George and His Shadow

by Davide Cali, Serge Bloch (Illustrator)

Overview

One morning, when George walks into his kitchen, he finds someone sitting at his table. “Who are you?” he asks. “I’m your shadow,” answers the shadow. The shadow follows George—for a walk on the street, fishing on the pier at Coney Island, and everywhere else George goes.

Who is this shadow? Is he an annoying pest? Is he a friend? Or is he both?

From the award-winning pair behind I Can’t Wait and The Enemy comes a sweet, silly, and often poignant look at how unexpected friendship can be. With mod, quirky art full of personality from Serge Bloch (Butterflies in My Stomach and The Big Adventure of a Little Line) and a disarming text from Davide Cali (I Didn’t Do My Homework Because . . .), George and His Shadow is charming! Perfect for fans of Leo: A Ghost Story and Imaginary Fred.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062568304
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 11.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Author and playwright Davide Cali is Italian but was born in Switzerland. Nowadays he lives between France and Italy. Davide's books with Serge Bloch include George and His Shadow;  I Can’t Wait; The Enemy: A Book About Peace; and I Love Kissing You.

Illustrator, designer, cartoonist, and fine artist Serge Bloch was born in France and currently lives in Paris and sometimes New York City. Serge's books with Davide Cali include George and His Shadow; I Can’t Wait; The Enemy: A Book About Peace; and I Love Kissing You.

Editorial Reviews

I have been an admirer of Serge Bloch…for a long time, and George and His Shadow didn't let me down. For me, his offbeat artwork is reminiscent of the best French poster art from between the world wars—artists like Villemot or Savignac…The short, clipped words and sentences complement Bloch's illustrative approach perfectly. It's as though the writer, Davide Cali, wrote the book with Bloch in mind.

The New York Times Book Review - Frank Viva

08/21/2017
George, a bespectacled urbanite who sleeps in blue pajamas and a plaid hat, finds a black silhouette at his kitchen table one morning. “Who are you?” he asks. “I’m your shadow,” the silhouette replies. “Shouldn’t you be on the floor?” George points out. “I was hungry,” the shadow says. Bibo’s translation of Cali’s text is smooth and sly. George’s shadow spends the day doing everything he does, and “George began to feel more and more annoyed.” Now dressed in a plaid suit that matches his hat, George attempts to get rid of his shadow—permanently—including snipping him to pieces with scissors and trying to vacuum him up. Collage elements add to the visual slapstick, broad blocks of color hint at the light-versus-dark theme, and Bloch’s loopy line captures chairs, crockery, and city buildings with impulsive spontaneity. George is one of those adult characters who could just as well be a child; eventually, he grows to enjoy his new companion. Bonus giggles are provided by George’s crocodile-schnozzed dog, who helps him see the shadow’s potential as a friend. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Bibo’s translation of Cali’s text is smooth and sly.” — Publishers Weekly

“Collage elements add to the visual slapstick, broad blocks of color hint at the light-versus-dark theme, and Bloch’s loopy line captures chairs, crockery, and city buildings with impulsive spontaneity.” — Publishers Weekly

“George is one of those adult characters who could just as well be a child...” — Publishers Weekly

“Bonus giggles are provided by George’s crocodile-schnozzed dog, who helps him see the shadow’s potential as a friend.” — Publishers Weekly

“Cali subtly explores friendship and solitude with panache and a refreshing lack of condescension. Bloch’s stylish computer-generated illustrations play with shape, color, and perspective, adding another layer of absurdism. Droll.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Whimsical black-and-white line drawings—created, according to the front matter, with the artist’sbrain, hands, and computer—clearly enhance the escapades, using swatches of color and texture to highlight various aspects, such as a green plaid for George’s suit and homburg.” — Booklist

“Reminiscent of the style and humor of Jon Agee’s books, this import from Italy (clearly set in New York City) is sophisticated in style yet deals with concepts (shadows and companionship) easily understood by young children...[C]ompare and contrast with Mac Barnett’s The Skunk (2015).” — Booklist

“The short, clipped words and sentences complement Bloch’s illustrative approach perfectly. It’s as though the writer, Davide Cali, wrote the book with Bloch in mind.” — New York Times Book Review

From the Publisher

Whimsical black-and-white line drawings—created, according to the front matter, with the artist’sbrain, hands, and computer—clearly enhance the escapades, using swatches of color and texture to highlight various aspects, such as a green plaid for George’s suit and homburg.

Booklist

The short, clipped words and sentences complement Bloch’s illustrative approach perfectly. It’s as though the writer, Davide Cali, wrote the book with Bloch in mind.

New York Times Book Review

Whimsical black-and-white line drawings—created, according to the front matter, with the artist’sbrain, hands, and computer—clearly enhance the escapades, using swatches of color and texture to highlight various aspects, such as a green plaid for George’s suit and homburg.

Booklist

07/01/2017
K-Gr 3—The author and illustrator of The Enemy: A Book About Peace have teamed up again for this gently absurdist picture book translated from the Italian. George, a bespectacled white man in a plaid homburg, wakes one morning to discover that his shadow has come to life and is sitting at the breakfast table. "I was hungry," the shadow explains matter-of-factly. The book follows the classic plot of a grump reluctantly making a friend. First, the shadow plays the genial straight man to frantic George, who makes every effort to get rid of him. Next, George lightens up and the two enjoy each other's company. Finally, the shadow returns to his usual form, leaving George bereft. The last page hints at a sequel, this time with George's reflection in the mirror taking on a life of its own. Bloch's full-bleed digital illustrations resemble ink and collage and feature spare lines with some patches of color. The sketchy lines and exaggerated proportions are reminiscent of cartoons by James Thurber and Jules Feiffer and may appeal most to sophisticated young readers (or their parents). Scooter, George's expressive little dog, adds interest to the pages. VERDICT A whimsical but slight bit of silliness, this is an additional purchase for larger libraries.—Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library

School Library Journal

2017-08-27
What's that sitting at the table? And why is it following George all over the city?One morning, when George walks into the kitchen, he sees a dark figure sitting at the table, drinking coffee. George recognizes this as his shadow and asks why it's not on the floor. The shadow responds, "I was hungry." So goes the day. When George takes the dog for a walk, the shadow follows, walking upright rather than on the ground. The shadow follows him everywhere. After a while, George starts to get annoyed. How can he make the shadow disappear? He tries cutting it into tiny pieces, but that doesn't work. Neither does trying to wash it away with a big hose, using a vacuum cleaner, garlic, or telling his dog, Scooter, to attack. Scooter just ends up cradled happily in the shadow's arms. George decides that maybe they can be friends. George and his shadow have an enjoyable day together. Then, abruptly, the shadow decides to nap, resuming its customary position on the ground, causing George to feel oddly lonely. The next day starts like any other—but when George walks into the bathroom, his reflection in the mirror introduces itself! Cali subtly explores friendship and solitude with panache and a refreshing lack of condescension. Bloch's stylish computer-generated illustrations play with shape, color, and perspective, adding another layer of absurdism. Droll. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews