Argus

By Author / Illustrator

Michelle Knudsen, Andrea Wesson

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books Ltd

ISBN

9781406331370

Format

Hardback

Published

07-07-2011

Synopsis

From the author of the bestselling Library Lion comes a funny, heartfelt new picture book about embracing the unusual - green scales and all.Sally's class is doing a science project, and Mrs Henshaw is handing out eggs for hatching. \"Mine looks different,\" says Sally. \"Don't be difficult,\" says Mrs Henshaw. When Sally's egg cracks, what emerges is something green and scaly with big yellow eyes. Argus isn't like the other chicks; he isn't small and fuzzy, and he doesn't like seeds and bugs. He'd rather eat other chicks (or children, as he grows even bigger). Watching the other kids playing with their identical chicks, Sally wonders, would she be better off without Argus? With sly humour and a subtle tug at the heartstrings, this is a luminously illustrated about learning not just to tolerate, but to love what is different.

Reviews

Sally's class is doing a science project - hatching eggs, but Sally's egg is different from all the others and what comes out isn't a small fluffy yellow chick, either. The green and scaly baby that emerges from Sally's egg may prefer to eat the chickens, or even the children themselves. Despite this, however, Sally grows to love him and is very upset when he goes missing. With the help of her class teacher and her fellow pupils Sally tracks her dragon down and learns to value his difference. This is a lovely story with lots of humorous touches and a storyline that shows children the value and joy of being different.