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Nobody Here but Me
It's a little after four o'clock, and everyone's busy. Mom's on the phone, Dad's checking e-mail, and Katie's playing games with a friend. But there's one other person in the house, and no matter what he does – from painting a blue heart on the wall to turning the kitchen into a catastrophe (that's a really big mess) – none of his distracted family members come to stop him. What does a person have to do to get noticed around here? This laugh-out-loud story by best-selling author Judith Viorst, accompanied by Christine Davenier's charming illustrations, perfectly captures how lonely it can feel even when the house is full of people – and just what it takes to get some attention.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2008
About the author
Judith Viorst
120 books859 followersJudith Viorst is an American writer, newspaper journalist, and psychoanalysis researcher. She is known for her humorous observational poetry and for her children's literature. This includes The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (about the death of a pet) and the Alexander series of short picture books, which includes Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (1972), which has sold over two million copies.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
Viorst is a 1952 graduate of the Newark College of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey. In 1968, she signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In the latter part of the 1970s, after two decades of writing for children and adults, Viorst turned to the study of Freudian psychology. In 1981, she became a research graduate at Washington Psychoanalytic Institute after six years of study.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 25, 2012
Well, I’m a tad confounded about who are the best readers/listeners for this story. It’s definitely NOT for truly neglected or abused children. The best audience for this book, I think, is children from families who occasionally get lost in the shuffle and only children who are sometimes lonely and assume the grass is greener on the other side. And kids in general who are in generally good home situations.
If it weren’t for the last page that does show some true affection between these family members, I’d probably deduct a star; I’d definitely deduct a star.
As is, I’d like to think this was a particularly bad and busy day for this family. The busy mother and father and rather mean sister all tell the boy to go away. So, left to his own devices he gets into some trouble, all in order to get some attention. It could be worse and he engages in some innocuous as well as mildly destructive behaviors. In the end I think all is supposedly supposed to be okay, but really nothing is resolved and when the story ends, nobody apologizes and I don’t see any learning/guidance taking place.
I could have done without this one.
But I think some children will like it and reading it with a child or group of children could lead to some interesting discussions.
I did really enjoy the illustrations.
And I know I have liked other children’s picture books by this author.
2 ½ stars
If it weren’t for the last page that does show some true affection between these family members, I’d probably deduct a star; I’d definitely deduct a star.
As is, I’d like to think this was a particularly bad and busy day for this family. The busy mother and father and rather mean sister all tell the boy to go away. So, left to his own devices he gets into some trouble, all in order to get some attention. It could be worse and he engages in some innocuous as well as mildly destructive behaviors. In the end I think all is supposedly supposed to be okay, but really nothing is resolved and when the story ends, nobody apologizes and I don’t see any learning/guidance taking place.
I could have done without this one.
But I think some children will like it and reading it with a child or group of children could lead to some interesting discussions.
I did really enjoy the illustrations.
And I know I have liked other children’s picture books by this author.
2 ½ stars
April 13, 2012
Hum. I'm not quite sure what to make of this.
I think Viorst captures very well the emotions children (and adults!) sometimes have when they feel neglected by those around them. Sometimes we want attention and everyone else is so busy. Sometimes it feels like, even if you are in a house with a bunch of other people, there's "nobody here but me." Children might act out their feeling by misbehaving, doing things that they would not be allowed to do if people were paying attention to them. That's what happens here.
On the one hand, I appreciate a book that deals with this subject. On the other hand, I really did not like this family and feel the subject could have been approached in a kinder way. The big sister is especially bratty, and I didn't like the little boy's smugness nor the extent of his destructiveness, though the end tried to smooth things over. And while I can certainly understand parents being busy and needing some time to themselves for important phone calls or emails, to ignore your child for an extended period of time (and while he messes up the house, no less!) doesn't seem quite right. It is one thing for children to *feel* ignored sometimes (when their busy but loving parents really are looking on from whatever activity they are engaged in); but quite another for them to actually be neglected.
