Changes

by Anthony Browne

When Joseph's mother comes home, says his father, things are going to change. And almost at once they do — in the weirdest of ways . . .

Anthony Browne is the author and illustrator of many highly acclaimed books for children, including My Dad, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and Gorilla, winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. In 2000 he received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his contribution to children's literature. He lives in Kent, England.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, Art

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 1991

About the author

Anthony Browne, a Hans Christian Andersen Medalist, is the author-illustrator of many acclaimed books for children, including Silly Billy and Little Beauty. He lives in Kent, England.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un albo delicato che affronta il tema del cambiamento attraverso lo sguardo di un bambino. Oggetti e immagini si trasformano in modi sorprendenti, riflettendo paure e meraviglie legate alla crescita. Con la sua arte visionaria, Browne accompagna piccoli e grandi a scoprire che il cambiamento, pur spiazzante, può aprire nuove prospettive.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text contains personification which makes it a great resource for modelling how to use personification. In this story the author references to the number of changes we experience in life and how our imagination can take over- to me this was a powerful message. An example of this is when the author says ‘before leaving his dad said that things were going to change’, on the following pages are different interpretations of the meaning of change by the character with the words ‘was this what he had meant?’. The use of questions engages the reader by drawing their attention to the text. Questions also enable the reader to predict what may happen next based on what they have read. In the book the author has used framing to create movement and empathy for the characters.
Overall, a great read

[Jacqui Beglan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to use with a class of KS2 children as a stimulus for P4C lessons. It addresses how quickly changes can happen within a family. With just one sentence, it can change the way children think about and see their world changing around them. The illustrations initiate discussion there.
Pupils can come up with deeper questions they want to discuss and how the news of a new baby is raised with children.

[Carys O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book about Joshua waiting for a change that his father told him was happening. Everything is surreal and not as it seems. A simple story line to follow and the images are great to lead discussion with a guided reading group in KS1.

[Fortuna Estudios · Rating 5 out of 5]

José no sabía qué hacer.
Tal vez si diera una vuelta en bicicleta...

[Shereil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy who is at home waiting for a big change that his father told him will come when he returns home. While he waits he imagines a number of different objects around the house are various animals instead. He wonders and wonders and in the end the big change turns out to be a new born baby, his little sister. I thought this book was very interesting the way the pictures were so well turned from everyday objects to animals. I think it really showed the vast imagination of children and just how different they might view things. As an adult reader however, I felt the book did not deliver anything spectacular at the end, I had hoped for something bigger to happen. Although that is exactly why this book is not aimed at adults, we are perhaps wanting too much, and a new born baby is such a wonderful and special thing that should be treasured. Children can be excited by should small things that adults sometimes take for granted and so it was nice that this book reflected this. Overall, the book was pleasant to read and it was certainly different to some of the picture books I had ever seen growing up. It was great the way the pictures told a story and useful for those who may not be able to read so well.

[Jacqueline Field · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changes By Anthony Browne

Joseph is a boy who lives with his mother and father. When Joseph is at home one day he tells Joseph that things are going to change when his mother gets home. His father left the house so while he was gone Joseph decided to explore all his favourite and familiar places. He looked in the kitchen and couldn't see any change, he looked in the living room, his bedroom and even outside in the garden but everything seemed the same to him. Joseph couldn't understand what his father meant. Joseph gave up on exploring the house and went to his bedroom switched the light off and laid in his bed. Then all of a sudden his bedroom door opens and his father and mother switch on the light and they are standing at his door with a new baby sister.

I used this book on SBT1 to describe to a year two class about the process of change for a PSHCE lesson. I wanted the pupils to understand that change wasn't a negative process and through change we sometimes gain a positive outcome. The pupils loved the story as they were excited to discover what the change for Joseph was. They also after the story had stories of their own to tell about when they gained a brother or a sister or times when they went through positive change.

