На Неочаквания хълм

by Linda Sarah, Линда Сара, Benji Davies (Illustrator)

Бърт и Ито са най-добри приятели. Те прекарват часове заедно, играейки на Неочаквания хълм. Но един ден се появи ново момче, което иска да играе с тях. Могат ли двама да станат трима?

Една вечна, трогателна и прочувствена история от светонвоизвестния илюстратор на "Островът на Дядо"

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Adventure, Fiction, Emotion, Storytime

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2014

Reviews

[Rosie Squires · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to use when having friendship problems in the classroom. It shows children that change can be a good thing and that friendships can change all the time.

[Ugnė Lukošienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puikios iliustracijos, puiki knyga apie draugystę.

[Anna Donajgrodzki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story that tackles concepts of friendship, loneliness and conflict. This would be an excellent book to use in a classroom to resolve issues that might happen on the playground or outside of school.

[Ellie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah made me feel quite nostalgic of my own childhood at the beginning of the story through recreating that youthful feeling of invincibility and endless possibilities. This is a really lovely atmosphere that I think could almost be comforting for children, and would definitely be a great stimulus for writing. It is the later shift in this atmosphere that highlights the complexities of childhood friendships, along with the inevitability of change within these relationships. She leaves a lasting impression that nothing is permanent, life is constantly moving- which is something that all children will have to come to terms with. These changes can even be turned into a positive.
I would definitely use this text during circle time and during occasions where children are finding it difficult to adjust to 'threats' to friendship, and overcoming the feeling of jealousy.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birt and Etho are best friends, playing daily in their large cardboard boxes. But one day, someone new comes along. And, he's got a box of his own. Can a tight duo become a threesome?

I love the illustrations by Benji Davis.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birt and Etho are best friends. They play together every day on Sudden Hill, making adventures out of cardboard boxes, but one day when the new boy Shu joins them Birt and Etho's friendship changes because Birt doesn't want anyone new to join. With Etho welcoming Shu, his friendship with Birt is pushed aside when Birt refuses to play with them. But Etho and Shu have a plan to get Birt to come and play.

On Sudden Hill is a wonderful short story about friendship and learning to share with others. I love stories that have realistic meanings behind them because it's always great to share that with children. In this case, I read the story with my daughter and she quickly caught on to the problems that were to be appearing in the story. She knew that all the characters had to play together and I enjoyed watching her catch on so quickly. I think what appealed so much about this story was that it wasn't just written like a normal story but more of a poem. It was definitely something different to read with my daughter and it's something we both really enjoyed.

In all, On Sudden Hill is a great story that will teach your children the meaning of true friendship and as well as introducing them to something a little different.

Thank you to for giving me the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a third wheel enters your BFF situation?
Clean and crisp illustrations about this relateable subject.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting voice and vocabulary used in the story. Felt sophisticated.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Бърт и Ито са най-добри приятели. Те прекарват часове заедно, играейки на Неочаквания хълм. Но един ден се появи ново момче, което иска да играе с тях. Могат ли двама да станат трима? Ако вече сте чели „Островът на дядо” не вярвам да имате нужда някой да ви подканя да разлистите и втората книжка от Бенджи Дейвис, която издадоха у нас „Студио Арт Лайн”. Прочулият се с поредицата Bizzy Bear художник е обединил креативни сили с сътворил ново картинно приключение, в което вилнеят емоции и въображение. Днес се изкачваме „На Неочаквания хълм”. Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":
https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[I'mogén · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story about the 'suddeness' of change in a friendship, when two becomes three and the jealousy and uncertainty than can arise due to the change in dynamic.


 It can be a lot for anyone when a balance and routine is disrupted but this story depicted this in a gentle way and showed the good that come out of it... In this case, a new friend!


Pick it up, give to a go & enjoy!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Friends


This writer / illustrator match is one made in heaven.🙌🏻

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous illustrations, and a lovely poetic story with a strong message about how friendships can change and evolve for the better. (budge up and make room for a new one!) The illustrations in particular are very evocative of Calvin and Hobbes, and the story has a lot of the C&H-type small child philosophical discussion within it. Because of its style and vocabulary, I would say it's aimed towards the older end of picture book readership. The hardback version is particularly beautiful.

[Мария Змийчарова · Rating 2 out of 5]

ревността, страхът, че новият приятел ще ти отнеме "твоя си" приятел е важна тема, но не съм сигурна, че тук беше кой знае колко добре разказана и убедително преодоляна

илюстрациите са хубави – живописни, приятни, симпатични, но нищо особено надъхващо за мен

преводът е зле. направо не може да се чете – наум не се разбира нищо, на глас звучи нелепо:


И така тримата седят в техните кашони и се вглеждат в сокол и два изгубени облака.

