"Everyone has to be new sometimes, don't they?"

A boy didn't want to move ("Nobody had asked him about moving. They'd just told him") and he's dubious about his mom's idea that he might meet new friends just walking around the neighborhood. Yet, he hits on a novel solution to his problem of "no friends"; the twist is revealed at the end, if readers haven't guessed Neville's identity already. A clever story of settling in and making friends in a new place. The creators are ingenious with their typography as well, as children's shouts overlap. ( )

When a young boy moves to a new house in a new neighborhood, he isn't optimistic about his chances of making new friends. Wandering down his new street, he begins to shout "Neville" as loud as he can, and is soon joined by a number of local children, who add their voices to his. Through question and answer about the mysterious Neville, the boy becomes acquainted with these potential new friends, before heading home...

Although best known for his classic children's fantasy novel, The Phantom Tollbooth (which has always been one of my favorites!), Norton Juster has also written a number of picture-books, Neville amongst them. His story here is engaging, tapping into a common childhood experience - moving to a new place, and worrying about making friends, once there - and exploring it in an interesting way. I guessed, of course, who Neville was, but that in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the story. The accompanying artwork by G. Brian Karas is appealing as well, capturing some of the pathos and silliness of the search for Neville. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about moving house and making new friends. ( )

I liked this book because I enjoyed the plot and the point of view of the story. Initially, I was somewhat confused because I could not understand why Neville called out his own name. However by the end of the story, I can see the clever twist on a common theme of trying to make friends. Through the author's writing and character development, I could empathize with Neville with his loneliness and frustrations of moving and not being able to make any friends. I also liked the illustrations as they evoked the feelings of nostalgia and childhood memories. This book is about making friends. ( )

Neville moves to a new town, again! Weary of all the moves and trying to make new friends, Neville is upset. Understanding this, his mother tells him to go outside and try to find friends. While walking around the neighborhood, Neville decides to call his name loudly as though he is looking for a boy named Neville.

Shortly thereafter, a boy joins him and loudly calls the name Neville. Followed by other children, they also call the name Neville. In time, Neville has a group of children calling his name. Alas, he has begun friendships with new people. ( )

Unfortunately, not many neighborhoods have a bunch of kids anymore, and most kids are behind their screens anyway.  But it's worth a try!  Cute enough art, but too simple to carry the full-size picture-book - a better design would have been smaller, 'tighter.' ( )