Sally and the Some-Thing

by George O'Connor

Stuck at home with her mom and her new sibling, Sally heads for the swamp with her fishing pole and bike. What she discovers, in the form of a slimy, slithery Some-Thing, is a new best friend. Mud pies, burping contests, snail racing--and sensational, eerily beautiful artwork deliver plenty of kid appeal.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Monsters, Storytime, Humor, Fiction, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base and there are multiple George O'Conner's that illustrate comics

George O'Connor is the author of several picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Kapow!, Kersplash, and Sally and the Some-thing. JOURNEY INTO MOHAWK COUNTRY was his first graphic novel, a long-held dream that weaves together his passion for history and ongoing research into Native American life. He's also the author/illustrator of a new picture book, If I Had a Raptor.
He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally finds the "Some-Thing" in the pond while she is fishing (a cross between a giant frog and The Creature from the Black Lagoon). Sally finds that sometimes you have to play games that both you and your friend like...because that is part of being a good friend! A very valuable lesson for a small child who might be having problems making friends.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The eye-catching cover of Sally and the Some-Thing—Sally fishing off the pier with her feet dangling perilously close to the pond as a seemingly menacing pair of eyes rises toward the water's surface—is only the first awesome thing about this book. George O'Connor's interior artwork is just as evocative, and his story is at turns exciting and heartwarming. Backwoods swamplands are no place for a young girl to amuse herself, Sally thinks. She sets off for the pond to at least pass a few hours catching fish. But they aren't biting, and it's shaping up to be a dull afternoon until a slimy Some-Thing crawls up onto the pier Sally fishes from. It's some kind of mutant frog, twice as big as Sally. The Some-Thing is muddy and more than slightly scary in appearance, but it isn't boring. Surely this creature can only improve Sally's day. Taking it by the webbed hand, Sally runs off with the Some-Thing to have adventures.

A speechless swamp thing can't quickly adapt to human customs, it turns out. Trying to teach it to ride a bicycle is a disaster. Perhaps Sally would be better suited to learn the Some-Thing's favorite pastimes. Bridging the social gap isn't easy, but once Sally and the Some-Thing get the hang of being friends, they're as compatible as two humans. Who says a kid and a monster can't have a good time together? After a long day playing at the swamp, Sally and her amphibious pal say goodnight. There will be other days for them to have fun; that's a guarantee when your friend is really something, like Sally's is.

I love this book's illustrations. The cover is what initially drew me to it, and I suspected it might be the best the book had to offer, but George O'Connor only improves as the story goes along, with a vivid color palette and imaging that does as much as the text to forward the narrative. The backwoods setting comes alive, especially in the panoramic shot of Sally's bike route to the pond, winding her way past the mud puddle, a spooky hollow tree, and a yappy dog. It's vaguely reminiscent of Richard Scarry's art style. Sally and the Some-Thing holds such a variety of visual treats that I won't attempt to detail them all, but I think you'll agree when you read the book. A reminder that friendship can be found in the most unexpected places is invaluable, and I recommend Sally and the Some-Thing for kids who like a funny, atmospheric tale with immersive artwork. I had a nice time with it.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We started reading the Olympians series by George O'Connor recently and when I posted my review here on Goodreads, I noticed that he'd written several picture books as well and I thought we'd check some of them out at our local library.

We found this book to be quite humorous and entertaining. I love that Sally isn't afraid of the Some-thing (which my youngest described as a cross between a frog, a fish and a swamp monster). And I like that when they had difficulties enjoying each other's favorite activities, they came up with new activities that they'd both enjoy.

The illustrations are colorful and cartoonish and are the highlight of the story. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

couple with Bedtime in the Swamp for a swamp monster extravaganza. Story of friendship between unlikely parties who find a way to meet in the middle. Swamp monster is just downright adorable.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute artwork, great story, fun for kids and adults. This is one of those books you don't mind reading to your kids over and over and over! :)

[Blayne M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally is a brave and non-stereotypical girl who makes friends with a scary swamp creature. My 5 year old son loved this book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our all time favorite books. Sam especially loves it and giggles throughout the reading. Love.

[McKayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It shows a girl with an imagination. This could help spark discussions about playing outside and developing an imagination!