Понякога са ловци на дракони, рамо до рамо в тяхната къща и в покривните им танци.

Една нощ Бърт смачква своя кашон, тъпче върху него и го разкъсва на парченца.

Татко му му изкрещява нещо от другата стая да бъде по-тих и това е всичко!
Бърт спря да ходи на Неочаквания хълм.
Ито и Шу се отбиват понякога. (това са три последователни изречения)

Вместо това той стои вкъщи и рисува картини на два кашона един до друг. (в смисъл, върху два долепени кашона ги рисува тези картини явно. щото draw pictures на български го съобщава и само "рисувам")

Всичко, което Бърт може да види през завесите, е един кашон. (любима конструкция)

(и така преписах половината книжка)

[Sarah Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

'On Sudden Hill' follows two friends who love playing together in cardboard boxes up on the hill near to their houses. One day however, a new child wants to join in with the fun. The jealously is all a bit much for Birt, who certainly feels that three is a crowd and decides to stop joining in with the play. The only way that Birt is drawn back into the friendship is through a lovely act of kindness as the other two boys reach out to him in his loneliness. The book ends with all three children playing as friends together and recognising each others strengths.

The illustrations of this book are vibrant, appealing and child-friendly.

Benji Davies has done a fantastic job of unpacking what it means to feel jealous and excluded as a result. Because of this, it has some great starting points for a class discussion about friendships (its highs and lows!) and therefore I would certainly make use of this storybook in my classroom!

[Alice Maton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about jealousy in friendships and not liking change. I like how they use a cardboard box to spark their imagination and make it whatever they want it to be! But the story line, I'm not too sure about. Two boys are playing with the boxes at the top of the hill, when another boy comes along and wants to play too. Birt doesn't like this new boy and excludes himself and doesnt come to play anymore. The resolution to Birt being jealous is to pine to his needs and make him something to like them again. It almost reinforces that if you make a fuss when something isn't going your way, people will come to you with things to make it better. It was very sweet that the children wanted to make sure he felt included but I'm not sure if the child has learnt resilience for change, therefore not the best book to highlight this topic through. I think the focus should be more about imagination than friendship.

[Izzy]

A lovely story that touches on the idea of complications and jealousy within close friendships. The detailed illustrations alone could tell the story of the characters and their changing emotions. As friendship is such a significant part of childhood, this book could be a nice start for a classroom discussion or a PSHE lesson.

Etho and Birt are happily playing together, creating different adventures using a simple cardboard box and their imaginations. One day, Shu asks to play and instantly joins in on the fun. At first, Birt faces feeling left out and begins to isolate himself away from the two boys. Things begin to change when the boys notice his absence and come up with a plan to get him outside again. One small act of kindness can change how someone feels.

[Katie Handford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all about friendship, which is such an integral part of childhood; making new friends, accepting new friends into friendship groups, falling out with friends, it's all very important for children. Sometimes accepting new people into a forged friendship group can be hard as children can fear that their friends will be taken away or they believe the dynamics of the group will change. This book deals with all these issues around inclusion in a lovely way, showing how new friends can bring so much more to a friendship and is a positive thing, not a bad thing. A lovely book around acceptance that every child should read.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and the friendship it tells us of in the start takes me back to my childhood, particularly the illustrations. I also loved the moral of the story, you can let anyone be your friend. I feel like this would go down a treat in key stage one when children are learning what friendship really means and how to be a good friend

[Bistra Ivanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Симпатична книжка с илюстрации на Бенджи Дейвис (Острова на Дядо, наскоро издадена от Artline Studios). Две палави момченца, които живеят в богатото си въображение. После стават три, но по детски по малко по-труден начин. Хубави картинки, приятна история, докосна ме :-)

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

As ilustrações deste livro são muito bonitas e fofas!
Gostei muito, uma história sobre amizade e a forma como lidamos com pessoas novas na nossa vida, a mudança de sentimentos

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little story about friendship, play and imagination.

[Cam · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.75) Ça change des histoires de baleine.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cute story about friendship, and the imagination of little kids (cardboard boxes do make the best toys... )

[Despoina Paschalidou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Όμορφη ιστοριούλα για την ανάγκη του παιδιού να έχει φίλους, τη διαχείριση της ζήλιας όταν μπαίνει κάποιος καινούριος στην παρέα και τα τερατο-πλασματο-χσρτοκουτοπράγματα που δημιουργούνται απ' τα παιδιά για να ενώνουν τις παρέες. Πολύ όμορφη και "καθαρή" εικονογράφηση!

