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John Jensen Feels Different (Johannes Jensen #1)
John Jensen, a crocodile, cannot quite understand why he feels so different from everyone else, but a kindly doctor reassures him that no one is exactly the same as anyone else.
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
December 16th 2011
by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
(first published 2003)
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There are so many "it's okay to be different" stories, most of them pretty schlocky. This one I love. John Jensen is a sensitive crocodile who happens to live in Norway. It is sweet and funny all at the same time. A little long for storytime, but I think I will risk it because it is just that good.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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There is a lot to be said for a picture book book that is so unapologetically Norwegian that it ends up making you completely (not to mention unexpectedly) love it, regionalism and all. If you've ever encountered a large quantity of picture books from countries other than your own then you'll know that tone is everything. Books in America tend to a have a distinctive flavor while books from other nations have another. Sometimes (often?) the two flavors don't mix but once in a great while you end...more
How do you say mish-mosh in Norwegian?
Basic premise is that John Jensen is an alligator/crocodile living a human life in an otherwise totally human city (Oslo)and somehow feeling different. Not until he has an accident and meets the doctor, an elephant, does he realize it's okay to be different. Nice life lesson, hmm?
But somehow the "deadpan humor" (to quote someone else's review) falls flatter on its face than John Jensen does when he trips on his tail. And I am not sure that there is any child...more
Basic premise is that John Jensen is an alligator/crocodile living a human life in an otherwise totally human city (Oslo)and somehow feeling different. Not until he has an accident and meets the doctor, an elephant, does he realize it's okay to be different. Nice life lesson, hmm?
But somehow the "deadpan humor" (to quote someone else's review) falls flatter on its face than John Jensen does when he trips on his tail. And I am not sure that there is any child...more
Hmm. Like, how different? On the surface of it, John Jensen would appear to be your average Norwegian crocodile - reading the paper at breakfast, taking the bus to the office, duck taping his insecurities where no one can see them - though what makes this finally very different from your average meditation on not-fitting-in is John Jensen seems the single Norwegian citizen to notice, fretting compulsively in the mirror, at family photographs ("Maybe I was adopted."), and staring in bed at the ce...more
Awesome. I had to pick this up when I read the title at the library. It really grabbed my attention. And the story inside it really lived up to my expectations.
John Jensen feels different, but doesn't know why. It is a constant feeling. Is it his bow tie? Was he adopted? His tail? When John binds his tail to his chest, I nearly fell off my chair! I felt his pain and his awkwardness. Quite honestly, it broke my heart. Poor John Jensen! Of course, not everybody will have this reaction, perhaps kid...more
John Jensen feels different, but doesn't know why. It is a constant feeling. Is it his bow tie? Was he adopted? His tail? When John binds his tail to his chest, I nearly fell off my chair! I felt his pain and his awkwardness. Quite honestly, it broke my heart. Poor John Jensen! Of course, not everybody will have this reaction, perhaps kid...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Like many of us, John Jensen feels as though he's different from everyone else around him. As a crocodile living in Norway, it's easy to see how he might feel that way. In a desperate effort to blend in more and feel like others, he switches to a regular tie instead of a bow tie and even straps his tail to his stomach. After an accident causes him to be taken to the hospital, he has the good fortune to meet a doctor who suggests that he embrace his differences since they make him stand out. I lo...more
This is a very strange story that features a crocodile who lives in Norway and feels different from everyone else. That's because he's an anthropomorphic crocodile and is surrounded by people. He is different.
The narrative is short and the illustrations are colorful, but somehow I think something is missing in this tale. Perhaps the meaning got a bit lost in the translation from Norwegian. We enjoyed reading this story together, but even our girls shrugged their shoulders when we discussed what...more
The narrative is short and the illustrations are colorful, but somehow I think something is missing in this tale. Perhaps the meaning got a bit lost in the translation from Norwegian. We enjoyed reading this story together, but even our girls shrugged their shoulders when we discussed what...more
John Jensen lives in Norway. He lives in an apartment, eats cereal for breakfast, brushes his teeth, and takes the bus to work. But he feels different than everyone else and knows that people are looking at him because he is different. He notices that no one else wears a bowtie, so he changes and wears a regular one. But he still feels different. John Jensen decides that the real problem is his tail, since no one else has a tail like his. So he ties it up and hides it, but all that results in is...more
This is actually a rather fun story. I really like the illustrations- the color palette is rather unique with generally pale neutrals set off by dark, low-saturation colors like navy, forest green, and a deep red. The lines are bold with slight imperfections giving a sense of whimsy without becoming messy. I particularly like the often awkward poses that John Jensen takes throughout the book- it really helps characterize him as slightly awkward but generally happy. The end papers are rather smar...more
LOVED this book! I thought is was perfect for all kids... to celebrate differences and to illustrate that insecurities can often be imagined. John appears to feel as if everyone looks down on him, when in reality, they don't even seem to notice his "differneces." There are lots of lessons to be learned through this book.
It's okay to be different. And when your two-year-old plops this in your lap and asks to hear the endearing story of John Jensen again? You'll be only too happy to comply. At least it isn't Dora's some such adventure again tonight.
I really enjoyed this book. The story was imaginative and the illustrations were most excellent. It's an excellent story about accepting yourself when you feel different from everyone around you by learning to celebrate your differences.
This translation from Norway tells the story of John Jensen, an alligator...or maybe a crocodile...aw, I don't know which one he's supposed to be. Anyway, a large reptile feels different from everyone else and tries to discover the reason. (I don't think he ever figures out they're human and he's not.)
This didn't live up my high hopes for it, but there was a scene or two that made me laugh, especially the page where John Jensen thinks he must be adopted because he doesn't look like anyone in is...more
This didn't live up my high hopes for it, but there was a scene or two that made me laugh, especially the page where John Jensen thinks he must be adopted because he doesn't look like anyone in is...more
This book really grabbed. I was all-in right away. I think this story was clever with "it's ok to be different. You are special" take.
A bow tie-wearing crocodile learns the value of individuality. A wonderfully whimsical Norwegian import.
Jun 23, 2012
John
added it
A fun read for the younger set dealing with awkwardness and feeling different...so stolid it's funny.;)
This is one of those books that I was surprised to see how highly it was rated. I just found the story to be o.k., where as most reviews have given it 4 or 5 stars. I didn't understand the way this book approached the whole being different story line. The town seemed to be full of all people, this one crocodile and a doctor elephant. No one was making fun of the crocodile for being different but he noticed the differences all the same. Going to great length to be more like the other people, John...more
It's OK to be different message with Norwegian flair.
I enjoyed this it's okay to be different tale from Norway. It really cracked me up in a couple places.
This book felt very Norwegian to me... ;0
What a lovely, peculiar little book.
Highly recommended
May 09, 2013
Megan
marked it as to-read
Apr 06, 2013
Tera
marked it as to-read
Apr 04, 2013
Danielle
marked it as to-read
Apr 03, 2013
Valerie
marked it as to-read
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