The Something

by Rebecca Cobb

When a little boy's ball disappears down a mysterious hole in the garden, he can't stop thinking about what could be down there -- a little mouse's house? The lair of a hungry troll? Or maybe even a dragon's den. Whatever it may be, he's determined to find out!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Nature, Mystery

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Rebecca Cobb has illustrated several picture books, including The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson. She has been short-listed for the Kate Greenaway Medal twice. She lives in England.

Reviews

[Lauren Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely picture book which shows each of the characters using their imagination as to what might be living down in the hole that the main characters bouncy ball bounced into.
The illustrations are exciting and colourful and really drew me into the book at first, before i even started reading it. This book could be used in art to draw in the style of the illustrations in this book.
It could also be used in a literacy or PSHCE lesson to discuss with children what they think might be down the hole. This will get children to use of their imagination and will encourage creativity when writing.
If i were to use this in a classroom i would likely use it as a whole class read-aloud text, mainly in key stage 1, however also maybe in lower key stage 2. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

[Amy Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is certainly a book I would love to engage children with as it is such fun to read, as well as having such an incredibly infectious quality to spark everlasting imagination. From a badger sipping tea down the hole, to a fire breathing dragon trying to get some sleep! This is a perfect way to inspire children to stretch their imagination to endless possibilities, even if entirely impossible ideas!

[Twinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We got this book amongst a pile from the public library and it didn’t particularly jump out at me at first…but it is actually quite wonderful and I’m so glad we came across it.

The story follows a child (could be any gender) and the disappearance of a red ball down a hole in the garden. Cue the endless possibilities for who (or what) lives down the hole. Is it a family of mice, a troll, a sports team of frogs or something even more interesting…? This is a book that has many layers (literally – we see the activity above ground and then the various imagined scenarios playing out in the mysterious hole underground). The little family dog appears in every picture and adds another subtle but sweet layer to the story.

From a diversity perspective we see friends of various ethnicities, a girl in a wheelchair, and Dad hanging out washing. In the hundreds of children’s picture books I have read these sorts of representations are sadly quite scarce, so I particularly love books that depict a more inclusive and realistic world for my daughter. We have had lots of conversations about the girl in the wheelchair and why someone might need a wheelchair, and how it helps them to move around and do what they want to in life.

The delightful illustrations and imaginative story are a hit with my 3 year old, and I think slightly older children would probably get even more out of it.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child who lost a little ball in a hole and she tries to find out who/what lives there. I was not so much intrigued, but it can be used to ask children who could live in the hole according to their thoughts. It also helps to learn new words.

[Matilda Moir]

The something is a fantastic book about imagination of both children and adults. Rebecca Cobb ‘s story follows the adventure of a little boy with a hole in the back of his garden, by the cherry tree. The tree remains the focal point throughout the whole book. By using the tree Cobb is telling us that the time frame of this book is over a number of seasons. The little boy doesn’t know what is in the hole so asks lots of different people, but they all have different ideas. He asks his parents, siblings, friends and grandparents but no one has any clue. He keeps on thinking about it and keeps a watch on in ‘just in case’. In the last image we have a double page spread of the little boy asleep on his windowsill and everybody’s imaginary ideas of what’s down the hole alive and there by the tree.

With regards to perspective and framing we have a number of different styles, there are full bleed pages and then white pages with small ‘patches’ of illustration. There are also a couple of pages where it’s divided into two parts; above the ground and below. The tree is in every one of the pictures. There seem to be no frames to the actual pictures; we are immersed within the little boys experience identifying the world he lives in. His positioning within the book changes from page to page, we are sometimes on eye level, sometimes below and sometimes above. We also have a diminishing return on a number of the pages; following the time lapse of the little boy sat by the hole. We can experience his desire and longing for understanding the unknown or uncertain.

The illustrator uses a number of bright colours to express the little boys discovery, which never cease throughout the book. She does however change the colour of the horizon with the seasons, towards the end of the book the sky is dark and the tree is bare; but the grass is still green and the little boy still colourful. The use of realistic colours gives the reader a sense of familiarity and understanding. Despite not knowing what is truly down the bottom of that hole, it offer one the chance to open up their imagination. Not only that the book ends on the idea that the boy fell asleep and missed seeing all the creatures come to life, or that he fell asleep and is dreaming the end picture. Throughout the book it is open to our interpretation.