[Fatheha Begum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Anthony Browne's surreal book,with great imagery and quirky pictures.This book is about a young boy who is waiting for something big to change.His father had told him that something will change before he left the house.as the boy waits in the house alone,he feels everything changes around him. The boy happens to imagine that objects around they house change into animals and other things...
But what is actually going to change?What did the father mean by change?is the boy imagining things or is things are actually changing around him?
Well what we get to find out is that his father and mother bring home a new baby.This is definitely going to change things around the house for sure.As we all may have experienced this,we should all know how it is to feel when we get a new baby sister or brother in the house.It can be the most exciting of times ,also it may be the biggest change.Parents tend to be very busy with the new child that they almost forget to give attention to the other child.

It is graet book to introduce to children and can discuss new things happening in their life.You can talk about feelings of how they felt when something new happened or the change that took place

[Shanaz Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy called Joseph who notices changes around his home. It starts off with Joseph noticing something strange about the kettle, the picture that represents the kettle has a cats tail coming out from the side. As the story goes on Joseph walks around the house and outside to see what he can understand about his father stating that ‘things are going to change’.

There are various picture to demonstrate changes in the house. The pictures would appear funny to a young reader however I don’t think a young child would easily grasp the concept of the fact that having a new baby would change the household without having it been explained to. The images are quite scary that relates to ‘changes’ however if I was to read this to a class I would talk about the positiveness of ‘changes’ and relate it to seasons changing, growing up there are changes etc. I think a young child reading this would enjoy analyzing the pictures as it does go into detail of various changes within the household.

[Papá Lector · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Bienvenido a una reseña más en el blog, hoy toca el turno de Cambios escrito por Anthony Browne editado por El Fondo de Cultura Económica, se trata de un libro álbum infantil, con una edición en pasta dura y parte de la colección Los Especiales de A la Orilla del Viento debido a su gran tamaño.

Cuando tomé el libro de mi librero para leerlo no tenía idea de que esperar de libro porque de hecho no había leído ni siquiera la sinopsis, por lo que al ir leyendo el libro descubrí de que trataba y para mí fue una muy bonita sorpresa.

Se trata de un libro muy corto, donde sus páginas mayormente contienen unas ilustraciones preciosas con toques realistas que dan más la impresión de tratarse de fotografías que de ilustraciones, lo que le da un toque especial y diferente al libro, parece ser que estamos viendo al niño protagonista del libro, son solo 28 paginas conteniendo muy poco texto, por lo que la sinopsis, aunque corta, prácticamente narra el libro completo.

El tema principal es tal cual el título, los cambios, aquellos que los niños pueden llegar a percibir de una forma completamente distinta a como lo hacemos los adultos, y mucho se debe a esa imaginación tan despierta y a flor de piel que como niños aún existe y de la que muchos adultos ya carecemos, es por eso que nuestro niño imagina como serán los cambios a los que su papá se refiere una mañana cuando sale de casa y le dice que cuando vuelva todo será diferente, ve como empieza cambiar la tetera, el sofá de la sala, un balón de futbol y hasta la manguera del patio, pero llega el momento en que se da cuenta que a lo que su papa se refería era que llegaría un integrante nuevo a la familia y eso irremediablemente haría cambiar las cosas.

Resalto el toque infantil con el que al autor narra la corta historia del libro, la inocencia y el echar a volar la imaginación hacen que este libro sea tierno y muy bonito, te arranca sin duda un suspiro e ternura cuando descubres a que se refería su papa con esa frase al despedirse por un momento de él.

Sus pocas páginas y texto hacen que sea un libro ideal para primeros lectores, algo que hace total sentido ya que está destinado a aquellos niños que están próximos a recibir en casa a un hermanito y por lo general son de corta edad, que aún no leen o están iniciando a hacerlo.

La edición y las ilustraciones merecen una calificación alta, un acierto de parte de la editorial, al estar impreso en papel brillante resalta los dibujos y los hace más llamativos.

Espero la reseña les haya gustado, recuerden que cualquier comentario es más que bienvenido.

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to say about this very surreal and strange book. Joseph Kaye is waiting at home while his dad has gone to pick up his mum. He’s been told things will change but what did his father mean by that? ‘Changes’ is a large book, a bit bigger than A4 in size and filled with thick glossy pages of illustrations and easy to read text.

