importance of communication. At an even deeper level it is also about stereotypes and even perhaps prejudice. AND the end papers are brilliant.

Nobody likes me was published in 1999 by North South. This company seek or sought out fabulous European books in a range of languages and then organised to translate them into English. Their picture books are all of a similar large size in hardcover. Collecting these for a library allowed our Australian children to see different illustration styles. Nobody likes me is also a cumulative tale which makes it perfect as a book to read to a group of preschool children. 

I am very keen to find Molto (published in 2001). 

Molto the tiger cat wants to be able to fly. With the help of his friends, he can fulfill his wish. But on his second try, Molto finds out that experiences are best when you can share them with friends.