Kathryn Cave is an award-winning British children's book author. She was awarded the very first international UNESCO prize for Children's and Young People's Literature in the Service of Tolerance for Something Else. The book was later made into a TV series by TV Loonland. A theatre company has adapted it as a children's production, and ran a UK tour in 2009.
After meeting Chris Riddell I decided I needed two or three of his books / books he illustrated and after the librarian hosting the exhibition spoke so fondly of this one, it was at the top of that list. The story is about a little creature who is different from all the others. It's about being excluded, bullied - and ultimately also bullying others as a result. However, it has a happy ending (after all, it is for small children). The reason I'm not giving this all 5 stars is that after . All in all, a wonderful book for young and old with gorgeous illustrations that reminded me of Dr. Seuss.
'Something Else' written by Kathryn Cave is one of my favourite children鈥檚 books. It sheds light on the reality of bullying as well as the acceptance of difference.
It is about a little blue creature called Something Else who wants to be accepted by others but is constantly shunned because of how different he is to them. He doesn't play the same games or eat the same food as the others and they find this very strange! He then meets a creature called Something who is different from him too - unique in his own way. At first, Something Else is phased by this and rejects him in the same way all the other creatures had rejected him at the beginning of the book. In response, Something is determined to make him understand that they are different but all in all the same: 鈥淚鈥檓 just like you! You鈥檙e something else and I鈥檓 one too!鈥� With the sudden realization that he had rejected Something like all the others did to him, he soon accepts the hand of friendship. It results in a beautiful relationship built on understanding, tolerance, compromise and ultimately love and acceptance of their differences. Something Else learns a valuable lesson that being different isn't so bad. Actually, it is beautiful!
The story is sadly parallel to the reality that most of us, if not all, experience at some point in our life. Most notably for the young children this book is targeted at, in or outside of a school setting. The opportunity it gives children to learn about individuality and acceptance of differences should not go a-miss in schools today.
This book is great to read for children above the age of 4. The beautiful images contribute to making the book more suitable for young children. It might be best to introduce on the first few weeks of the school year to teach them a valuable lesson about individuality straight away. Moreover, with more classes having at least one SEN child in their class, it is vital that the children learn that some pupils in their class may not talk the same as them, walk the same as them, or understand the world the same as them but they should treat everyone the same in spite of differences. The introduction of the new creature (the boy) right at the end of the book leaves children plenty to think about and discuss- would Something and Something Else become friends with him? The message of the story is so strong that I think it would be a shame if this book was not introduced to all kids in school or even at home.
I found this book on my placement whilst looking for "The bag of worries". This book was most definitely a good 鈥榮tumble鈥�! It鈥檚 about a creature called 鈥楽omething Else鈥� who is excluded by all his creature friends for being different. He longs to join in but is excluded as he is 鈥榥ot like them鈥�. This makes him very sad and upset. He suddenly gets a visit from another creature that is unlike him and at first; 鈥榮omething else鈥� is unpleasant to this creature because 鈥榟e is not like him鈥�. He turns this creature away but quickly realizes how unfriendly and cruel he is to him. He asks the creature to return and they begin to have fun and enjoy each other鈥檚 company. They quickly become friends. The wit of the author comes to light toward the end when another creature (a boy) is introduced. The question is will they be friendly with him too? The illustrations in the book are truly amazing and inspiring. Something Else is a truly thoughtful book which could initiate group discussions and conversations around how everyone is unique and special in their own way. I then chose this book to spark discussions around the 鈥榞ood to be me鈥� theme in a SEAL lesson. The children thoroughly engaged with this book and most definitely reminded children about inclusion. A thoroughly interesting read.
I loved the message in this book, about how it feels when you don鈥檛 fit in with others, sticking out due to your appearance, tastes etc.
It鈥檚 a message that could be applied to lots of situations, for example being the new child in the class or a child who has SEN and may feel isolated from the class.
It teaches children that you should never try to change yourself to fit in, being you is the best thing you can do and if other people don鈥檛 accept that then they are not friends.
As a class we would explore the character of 鈥楽omething Else鈥� considering its thoughts and feelings, using drama devices to support this. We would have a chat about times when we have all felt like we are 鈥楽omething Else鈥� in a particular situation.
I like the book and its Dr Suess-like illustrations. However, I remain a bit ambivalent about the story. Something Else doesn't fit in and is excluded. He does the same thing when another Something is at its doorsteps. However he then realises the similarities of the situation and teams up. So together they live secluded ever after?
This was a heartwarming read about a creature (Something Else) who looks and feels different to everyone he knows and is therefore excluded socially. A wonderful story with lessons in inclusion and tolerance, coupled with colourful illustrations. Simply written so suitable for 5-8 year olds, could easily be used in philosophy lessons but is equally useful as a carpet read.
Something Else wasn鈥檛 like everyone in his local area. He didn鈥檛 look like them or talk like them. In fact, he ate differently too. Despite this, Something Else desperately tried to fit in and be like the others. He began dressing and talking like them but was unsuccessful in his attempt to disguise his diverseness. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not like us. You鈥檙e something else.鈥� they said.