Maybe I just expected more from Viorst, because I usually love her work :-(
I think Viorst captures very well the emotions children (and adults!) sometimes have when they feel neglected by those around them. Sometimes we want attention and everyone else is so busy. Sometimes it feels like, even if you are in a house with a bunch of other people, there's "nobody here but me." Children might act out their feeling by misbehaving, doing things that they would not be allowed to do if people were paying attention to them. That's what happens here.
On the one hand, I appreciate a book that deals with this subject. On the other hand, I really did not like this family and feel the subject could have been approached in a kinder way. The big sister is especially bratty, and I didn't like the little boy's smugness nor the extent of his destructiveness, though the end tried to smooth things over. And while I can certainly understand parents being busy and needing some time to themselves for important phone calls or emails, to ignore your child for an extended period of time (and while he messes up the house, no less!) doesn't seem quite right. It is one thing for children to *feel* ignored sometimes (when their busy but loving parents really are looking on from whatever activity they are engaged in); but quite another for them to actually be neglected.
Maybe I just expected more from Viorst, because I usually love her work :-(
April 9, 2012
Every child gets the "nobody's paying any attention to me" feeling once in awhile and this is a good story that depicts what happens when one little boy is feeling these emotions. I am an only child and on more than one occasion, I hid and just waited until one of my parents got around to finding me. Although I was fairly content and able to amuse myself as a child, the occasional feelings of loneliness and boredom came rushing back as we read this book.
The narrative is short and entertaining and the dialogue is realistic (although perhaps a bit curt between the family members.) The illustrations by Christine Davenier complement the story nicely and they remind us strongly of her work with Kimberly Willis Holt on the Piper Reed series. We did discuss how the little boy's ways of getting attention were not appropriate, and our girls offered suggestions for what he could have done instead. Overall, it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together. We've read it together a couple of times.
The narrative is short and entertaining and the dialogue is realistic (although perhaps a bit curt between the family members.) The illustrations by Christine Davenier complement the story nicely and they remind us strongly of her work with Kimberly Willis Holt on the Piper Reed series. We did discuss how the little boy's ways of getting attention were not appropriate, and our girls offered suggestions for what he could have done instead. Overall, it was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together. We've read it together a couple of times.
October 7, 2016
A frank point of view of a child who is ignored by both of his parents (busy on the phone and computer) and his sister (busy with a friend). The child...after doing some fairly destructive activities in hopes of getting attention resorts to playing hide-and-seek in the basement in hopes that he will be missed and they will come find him...and they never do! Poor kid! He eventually just changes into his night clothes and goes to bed early. Then his family comes in...ready now to pay attention to him and it is all supposed to be OK! NO! I object. His family is messed up!
September 12, 2008
dang, i love viorst but there were times during reading this to the girls that i almost stopped the book. this poor kid...nobody pays him any attention until he goes into his room and hide in bed like he's dead! his attempts to get attention range from painting on the way to cutting his hair and jeans. hello!?! do we really need to teach our children how to self-mutilate and feign illness for attention. boo, judith, boo.
January 7, 2009
Ah, the lonliness of the youngest child... a good book about real feelings with a real ending that a child feeling ignored or lonely will appreciate.
October 22, 2017
This one reminded me of my nephews - maybe a bit TOO much...
August 5, 2017
Everyone is too busy to play with the little boy in the book...mother is on the phone, dad is looking at emails, and big sister is playing with a friend. So the boy needs to find other things to keep himself busy. All the while he is lamenting that it feels like there is "nobody here but me."
Although I enjoyed the book, I did find it a little sad that everyone kept brushing off the little boy. And that he found ways to keep himself busy that weren't exactly constructive...some downright naughty. I wonder what kind of message this would send to a little reader.