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Sudden Hill is a storybook about two boys, Birt and Etho, who play together every day in ‘boxes’. The book explores the creative ways in which they do this, and the imagination the boys put into their games. Another boy, Shu, arrives with a box and Birt begins to feel left out. Birt isolates himself until Etho and Shu build him a creation out of boxes for them to play with together.

This book can help children explore imaginative play, due to the play the children have in the book. However, more significantly, the book can help children with change. This could be towards the end of term when children know they will be changing classes and will have to make new friends. It could also help children understand that they can have more than one friends, a group play is a good thing, especially if two children in a class become protective of each other or refuse to socialise with others.
This could be used in a classroom situation, as a group reading activity that could then be discussed and the message talked about. This would allow for the message to be placed in the children head, that then could be spoke about individually to children (making reference to it).
This can teach children that ‘best friends’ can be friends with other people is a life lesson, children can understand that friends are not being ‘taken away’ from them, but that it is ok to have multiple friends.

This story could be used as part of a PHSE lesson, or art to build things out of boxes.

How is the story told? How do the words and the pictures work together?
Through words and pictures. They work together to tell a story.

What experiences of the world does then reader need to bring to the text?
Having friends, and potentially feeling jealousy with friends.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birt and Etho are best friends. They love to spend time together up on Sudden HIll with their big cardboard boxes playing pretend. They imagine that they kings or pirates. They run and leap, sail and fly. They can be loud or quiet together. But then one cold day, Shu brings his box up the hill and asks to join them. Etho agrees to let Shu play, but the more he joins them the more left out Birt feels. Then one night, Birt smashes his box and stops going up Sudden Hill anymore. Is there any way to fix their friendship? Maybe with some boxes and a lot of imagination!

Sarah captures the feeling of a friendship hitting a snag with great precision and care. She crafts the story so that readers will feel Birt’s sudden isolation, the way that the easy play of two children falls apart when joined by a third. Sarah uses symbolism too, particularly when Shu appears. It is a “cramping cold” day that day, foreshadowing the emotions that Birt will feel. As they play as a threesome that first day, they watch “one kestrel and two lost clouds.” This lovely writing is striking and conveys emotions so clearly.

The illustrations by Davies create an entire world for the children. There is the beauty of Sudden Hill filled with flowers and grass combined with the joy of big boxes for play. Then as the story changes, the illustrations convey Birt’s emotions. The sky turns dark and sullen. There are lonely moments back at home where he is isolated and shut in. And finally, the exultant joy at finding a way to be together again.

A lovely book about the perils and possibilities of friendship. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

BIG FRIENDS by Linda Sarah is an adorable picture book that tells the story of cardboard boxes, imagination, and friendship.

Birt and Etho share a passion for turning ordinary paper boxes into imaginary worlds featuring pirates and astronauts. However when Shu joins the group, Birt becomes uncomfortable and retreats to his house. Shu and Etho find a way to bring Birt back into the fold by combining their boxes together.

The simple illustrations and pleasing rhythm of the story will appeal to young children. Youth will easily empathize with the friendship themes.

Librarians will find that this authentic story is an excellent resource to jumpstart discussions about friendship, jealousy, change, and working together. Use the book as the centerpiece of a cardboard box themed project with hands-on activities involving groups of two and three working together.

Published by Henry Holt on January 19, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

[Stephen Cahill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most gorgeous illustrations I've seen in a while. So clean and clear and achieving what few can, drawing children perfectly. Benji Davies is a massive part of this book's appeal. But of course so is Linda Sarah. Using a beautifully poetic style, she shows us how well she understands little boys' imaginations, and what makes them tick. This is an evergreen tale of friendship and imaginative play for boys. Loved it.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I SO wish it was Birt who approached his friends, instead of the other way around. I have such a hard time with situations where somebody gets their feelings hurt, withdraws (or acts poorly in a some manner) and their friends clue in, take responsibility for the friend's emotional well-being and save the day! Birt is a super lucky kid who had friends who kept trying - I wonder how realistic this is though.

[Kirjapallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hugo ja Ville tykkäävät leikkiä yhdessä, mutta entäs sitten kun Charlie haluaa tulla mukaan leikkiin? Hänet hyväksytään mukaan, mutta Hugon mielestä mikään ei tunnu enää samalta. Tarina oli kiva ja kuvat hienoja, mutta se ei ehkä oikein antanut eväitä oikeaan elämään... Nimittäin jos (ja kun!) tällainen tilanne tulee eteen oikeasti, niin pystyisikö silloin rakentamaan jotain noin hienoa leikkipaikkaa?