The Most Important Thing in the World

by Kelly Sanford

Emma is a guinea pig with an identity crisis. The neglected pet of a Tolkien-obsessed boy who really wanted a dog, Emma escapes her cage to the wild spaces of Florida, certain she is either a dragon or a German Shepherd. A chance meeting with a mottled duck and an iguana allies this unlikely trio on a quest for self-discovery. Along the way, they seek counsel from true friends, fair-weather friends, wise creatures, cruel creatures, well-intentioned strangers, an offbeat shaman, and a strange artist. In a journey that takes them from the suburbs to the swamps, to the highlands, then the ocean, and back again, these friends ultimately learn that true clarity comes when one refuses to be shaped from the outside in and instead tells their own story from the inside out—however unexpected that story may be. The Most Important Thing in the World is no ordinary coming-of-age story; this episodic folktale will resonate with the young and young at heart as you join Emma and her steadfast friends on a wild and exhilarating journey to the point where clarity is derived from chaos.

Genres: Childrens

324 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2022

About the author

Kelly Sanford is a mother, traveler, and pragmatist who writes off-kilter stories about human nature and its relationship with the natural world.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane]

This is a very Whitty. Funny & Amazing Tale, Highly Recommended!
(Thanks to Net Galley for this book).

[Morgan]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Emma, a guinea pig, escapes from her forgetful owner and goes on a journey. On her journey, she finds out what she really is, makes friends, and learns about trust.
This is a good book for middle-grade readers.

[Chilsea]

true storytelling

I won this book and I am so pleased that I won. Kelly has a back for pulling you into another place. Bringing us a wonderful story of triumph. It reminds me of Mouse and the motorcycle, and The Witches. These three friends are the best. I was also amazed with the wonderful characters, weather they are nice or mean they play a big part in Emma’s journey of finding out what she is. Any middle schooler would enjoy this book.

[Cody Paxton]

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

Super cute coming of age story, well written and visually descriptive.
Would highly recommend for any child in grade school who's struggling with finding their identity and trying to find with who and where they belong. There's keynotes of bravery, honesty, building "eclectic" friendships and the importance of them, forgiveness and understanding. Also dabbles in the darker side of building trust and how some intentions aren't are sincere as they seem.

[Kandi]

I won this on Goodreads giveaway. Loved this story about unlikely friendships and the help the provide Ella on her journey to find her identity

[Josephine Sorrell]

The boy loves his Guinea pig until his interests change as he grows into puberty. Meet Emma an animal who used to be a pet, and she has an identity crisis… is she a dragon or a German shepherd? Well she escapes her cage to the wild spaces of Florida, meeting along the way a rag tag group of other animals, including a mottled duck and an iguana who take Emma under their wing. Along the way, they seek counsel from true friends, fair-weather friends, wise creatures, cruel creatures, well-intentioned strangers, an offbeat shaman, and a strange artist.
They journey through the suburbs, the swamps, the highlands, and finally reaching the intended destination, the ocean.

From the animals point of view, this is a fun book, filled with cuteness and lessons for us all.

[Annarella]

Emma the Guinea pig who thinks she's a dragon or a dog is a great characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Lynn Ford]

A beautiful and well-articulated story about the value of good friends and loving yourself

[Stephanie H.]

The Most Important Thing in the World is a cute and funny yet also insightful book reminiscent of Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle. It is the kind of story that I would have loved to read over and over as a kid. A neglected guinea pig named Emma sets out on her own in the wilds of Florida. Finding that she doesn’t know what she truly is, she teams up with her new friends—a duck and an iguana—to solve this identity crisis. Along the way, they meet new friends, sort-of friends, and enemies who either help them or complicate their quest. In the end, Emma will do anything to learn what she is and where she belongs—is she a dragon? A German Shepherd? A guinea pig? Or something else entirely?

The first commendable part of this story is the plot. Not all children’s stories—or even middle grade stories, for that matter—have plots that can hold an adult’s attention, but The Most Important Thing in the World manages to be one of them. The plot is not too complex, making it easy for younger readers to follow. However, there is still a compelling air of mystery to it in what Emma and her friends will encounter while she is learning what she truly is as well as what conclusion she will come to about her identity. This combination makes it perfect for slightly younger readers—eight years old, perhaps—and adults who might be reading the book first to ensure that it’s appropriate for their young wards.