[Ellie L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story brimming with the limitlessness of the imagination during childhood. When a little boy accidentally bounces his ball into a hole in the garden, he unearths a world of possibilities for what could be beneath the surface. From dragons to trolls, Cobb truly captures a sense of reality being without boundaries and a child’s gentle determination to retain their thinking, regardless of ‘sensible’ adults dampening the fun. There is a lovely touch of humour in the irony of the little boy quietly anticipating the reveal of the something, when it just might pop up when he is unaware.
I can see this book fitting in beautifully in Early Years or KS1, the illustrations are such fun, and, coupled with the open ending provides a super stimulus for writing. Just the concept of something unknown going about life beneath the ground offers boundless opportunities for talk. On another note, Cobb’s use of first person narrative is an excellent starting point for developing awareness of the influences of perspective. Retelling the story from the point of view of the something could present an exciting twist and would be perfect for some drama performances.

[Chloe Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl finds a hole in her garden and she wonders what is underneath, everyone offers suggestions such as dragon. The children come up with very imaginative suggestions whereas the grandparents think more realistically as to what's in the hole such as a mole. The book could be used for seasons as the pictures of the tree changes through the seasons. The story shows how imaginative children can be and maybe as we get older we loose this. Children can use the illustrations as inspiration for their own artwork.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of lovely illustrations and packed full of imagination. I love the way the passage of time is expressed through the seasons changing. It would be a great book to read with the whole class. I've read this a few times now and each time I spot something new in the pictures!

[Khansa Baig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy loses his ball down a hole in his garden and in spite of several efforts, is unable to retrieve it. Then several people tell him what they think has happened to it. His father doesn't like frogs and he says frogs must have it, and be playing with it. Rebecca Cobb's wonderful drawings of various animals, playing with the ball underground, add to the delight of this book. I loved it and I'm sure that children will, too.

[Louise Hare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book showing how different everyones imagination can be. I can see children would love reading this book and coming up with their own ideas of what is in the tiny hole.

[Christopher Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page to the last - a curious and fun little story.

[Alice Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book that shows the significance of children's imagination and pure joy of having a mystery to speculate about that. Cobb's colourful pencil illustrations capture the carefree aspects of childhood and this would be a great book to share with a KS1 class. They could write about what they think is down the hole and draw pictures to accompany this. We could play drama games where the children act out going into the hole and showing the others what they have found down there. That's the magic of a book like this with no reveal at the end, the possibilities are endless.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to use with KS1 children to encourage creativity when writing. Children could write their own responses to what is in the hole in the garden. They could then create their scene either by drawing or modelling.

[I _teach_muggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a boy loses a ball down a hole under the cherry tree in his garden he sets out to find out what is in the hole. The hole is dark and it is difficult to see anything. Everyone has an opinion as to what might be in the hole including friends, family, even the dog. Is it the home of a little mouse? Could it be full of frogs? A hungry troll? A dragon’s den? A mole? A badger? Rabbits? Will the boy get his ball back and will he find out what actually lives in the hole underneath they cherry tree…

This is a lovely book that is a celebration of curiosity and the wondrous nature of childhood. The boy is fascinated by the hole and he spends much time observing and deliberating over what might be in there. The seasons change in the story but the hole remains same. We never find out what is actually in the hole and I love this. It leaves it up to the reader to decide. Maybe you’ll agree with one of the suggestions in the book or perhaps you will have your own ideas as to what might be living in the hole, this is the beauty of childhood wonder and imagination.

The lovely illustrations show the action above the ground and speculate as to what might be beneath. The underground illustrations are full of creativity and feature a badger enjoying a crossword puzzle, a knitting mole and plenty of frogs. Look out for the red ball that is hiding in all of the underground illustrations.

Sometimes it is better not to know the whole truth but to let your imagination run wild and free and make up the most incredible stories.

Recommended for 5+.

