July 2023
The Thing at 52 by Ross Montgomery & Richard Johnson is a beautiful, charming story of friendship, loss and learning to say good-bye.
There’s a strange Thing living in the neighbourhood. Who is it? What is it? Why is it so alone? When a little girl decides to reach out in kindness (with the help of her mother), everything begins to change. The warmth of community and sharing of adventures radiates from the page through the gorgeous, soft illustrations. Eventually, when the Thing has to leave, memories and sadness fill the space where it once was. The girl must learn that all Things have to go sometimes. As life moves on, others will come along but they’ll never replace the ones we’ve lost. There is room for all Things.
The Thing at 52 is a lovely way to explore inter-generational friendships, being a neighbour and how to cope with loss. With scope for so much discussion, young children will love chatting about the Thing while making connections to their own experiences and developing empathy for those who have felt lonely or lost someone close to them.
Thank you to Quarto Kids (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books) and NetGalleyUK for an early read of this beautiful book!
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Books by Kate Heap:
Scope for Imagination 
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