As Joseph ponders on the question of what will change, his imagination starts coming up with all sorts of things. First he sees the kettle changing its shape. Before he knows it the kettle’s become a cat! Is this what his father meant when he said things were going to change? The whole story follows this similar feel with Joseph left alone to imagine all sorts of things happening.

I really like the illustrations. I’ve always enjoyed Dali’s paintings and Browne’s illustrations take on a similar feel. There are lots of different things happening to the objects around Joseph and it’s interesting just to look at the pictures and spot all the surreal changes going on. Even some very small objects such as a framed photo on top of the television have hidden fun extras that you may not notice the first time you read this book.

Although the illustrations are good, I’m not sure the story will really be understood by kids and it felt a little strange. I’m going to put a spoiler here by telling you that the ending of the book has a twist: That the ‘change’ is that Joseph has a new baby sister which his parents bring home for him to met. This is a good twist but I’m not sure kids will really understand this ending if they are reading it alone.

The illustrations are great in this book and I think many kids will really enjoy looking at the pictures and spotting all the changes that appear, but whether the message in the story will be understood, and whether it’s a good book for discussing a new sibling to children I’m not so sure.
-Thanks to Walker books for a free copy (as part of The Anthony Browne Collection).

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Changes, Browne tells the story of a young boy named Joseph who is expecting changes to occur in his life after his father alluded to some changes coming soon. He did not know what his father had meant and began to notice changes in everyday things like the kettle and the couch. At the end of the book, Joseph realizes what change his father was referring to.

Based on the cover art, I was expecting a picture book with a lot going on, but I was shocked to see the overall layout and design was plain and simple. This made it easier to read the words in its slightly large, easy-to-read text, allowing his readers to focus on the artwork exhibited throughout the book. The art shows a sense of realism in regards to the detail put into the characters' features and the setting. There are also some surreal aspects that remind me of an artist who specializes in Surreal art, Salvador Dali.

Overall, I love how Browne expresses the exaggerated imagination of a young boy who is anxious about the aforementioned change that has yet to come, and because it has not yet come, Joseph becomes more anxious over the course of the story. The book is a playful reminder of a child's emotional and cognitive development that is based on how they perceive the world. It also reminds us of our inner child that comes out, every now and then, when we have our imaginations/ fantasies can sometimes seem too real because of our emotional state.

[Erin Sturtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a unique and sweet story! Changes, by Anthony Browne, tells the story of a boy named Joseph Kaye, whose father tells him that things are going to change. While Joseph waits for his father to return home, he imagines what the change could be. He starts picturing the objects in his house change into different animals, and walks around inside and outside to find changes. The giant change occurs when his parents come home with a little baby sister. The book ends immediately after this. However, I wish it would have continued on and explained how Joseph adapts to this change. The illustrations are spectacular! They are plain, realistic, simple, and detailed. On one of the pages, the illustration takes up the whole space. On the other page, the illustration takes up half the space. There are only a few words on each page, so the illustrations help to tell the story. The sentences are in a large and easy to read font. This is a perfect book for older readers who might be expecting another sibling and can relate to big changes in their lives. I would suggest this book for kids 7-9. While the book is an easy read, the concept is more complex and better suited for older readers.

[Florencia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro aborda el tema de los cambios inesperados que pueden ocurrir en la vida de un niño. El texto lo grafica de manera ilustrativa a través de un niño llamado Joseph que transforma los distintos objetos de su casa como por ejemplo, sillones y zapatos y los caracteriza en cocodrilos y pájaros. Todo a raíz de una conversación con su padre en la que le contaron un pronto cambio en su vida, sin especificar cuál sería, de esta manera su imaginación se va desarrollando e imaginando eventos muy extraordinarios.
La historia tiene una gran calidad y se ve reflejado al momento de leer ya que transmite una sensación de intriga. Por ejemplo, al comienzo muestran una tetera con orejas de gato no se entiende el por qué es relevante este tipo de imágenes pero a través del relato se va infiriendo que todos los cambios representan las sensaciones que está sintiendo Joseph. También cuando al final del libro muestran una ilustración de una la puerta con una sombra de personas que van entrando y genera curiosidad de saber si lo que se aproxima es el cambio del que tanto pensó, lo que logra transmitir emoción de descubrirlo.