Living in isolation on a windy hill; Something Else never had visitors. However, one night there was a knock on the door. On the doorstep, stood... SOMETHING ELSE! This creature was different to anything Something Else had ever seen. The creature was startlingly confident and barged right through the front door and made itself at home. Repulsed by the creatures haggard appearance Something Else became irritated and sighed 鈥淒o I know you?鈥�
鈥淒on鈥檛 you see?鈥� the creature said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just like you! You鈥檙e something else, and I鈥橫 ONE TOO!鈥� Shocked by the creature鈥檚 reply Something Else dismisses any correlation to the creature and asks him to leave. When the creature leaves, Something Else begins to think about how sad and small the creature looked. He realises this was a result of his unwillingness to embrace the creatures differences. This reminded Something Else of how he often felt when he was left out.
He follows the creature and exclaims 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not like me. BUT I DON鈥橳 MIND. You can stay with me if you鈥檇 like to.鈥� Subsequently, they become the best of friends and although they were different they got along.
Chris Riddell鈥檚 captivating illustrations compliment Cave鈥檚 simplistic language and make it easy for children to relate to and understand. An important lesson the story portrays is: our differences are what make us unique and they should be celebrated. I feel this book would be ideal for a student who was finding it difficult adjusting to a classroom environment or community.
鈥淪omething Else鈥� can be used in Key Stage 1 PSHE lessons to celebrate cultural and ethnical diversity. Moreover, it can highlight the issues of bullying, identity and inclusion. By focusing on the subject of human rights and the responsibilities which accompany them we can empower our students and help them become caring and active members of a culturally diverse society.
Additionally, this book can be used for inspiration in Art and English lessons. Encouraging students to be individual and think outside the box.
Awarded the first international UNESCO prize for Children鈥檚 and Young People鈥檚 Literature in the Service of Tolerance. I would highly recommend this book for diverse primary school classrooms as I feel it encompasses a positive message which students (regardless of age) will benefit from.
Really enjoyed this book. A storey about a creature that is different to everyone else and as much as he tries to fit in he doesn鈥檛. Every time he tries to prove he鈥檚 like everyone else he only shows how much he is different. Eventually he is outcast and goes home. Later a different creature knocks at his door and although at first he sends him away for being different he learns that when they look closer they are not that dissimilar. This book is a great book to use as a starter for a discussion on a range of topics including acceptance, bullying, individuality and belonging perhaps in PSHE or for younger children studying identity or diversity topics. The book helps children explore both sides of the storey: of being judged and also judging others. The creature鈥檚 name Something Else really is used well to highlight that he is being ostracised not because he is a particular animal or has particular interests but just on the fact that he is something not like them- he is something else. The illustrations in this book are really nice and complement the storey well, showing how Something Else is also physically segregated from the other creatures. A book good for class reading and discussion for Year 2 upwards.
Something Else is about a creature that is different from everyone else. He wants to join in but the other creatures won鈥檛 let him because he is different to them, 鈥榶ou鈥檙e not like us, you鈥檙e something else鈥�. Something Else is then visited by another funny looking creature and quickly reacts the same way and turns this creature away. He soon realises what he had done is wrong and invited this creature back. They become friends and have fun together.
This book is a great story to read out loud in class, maybe at the beginning of the year. There are a lot of discussion points about how everyone is different and we should celebrate it, not exclude it. The illustrations also make this book stand out as it鈥檚 quirky and 鈥榙ifferent鈥�.
Such a fantastic book! Came across this in my 2nd year teaching placement, and it's fabulous for getting children to empathise and understand emotions. I would certainly recommend this for anyone with classes going through a 'clique' phase or generally nastiness between the children! Also very diverse for cross-curricular use!
Irgendwie Anders ist irgendwie anders. Er w眉rde so gerne zu den anderen dazugeh枚ren und versucht sein bestes, sich ihnen anzupassen, aber die anderen schicken ihn weg, weil er nicht so ist wie sie. Eines Tages klopft es an seiner T眉r und dort steht ein Etwas, das gerne bei ihm bleiben will, doch Irgendwie Anders schickt es weg, weil es nicht so ist wie er 鈥� bis ihm etwas auff盲llt鈥�
Kathryn Cave hat ein Kinderbuch 眉ber Ausgrenzung geschrieben. Das Buch wurde mit dem UNESCO-Preis f眉r Kinder- und Jugendliteratur ausgezeichnet, weil es Toleranz lehren soll. Allerdings gibt es hier 2 Seiten der Medaille: Ja, Irgendwie Andres merkt, dass er mit dem Etwas dasselbe macht, was ihm passiert ist und lernt aus seinem Fehler. ABER: Was ist mit den anderen? Die grenzen Irgendwie Anders aus und das bleibt so stehen. Ihm bleibt also nichts anderes 眉brig, als sich mit anderen Ausgegrenzten zusammenzutun, aber zu den anderen geh枚ren sie weiterhin nicht.