The book is also packed full of memorable characters, from Emma the lost guinea pig to Mina the ostracized iguana to Raoul the eccentric bat. They not only represent the colorful creatures present in the wilds of Florida—either naturally, invasively, or because they escape their humans’ homes—but also the wide range of colorful personalities that populate our world. With them, there is never a dull moment in this world that Sanford has created.

Most importantly, there are surprisingly sophisticated lessons in this story for readers of all ages. It teaches children about the importance of responsible pet ownership, several lessons on friendship, anti-bullying messages, acceptance, self-confidence, the discovery of one’s identity, and more. Truthfully, I think that many adults would do well to read this book and heed these messages as well. Even with all these lessons, though, it doesn’t feel as though they are forced into the story or are made too obvious. Instead, they are organically woven into the plot and character development, which, I believe, is the best way to present lessons even in books for younger readers.

With a wonderfully imaginative world and beautiful illustrations to match, I think that The Most Important Thing in the World is a great book for any older child reader—or children at heart. If you’re a fan of adventurous animal tales, fun and funny stories, and/or are looking for such a book for a younger reader you know, then you’ll want to grab a copy.

[Chelsea]

I cannot say enough good things about this book! I absolutely adore it! The Most Important Thing in the World by Kelly Sanford tells the story to Emma, a guinea pig who thinks she might actually be a German shepherd or a dragon. Emma escapes from her cage and makes friends with a duck and an iguana. The three take off on a multitude of adventures in Florida. While this book is definitely a fun, quirky story about three sweet animals, it is also very much full of lessons that children need to hear/read. As a teacher, I think this is such a valuable book for social emotional learning. The lessons Emma learns will help kids understand how to deal with social issues, self confidence, and peer pressure issues. This book is an invaluable learning tool for parents and teachers to use with their children and students. As a teacher, I also appreciate the Tolkien references as well. So much fun!

The writing in this book is phenomenal as well. It was written in a way that kids will easily be able to follow the story and understand it. I think even younger kids would appreciate the stories in this book. Each chapter acts as a sort of short story as well and the chapters are relatively short which means that even young children can stay focused on the story so that a chapter a night as a bedtime story would work perfectly. There aren’t illustrations in the book so that would be the one issue that might make younger children struggle with this book However, the illustrations at the front of the book and on the cover are so adorable! One of my favorite things about this book! I would honestly love to see more similar illustrations throughout the book. Overall, this is a phenomenal book that a wide range of ages will enjoy. Grab this one immediately! You won’t regret it and it will provide hours of quality time with the little one in your life!

[Sue]

Join Emma, a guinea pig with an identity crisis, on a journey of self-discovery as she escapes her cage and sets out into the wilds of Florida. Along with a mottled duck and an iguana, she seeks guidance from a diverse cast of characters, from true friends to wise creatures, on a quest to find herself. In this episodic folktale, the trio travels from the suburbs to the swamps, to the highlands, and back again, learning that true clarity comes from within and not from outside forces. The Most Important Thing in the World is a unique and inspiring coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers of all ages. Get ready for a wild and exhilarating journey to the point where clarity is derived from chaos.

[Abigail L.]

Join Emma, a guinea pig with an identity crisis, on a journey of self-discovery as she escapes her cage and sets out into the wilds of Florida. Along with a mottled duck and an iguana, she seeks guidance from a diverse cast of characters, from true friends to wise creatures, on a quest to find herself. In this episodic folktale, the trio travels from the suburbs to the swamps, to the highlands, and back again, learning that true clarity comes from within and not from outside forces. The Most Important Thing in the World is a unique and inspiring coming-of-age story that will resonate with readers of all ages. Get ready for a wild and exhilarating journey to the point where clarity is derived from chaos.