[Claire Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and many children that have younger siblings will be able to relate to it. Joseph's dad tells him that things are going to change and at this point, his imagination goes wild as he starts imagining all different things that could be changing, such as the sofa turning into a crocodile. At the end of this book, it is revealed that the 'change' in the house is that his mum had a baby and now he is a big brother. The illustrations in this book are very realistic and highlight how children can have very vivid imaginations to think of all the possible things that could happen to explain what his dad said.

Similarly, when my little sister was born, my parents told me that things would be changing in the house because I would have a little sister that would also need looking after. I understood this at the time, but this may be attributed to the fact that I was nearly seven. Some young children, perhaps in reception, may not understand what changes will occur with a new baby in the house and hence imagine all different things.

[Grace Glenaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading the picture book "Changes" by Anthony Browne. Not only was the story drawing me in as a reader, but so were the visuals. The pictures were so gorgeous, matched the story will, and just elegant while staying simple. In this story, the author references to the number of changes we experience in life and how our imagination can take over a lot of the time. For example, when someone passes away, your life will change, but you'll never know what to expect. You will begin to imagine what life would be like, you will imagine what they would grow to look like, etc. My father passed away when I was four years old, and I imagine all the time what would my life look like if he was still here? Imagination can be good and bad. The authors use of questions engages the reader by drawing their attention to the text, and it allows open interpretation. Questions can enable the reader to predict what may happen next based on what they have read, and it also leaves a sense of excitement. This book was a great read, and I think it would work well for a class read!

[Caitlin McGrath · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Changes," by Anthony Browne is about a boy named Joseph. His father tells him that things are going to be changing, and Joseph is not sure what he means by this. While he waits for his father to return home with his mother, he walks around the house and outside, imagining what could change. He imagines furniture turning into animals and different objects turning into other things. Eventually we find out that the big change was that his mother had a baby, so he became a big brother. The illustrations are detailed and realistic, which helps make the story easier to understand. I would use this book for older readers, from ages 8 to 10. It is not very difficult to read the book, however, the concepts in the story might be too complex for younger children to fully understand. This book could be used to help students understand and deal with changes that they might be dealing with in their lives.

[Ashley Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph knows that his life is about to change, but he doesn't know quite yet in what way how his life is about to change. He starts to see the world around him change in different ways, from the objects in the kitchen to the objects in the bathroom, from his bedroom and to the living room. They seem to change to what he sees in his imagination and what he thinks his parents may notice. He goes outside to see if the same thing is happening out there and finds out that it is. When Joseph heads back inside to his room and shuts the door, we see a picture of darkness that signifies Joseph not knowing what the change in his life is going to be. To find out what the change is, you will have to read the book! I think this will be a good for a classroom to discuss because it shows how change can be a good thing in someone's life.

[Becs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It has some intelligent ideas which may be a stroke of genius, but the ideas are delivered in a bit of an obscure way which doesn't suit every reader. Sadly we fell in to the "didn't really get it" category.

A little boy is told things are going to change, and so he starts noticing obscure changes around the house which are impossible but really creative and result in fun pictures for us! The end result however was a little bit flat, not really explaining the boys creative mind/unusual findings, and left us a little disappointed.

The illustrations however really are such great fun and were enough to keep us interested, but the story line just sadly wasn't for us.

ARC provided free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenna Argast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changes by Anthony Browne is about a father telling his son, Joseph that big changes are happening when he comes home. Joseph has no clue what he is talking about. Therefore, everything around him seems to be changing. His imagination is going wild with curiosity because he has no idea what is changing. For example, he looks outside and sees dragon eyes out the window. Then he goes outside and sees his bike tire turn into an apple. Finally, his mother and father come home with a baby! He now has a baby sister. Everything all makes sense again. This book had really nice illustrations to go along with what he was imagining. They really captured his curiosity well and had a lot of little details in them. This was a great story for older readers! I highly recommend this book.