Was meines Erachtens in der deutschen 脺bersetzung auch nicht gut gelungen ist, sind die Namen der beiden Protagonisten. Im englischen Original hei脽en sie Something Else und Something was ich passend finde. Die Bezeichnung 鈥瀌as Etwas鈥� finde ich ungl眉cklich gew盲hlt, da sie doch abf盲llig klingt. Vielleicht h盲tte man ihn auch einfach w枚rtlich 眉bersetzt 鈥濧nders鈥� nennen k枚nnen.
Die Illustrationen von Chris Riddell gefallen mir pers枚nlich nicht so gut, ich finde sie zum Teil ziemlich d眉ster, meine Tochter st枚rt das aber 眉berhaupt nicht und darauf kommt es ja an. Was ich allerdings sehr positiv finde 鈥� und das bei einem Buch, das erstmals 1994 erschienen ist 鈥� dass die Figur des Etwas Anders v枚llig neutral, frei von Geschlecht oder Ethnie gezeichnet ist.
In Sachen Diversit盲t und Toleranz gibt es weitaus bessere B眉cher. Ich habe meiner Tochter erkl盲rt, dass das, was die anderen machen nicht ok ist, welche Gef眉hle es weckt und dass sie das wohl aus einer Angst heraus machen. Insofern kann man was aus dem Buch machen, ich h盲tte mir aber vom Buch selbst eine andere Moral gew眉nscht.
馃Η驴A caso no somos todos diferentes? Y tanto que s铆. En este cuento se pone en valor de cara a los m谩s peque帽os que el ser diferente no es motivo para darle la espalda a nadie. 馃悽Este cuento va en pos a la diversidad, tan necesaria hoy en d铆a. Os hablo de #Diferente de la autora #KathrynCave Con un mensaje claro, sencillo y perfectamente comprensible. 馃Un cuento entra帽able, que te toca la patata, tierno y enternecedor. Con dos protagonistas muy especiales que nos dar谩n una gran lecci贸n a grandes y peque帽os. Porque este mensaje no debe quedarse en la infancia, debe permanecer en la etapa adulta para ser mejores personas. 馃悺Si a ello le sumamos unas ilustraciones preciosas de la mano de #ChrisRiddell con una capacidad expresiva muy poderosa. Son unos dibujos que llaman la atenci贸n, que atren y que transmiten. 馃Un cuento imprescindible en la biblioteca de casa con un mensaje que debe calar en los tiempos que corren. No dudeis en haceros con 茅l. 馃Est谩 editado por @penguinkids a los que debo agradecerles la colaboraci贸n. Su dise帽o es en tapa dura y a todo color con 32 p谩ginas, indicado para ni帽os a partir de 4 a帽os.
A story carrying a universal and much needed message for children of all ages, and one that should be a part of PSHE throughout schools. Something Else is a character that struggles to find a place of belonging. Rejected by the other animals for appearing to be different, this is a relentless and isolating experience. The reader is guided to understanding that it is necessary to look beyond what is perceived to be normal, and reflect upon past experiences to realise how important it is to accept someone that is 鈥榙ifferent鈥�. I love that Cave and Riddell constructed a story that sees an individual as both a victim and perpetrator of unacceptance, but one that realises and resolves their mistakes. A nice nod to being human and always being capable of learning. Equally as positive was the inclusion of groups of individuals being unable to welcome those outside of their realm of understanding. This would be great for directly applying to problems in school, certainly with regards to groups ostracising those on their own.
Something Else (Paperback) by Kathryn Cave, Illustrator- Chris Riddell- Hindi language translation by Vidushak- Children鈥檚 Illustrated Colour Picture book- This book narrates the story of a little creature who is different from all the others. Therefore, all others exclude him from playing games together, eating their lunch together though he also brings his lunch in a paper bag like others. Little one is bullied. As a result, when another dissimilar person knocks his door, he refuses to entertain him on the ground that he is different from him. Suddenly, he remembers it is bad to bully other on the ground that he is different from him. He invites him back to live in his house. Now, they live, play eat together. Moral of the story is that "I'm different too and that's nothing bad". Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.
A fantastic classroom resource for primary children - from ages 4-11. This is a simple story, about a small creature who does his best to join in with the others and make friends. But he's different. No matter how he tries, he just doesn't fit in. Then 'Something' turns up and wants to be friends. But 'Something Else' isn't sure he's like him at all, because he looks different. The story relates to children in a poignant way, how we should all embrace our differences and not change who we are to try and fit in. Also, that it is good for us all to be different but it doesn't mean we can't be kind, respectful and get a long together.
Ich liebe dieses Kinderbuch und lese es immer wieder gerne vor. Die Illustrationen sind einfach herzig und liebevoll gemacht. Die Geschichte ist eine tolle Erz盲hlung dar眉ber was es hei脽t anders zu sein.
'Something Else' doesn't fit in with the others until one day he meets someone who is different too - they become great friends. This book shows the importance of acceptance and how having a friend can have a big impact if you feel like you don't fit in.