[Fern · Rating 4 out of 5]

super cute!!!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute and funny book! If you like this check out Uncle Bigfoot.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like when she says, "This place is boring!" I like when she went through the mud puddle and when something was watching her and something sluuurped and slithered up to the balcony. "Bleagh," said the something! I like when she said, "I don't know WHAT you are, but let's have something fun to do." I like when he wasn't good with the markers and I also like when he wasn't good with anything Sally did. And Sally didn't like what the something had. And then they did the NEW things that both of them liked. And I like when he got tired, and then she said, "You can hardly keep your eyes open." And I like when the something's father was waiting and when she came home and her mom said, "Catch anything?" And she said, "It really was a something!"

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute!!! Sally is bored and goes off to find something to do and finds a some-thing to play with. Its a wonderful story about what children can do when bored. My favorite part all the stuff they do is outside!! children have forgotten how to play outside, and this book could serve as a wonderful platform to talk about what you could for fun.

[Andria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally is bored and goes off to find something to do and finds a some-thing to play with. Its a wonderful story about what children can do when bored. My favorite part all the stuff they do is outside!! children have forgotten how to play outside, and this book could serve as a wonderful platform to talk about what you could for fun.

[Luisana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in two minutes. I liked it because it shows how unexpected great things can be. Sally was not so happy because she had waited a long time and she didn't catch any fish, but she found herself a friend. Also it portrays that when things don't work out, by staying together and come up with something new, it could.

[Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

George O'Connor has written the cuttest book! Sally, a bored little girl, stuck in the middle of nowhere, decides to find something to do. What she finds is a friend in need who is a friend in deed!

And I love the illustrations! It should be an award winner...

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite of mine. Kids were also super engaged, loved the Something's sound effects (BLEHGHGH). It was a great friendship play book, as they figure out what games they can play together and both enjoy.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a find! I found this for $1.00 at a used book store and both my children and I love it! BEAUTIFUL illustrations and a cute, quirky story! Highly recommended for everyone!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The message is great and it was a perfect Halloween (or anytime) story. the kids enjoyed the "scary" beginning and the illustrations.

[Lee Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and original!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this one. Clever, simple, well-structured, and just a little creepy. Highly recommended for ages 4-6.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, with shades of Calvin & Hobbes

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally and the Something is an awesome achievement, a loving testimonial of friendship between a girl and a swamp monster, something the Swamp Thing films tried to be and the former comic book series Man Thing never did (and the Toxic Avenger guy? He wishes!) Little Sally heads to the marsh, promising her mom she might catch... something. Taking her fishing rod, our enterprising heroine heads to the fishing pier and lo and behold, the Something appears, a hideous, ugly creature which our vulnerable girl hero....finds SO COOL!!!! And thus a bond is forged, and the two play together in ways kids know, and which grown ups can only make crude jokes about, since us grownups tend to forget how we once dreamed of being with a cherished monster friend who will be there forever. Of course, over time reality intrudes, and some of us become hideous monsters on our own. All because we forget. This book makes us remember. I think we have Something there, don't you? So please read and enjoy, and if you do feel Something deep inside, let it glow. Something will do that, if you let it. Something called love.
Four stars
Something is the way she moves. And you will like her like no other!

[Melissa Bunin Bunin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all-time favorite children's books, and I have accumulated many in my personal collection over the years. The story is simple, feel-good, and wonderfully told; and the author's unique illustrations portray his playful intentions perfectly. I have read this story aloud to my own children and to numerous preschool through 4th-grade classes at local schools. The Some-Thing is always a crowd pleaser, as is Sally's decision to welcome this unusual and unlikely friend into her world. And then, of course, there is the fabulous last line! It is a great picture book to read aloud. Kudos, George O'Connor, for putting both your personality and your heart into a book so effectively.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because of the name Sally. Lol. A very cute tale. Sally makes a new friend. First they try to play her stuff and it doesn’t go so well. Then they try his. Again, fail, but when they decide together what to play, they have a wonderful time.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was nice. A girl goes to a pier to catch something, and a giant frog-like monster shows up. They try to play together, but at first they can't find anything they are both good at and enjoy. Many humorous pages in this story.

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story, and I love the illustrations.

[Nomad nimrod · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an adorably cute book. The underlying situation was that Sally didn't have anything in common with the some-thing but they eventually found things to do together. So cute!

[Zackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for kids that enjoy humorous creature tales.

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great illlustrations.
Fun monster "talk" for reading aloud..."bleagh", "bloor", "blippity-bloop", and my personal favorite, "blargh"!