[jyweniverel]

An adorable read. There is a paragraph in the book that quickly sums up it up…..
“Once upon a time, there was a fire-breathing German Shepherd who was born in a cage. One day she decided to go out in the big wide world, only everywhere she went, creatures kept telling her she was a pet, and she belonged in a cage. But she said to everyone who doubted her, ‘I am no pet, and I do not belong in a cage.’ At every turn, there were creatures who expected her to give up, but she refused to give up. Through her trials and tribulations, she learned to believe in those who believed in her. In her heart, she knew her place was in the big wide world, so she went out into the world and proved it.”
Full of adventure, mismatched friendships, and life lesson even humans can take to heart.

[Kathryn M]

Kelly Sanford's book offers fun for every age. Emma, the pet guinea pig, finds herself ignored once her owner abandons her for Tolkien. While he is immersed in his reading adventures, Emma sets off on her own journey of discovery beyond her cage. She meets a colorful series of animals full of advice (not always good) and as she struggles to discover her true. Every new adventure offers lessons for life that children and adults alike will relate to and Diane Sammet's illustrations are delightful!

[Peter]

Guinea Pigs are wonderfully cute animal as pets. Emma was a young boys play friend, but forgotten as he grows, she escapes into the wider world. The book is about Emma trying to find out who and what she. Emma learns not to accept what others think about her and to stay true to herself. From that her question will be answered. Thank you to Fickle Font Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine freely given.

[Aly V]

Actually, I give this read 3 1/2 stars. I truly was enjoying this book; loved Sanford's writing style, and the main characters and some not-so main characters were endearing and downright lovable. But the ending of the story... well, it left me feeling sort of like Emma did after she endured such a wild, adventurous quest... the need for clarity. Guess it's just me....

[Pamela Camilliere]

Even though this book is intended for young readers, it has a message for all readers.
The varied topics of self-awareness and identity, the main theme, together with immigration, prejudice, substance abuse, trust, friendships, relationships and death written in a humorous and sweet style is a gift to us all. Thanks for the journey that Emma and her friends took us on.

[Marta]

Filled with quirky talking animals, this whimsical fantasy will have middle-grade readers eagerly turning pages as they follow Emma, the guinea pig searching for her identity. A charming read with its share of danger, suspense, friendship, and a surprise ending.

[Paris Núñez]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Cute book with fun, likable characters. It was a little odd at times and the second half moved a lot faster than the first half. But overall it was a great story about friendship and finding who you are.

[Nancy West]

I loved everything about this book. The voice, the charming characters, the plot ... Truly a classic in the making!

[Lena VanAusdle]

cute story with endearing characters

[John Elcik]

If you've ever wondered what happens when a guinea pig with a serious identity crisis teams up with a duck and an iguana, wonder no more! Kelly Sanford's "The Most Important Thing in the World" is here to enlighten you with a tale so whimsically bizarre that it's like Dr. Seuss and Joseph Campbell decided to co-write a self-help book.

Meet Emma, the protagonist who's more confused than a GPS in a tunnel. She's a guinea pig with the heart of a dragon and the dreams of a German Shepherd. Trapped in the life of an ignored pet with a Tolkien-obsessed boy who clearly missed the memo on pet store returns, Emma's existential crisis propels her from the dull confines of her cage to the wild, unpredictable Florida landscape.
Accompanied by a duck with more spots than a Dalmatian and an iguana who's cooler than the other side of the pillow, Emma embarks on a journey of self-discovery. This isn't your average walk in the park. It's more like a mad dash through the suburbs, swamps, highlands, and the ocean, with a pit stop for advice from every creature and character imaginable. From fair-weather friends to a shaman who's as offbeat as a broken drum, the gang encounters the good, the bad, and the downright quirky.

Sanford's storytelling is a rollercoaster of emotions and antics, weaving a rich tapestry of themes like identity, friendship, and pursuing one's true story. It's a coming-of-age story if that age involves realizing you're not a mythical beast or a heroic canine. The narrative zigs and zags with the unpredictability of a squirrel on an espresso shot, ensuring that you're never quite sure what's around the next bend.

"The Most Important Thing in the World" is a reminder that the journey to self-discovery is about as straightforward as a pretzel. It's a charming, chaotic, and utterly delightful romp through the wilds of imagination and the reality of finding oneself. So, be prepared for a ride that's as enlightening as entertaining. Emma and her motley crew of critters don't just chase their tails; they chase the truth, and what they find might just surprise you.