The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness

George, a sad little orphan, lives with his sweet-faced grandmother but feels very much alone. When on his Friday afternoon visit to the dog shelter he finds a three-legged dog that seems as unwanted as he feels himself to be, he engages his grandmother's help to adopt the scruffy pup before it is euthanized. This act rescues the boy as well as his grandmother, and a family is born. Thompson never talks down to his readers and the story is simple, clear, and heartfelt enough to be universally understood. The illustrations are full of personality and extraordinary detail: the brick wall by the dog compound and the trees crowding into the narrow bit of sky above it look like exquisite photographs.

Themes: Love, Happiness, Lonliness, Family, Friendship, Sadness, Pets

Colin Thompson's becoming one of my favourite picture book authors/illustrators, his stories often speak of flawed, hurt, weird, damaged characters, who after we scratch the surface shine with a vivid humanity, a beautiful simplicity. It's these characters that are not normally portrayed in such books which seem to poke and prod at my imagination and heart-strings. One could possibly call this book a picture book for adults, but we could also say the same for the books "The Short but Incredibly Happy Life of Riley" or the story of "Norman and Brenda" by both Colin and Amy Lissiat.

The Big Book of Happy Sadness tells the beautiful story of a lonely boy George who lives show more with his Grandmother and his search to fill the void in his heart. At first he tries to fill the void by going places where he feels there are other things that are lonelier and sadder than he is...

"Most Friday afternoons on his way home from school, in that time before the weekend when lonely people realise just how lonely they are, George visited the dog shelter. And he always seemed to end up by the last cage in the last aisle. Even the concrete had given up down there. Hidden in the shade of a huge tree, where the sun never bothered to go, the concrete and the cages sat beneath a coat of verdigris.

The last cage was where the dogs no one wanted went for a final week before their journey to heaven. George felt at home there. In the dark gloom, he found a place where everything seemed lonelier than he was"

The story moves on from there, from the space where everything, event he concrete had given up to a place where joy, hope, friendship and happiness reigns supreme. Through meeting a dog, (Jeremy) in that dark and gloomy place George not only decides to turn his life around, but also that of his new found friend in Jeremy and his Grandmothers.

A touching and evocative story of finding hope in the darkest places, of meeting a friend at the lowest of spaces, of taking a chance on the loner, the damaged and finding their joy is also yours.

Book Information:

The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness
Author/Illistrator Colin Thompson
Published: 23 March, 2008
Publisher: Random House
ISBN 9781741662566

Author's Website: http://www.colinthompson.com show less

Odd picture book. Powerful - but confusing. I still haven't figured out how to get from the story to the title. Honestly, read other people's reviews. And read the book. Judge for yourself! :)

This is a book about a little book that lives with his grandmother. His parents are gone but we are not told where or why. He is very sad and lonely. Every day he goes to the pound and hangs out by the last cage where the unwanted dogs with little time left are kept. He feels at home with these sad creatures. One day, the dog in the cage is not a dog of that character. He only has three legs but seems to accept his fate with dignity. The little boy, named George, wants to take this one home. He runs home as fast as he can to get his grandmother's permission. The take Jeremy, the scruffy dog, home and decide to make him a leg so he can run and be happy. They try several different materials making him legs out of paper, pastry, and even a show more wheel. Jeremy is very happy and so is everyone else.

This is a terrific story and made me sad and happy at the same time. I love dogs and to hear a story, whether real or not, about one finding a good home makes me feel good.

This book could be used in the classroom to teach children about accepting everyone even though they are different. You could also have the children tell what they would use to make Jeremy a new leg with. That would be fun! show less

This book is about a boy who lived alone with his old grandmother and was sad and lonely. On his way home from he would visit the animal shelter and look at the pets who were also feeling sad and alone. One day he saw a dog and told his grandma about him. They raced back and adopted the dog. They were both happy again.

A little one legged dog is saved from certain death at the last minute by a young boy seeking a friend.....

This is the story of their adventure getting the dog a fourth leg that will allow him the freedom to run, play, & have fun!

"George lived alone with his grandmother and an empty place where his mother and father should have been."