[Libby Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally thoroughly enjoyed this book. One of my favourite parts were the exquisite pictures which I feel really brought to life what each of the characters were imagining lived below the cherry tree. The pictures especially are extremely engaging and child friendly because they’re colourful and eye catching but not too complicated or over stimulating. Before I had even read it I was intrigued by the title and the pictures on the front cover which was bright and eye catching. The story itself is simple and easy to follow but still interesting and engaging for children.

This book could also be used to support several areas of the curriculum. I would use this book to support literacy as you could do a piece of creative wetting, and this book encourages imagination as well as descriptive words and creativity. I would also use this book to support art by getting the children to draw their own holes and use their imagination to draw and create what lives down their own hole. I feel this book would mainly be used in KS1 but could be used in Year 3 classes as well

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When playing out in the garden, a hole is discovered when the ball went down it but didn’t come back up!
There is lots of speculation about what might be living in the whole from frogs and moles to dragons and trolls.
All of the different ideas are shown and it demonstrates how everyone can form a variety of views and opinions. This would be good to use to discuss how to approach others views and opinions and to recognise all views are valid, especially when there’s no right or wrong answer (or if it’s impossible to find out!)
There’s a bit of a link to animals and habitats and children could explore the different habitats of the animals mentioned in the story and consider if the hole really could house a mouse or maybe it actually houses a fox listening to vinyl?

[Ryan Brinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good childrens book which provides mystery and explores childrens' imagination as they go through the book trying to discover what 'the something' hiding down a hole in the garden may be! The book introduces the idea of differenr perspectives as we see what different family members and friends believe may be down there! A great story with brilliant illustrations!! Read to a group of 4 year olds and they were glued!!

[Lucy Goodchild]

A boy found a hole in his garden one day when he was playing ball, but it was so deep that neither he nor his mother could reach. The boy tried to work out what was in the hole, and everyone had different ideas. His best friend suggested it might even be a dragon! In the end, although the boy tries to stay awake to see what’s in the hole, when he falls asleep, every suggestion including the badger, dragon and frogs appear.

[Immy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of the endless possibilities of what is lurking in the bottom of a hole in your garden. The various ideas of what hides in this hole display people's hopes and fears in a subtle and suitable format. A lovely story that makes you look at a simple hole a little differently.

Life is truly only limited by your own imagination.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Underneath the cherry tree in our garden there is a little hole. We found it one day when I bounced my ball and it didn’t bounce back.” 🤔 | This morning’s #readaloud pick: The Something by Rebecca Cobb. Imagination, inquiry, humour... such a sweet and engaging story! You’ll fall in love with the illustrations, too - the details and quirks add whole other stories in itself 🍂

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that children would have fun exploring what kind of 'something' could be living in the hole. This could open up lots of opportunities for practical activities, for example children could create their own version of the hole/something and investigate their classmates own interpretation of it.

[E. K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Something’ is a beautifully imaginative picture book where there protagonist finds a mysterious hole in the garden and wonders what could be living down it. It was lovely reading about all the different ideas everyone in the story had for what could be down the hole. I particularly loved the frog and dragon pages! A wonderful and creative picture book, highly recommend!

[Jennifer Spiers · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could have a lot of fun with this novel in a KS1 class, with children guessing what could be living in the hole. The illustrations are funny and would create participation and engagement. Recommended!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lovely little story about a curious child wanting to know what is down the hole that he found in his garden. It is a lovely book for children to use to let their own imagination go wild about what would possibly be down the hole.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. The open-ended ending is such a conversation point. My daughter and I both have very different ideas about what is down the hole. Illustrations are beautiful. Perfect book for sharing with young children.

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encourages imaginative thought and allows children to capture and think about others' creative thinking too; of both adults and children :)
Introduces the idea of the unknowable and being at peace with leaving things be. Cute illustrations that both depict the words on the page and add extra detail. Lovely.

[Jane Scholey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book. I enjoyed it so much and have read it a number of times now.

[Ellis Balague · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story that allows children’s imaginations to run wild.

[Gabriella Carvell-Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, imaginative book that kids really enjoy. You can questions what will happen next a lot throughout this book.

[Grace Wall]

• Love this book!
• It’s funny.
• I liked the various imaginations of what each character found down the whole. Especially the dragon.

• Message: everyone has differences in imaginations.