[Makenzie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute and well written book about a little boy named Joseph Kaye who is going through a lot of changes in his life. Joseph starts to see everyday home items turn into animals. He begins to wonder if this is what his dad meant by things changing. Joseph worried and waited. Once his parents got home he is surprised with his new little sibling.

The illustrations in this book is full of warm colors and traditional style drawings. The illustrations play a huge role in making the story. Without the drawings the reader would not see the furniture turn into animals.

I would use this story with k-5 as a transition book. I would use when students move into a new grade or when they begin to change themselves.

[Archie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is called ''Changes''. In the book, we meet Joseph and his family.
In the morning his father announces that everything is going to change. That frightens Joseph because he doesn't know what exactly is going to change. He imagines everything in his world changing: chair to a gorilla, bike wheels to apples...It turns out the change is a new family member.
The most important aspect of the book is being positive and open to changes. The book has amazing illustrations which make a serious topic more humorous and easier for young children to understand.
I would give this book a 4-star rating and recommend it to my friends to read.
By Archie M

[Summer Lor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy named Joseph experiencing odd changes in his home. His father tells him that things would be changing, but were his odd experiences the changes his father told him about? The illustrations in this book are so realistically drawn. The animals looked realistic, and so did the humans in the book. I can hear the confusion in the voice of the narrator as Joseph was experiencing these things. I can only imagine how frustrated Joseph was as his furniture kept oddly turning into animals.

[Minna Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really sweet exploration of how things change when a new sibling is introduced to the family. The little boy notices that objects around his house are turning into animals and his father says that things are going to change around home, leading the boy to wonder whether that is what he means and explore the area and idea further. His father actually means he has a new baby sister!

The book has subtle themes of curiosity and change, as well as the use imagination and how it can make even boring things (like a kettle) more interesting

[Morgan Tate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not a fan of this book! During the whole story I was confused and excited to see why everything was changing into animals and I was not satisfied with the ending. There was so much build up to the end and I was underwhelmed. While I didn't like the story, I enjoyed to illustrations they really made the story. The book would make no sense without them. The illustrator did a great job of hiding the changes then allowing them to grow each page. Overall, I probably would not recommend this I think there are far better books on this topic and on this reading level.

[Ellie Abrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be particularly helpful to share with a child that is apprehensive about changes that may occur in the future. Joseph has been told by his father that 'everything is about to change', in his confusion of what is about to change, he imagines the very fabrics of his existence changing altogether. There are great images in this book, that are both surreal and quirky. As such, it could be helpful in making light of a situation, due to the humour found in these pictures.

[Erika HerO✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermosas ilustraciones. La historia trata sobre un niño llamada José Kaf noto algo raro en la tetera, luego en toda la casa, estaba él solo. Ese día su papá fue a recoger a su mamá, antes de irse le había dicho a José que las cosas iban a cambiar.
El niño da vuelta por su casa, luego en bicicleta esperando a que cambie todo, se aburre y se va a dormir. Sus padres llegan a casa con una sorpresa. Su hermana recién nacida.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph's imagination jettisons into hyperdrive when his father leaves with mother stating, "When your mother returns things are going to change." And they do. Joseph imagines a menagerie of changes around him: the toaster begins to turn into a cat, the couch into a gorilla (Anthony Browne LOVES gorillas), and his slippers nearly take flight. What is going on?
When father finally returns with mother, there's a much more wonderful surprise than the wild imaginings Joseph had imagined.

[Annie Donette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible. Surreal. Uncanny.

Browne has validated children who are expecting new siblings, by centering the darkness and anxiety involved in that anticipation. Let's face it, the arrival of a weird new little person that you never asked for is a proper headf***.

The fear of the unknown plays horrible tricks on your mind. Cracked eggs, cuckoos and huge eyes appear. Things aren't as they seem, and will never be the same again. Change is coming.

[Jasmine Longworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a small boy getting a new baby sister. Anthony talks about the dad telling the boy that something is going to change, the boy then imagines lots of different changes and animals which could signify what it may be like when this change happens. I think it is a great book to talk to children about a significant change that may be going on in their life.