Although I enjoyed the book, I did find it a little sad that everyone kept brushing off the little boy. And that he found ways to keep himself busy that weren't exactly constructive...some downright naughty. I wonder what kind of message this would send to a little reader.
September 5, 2018
I have no idea who on earth would find this book appealing. I would certainly not share it with my kid, since I don't want him thinking it's okay to wreck the house when no one is paying attention to him.
February 8, 2020
This book has beautiful pictures. It is about a boy who feels ignored by his family. He tries several times to get attention from his family. This is a harsh reality that some children face.
March 9, 2015
A little boy is feeling neglected when he tries to get attention from his family and fails. His mom is on the phone, his dad is answering emails and his sister has a friend over. The boy tries several things to get attention such as painting walls, making messes, cutting his own hair and clothing. He tries several times to ask his family to spend time with him, but they are busy each time. The boy hides, but no one comes looking for him. He decides to teach his family a lesson. He gets ready for bed and pretends to sleep. When they family is ready to spend time with him, they look for him, but find him ignoring them and pretending to be asleep.
This story gets one star for several reasons. First, it is an example of neglectful parenting. There are so many ways the parents could have given their child attention while still working, but instead they completely ignored the boy and not once in 70 minutes checked on what he was doing. The sister was mean, repeatedly. The boy made horrible messes that in the end were ignored. He spends much of the book trying to get revenge on his family. But the worst of all was the self destructive behavior portrayed. The boy couldn't get attention so he destroys the house even begins using the scissors on himself. He cuts pieces of his hair and puts holes in his jeans. This book disturbed me in so many ways. There may be children out there who feel this way, but not a single child needs to have this kind of story read to them. It serves absolutely no positive purpose unless a parent reads it to learn about how NOT to parent.
This story gets one star for several reasons. First, it is an example of neglectful parenting. There are so many ways the parents could have given their child attention while still working, but instead they completely ignored the boy and not once in 70 minutes checked on what he was doing. The sister was mean, repeatedly. The boy made horrible messes that in the end were ignored. He spends much of the book trying to get revenge on his family. But the worst of all was the self destructive behavior portrayed. The boy couldn't get attention so he destroys the house even begins using the scissors on himself. He cuts pieces of his hair and puts holes in his jeans. This book disturbed me in so many ways. There may be children out there who feel this way, but not a single child needs to have this kind of story read to them. It serves absolutely no positive purpose unless a parent reads it to learn about how NOT to parent.
November 22, 2020
This book can be used in a classroom with grades K and up. This is about a young boy feeling lonely, a feeling that most students will be able to connect with. I would bring this book into my classroom when talking about feelings and emotions to talk about loneliness and feeling like no one is paying attention to you. This book does include the issue of equity as the main character feels as though he is not being treated fairly. The book does not include the issue of diversity that I noticed.
January 3, 2009
A little boy needs attention, Mom is on the phone, Dad is checking his email, and Big Sister is playing with a friend. He entertains himself, and in the end, well, I'll let you read it. Nice picture book for elementary kids.
April 26, 2014
Terrible. I wish I would have read through before checking it out of the library and reading it to my kids. I cringed all the way through. Teaches children to act out negatively when they want attention instead of showing how to be constructive with time and solve problems in a healthy way.
September 27, 2008
Mom's on the phone, Dad's using computer, and sister's playing with her friend. The little boy is all alone and he can do anything his little heart desires...
December 10, 2009
family too busy
February 11, 2010
When everyone else is on the phone, writing email, or playing with other friends, this little boy feels like there's nobody there but him.
September 20, 2012
Boy struggles with his mom, dad, and sister being too busy to play with him...until the end of the story.
June 21, 2015
Love Christine Davenier's colour. And her depiction of the Sister Katie is even better than the depiction of the main character. Davenier is particularly good at the vignette form
February 27, 2014
Notes:
another awful book full of negativity
maybe parents should read this though
another awful book full of negativity
maybe parents should read this though
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews