住在52號的我的神祕鄰居 The Thing at 52

 
　　有個神祕生物住在小女孩家的街上，他住在52號，在去學校的路上小女孩看見他坐在花園裡。他看起來又大又笨重，大大的頭上戴著一頂小小的帽子，小女孩覺得他應該沒有朋友，所以帶了一朵花給他。
 
　　沒多久，小女孩和他就變成好朋友，這個神祕生物溫柔又善良，他們一起去冒險，這是小女孩覺得最美好的記憶。
 
　　小女孩很快發現神祕生物有很多同類住在不同地方，小女孩想到，可以邀請大家一起來舉辦派對！大家跳舞到半夜，感受到從未有過的快樂。只是，有相聚就有別離，冒險結束，到了必須說再見的時候⋯⋯　
 
　　意想不到的相遇，從一個小小的善良舉動發展為大大的友誼，帶領讀者發現相互陪伴和分享的友情力量。

　　Spark meaningful discussions about loneliness, friendship, community and coping with loss with this enchantingly illustrated story about a girl who befriends a monster.

　　There’s a Thing on my street.
　　He lives at number 52.
　　I see him sitting in his garden when I walk to school.

　　He was big and lumbering and a wore a tiny top hat perched on top of his rather large head. She didn’t think he had any friends, so she brought him a flower.

　　It wasn’t long before their friendship bloomed… the Thing was gentle and kind and the adventures they went on were the best she could ever imagine.
 
　　The girl soon discovered that there were many Things, living all over the place… which gave her an idea. She invited them all to a party, and the Things danced till midnight. Thing had never felt so happy.

　　But one day the Thing had to go and their adventures came to an end.
　　All Things have to go sometime…

　　In this poignant story, discover how small acts of kindness can grow into great friendships, and how the community you build from those friendships can provide comfort and companionship when you need it most.

　　Written by one of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors, Ross Montgomery, and illustrated by the incredible Richard Johnson, The Thing at 52 offers a comfortable starting point for discussing difficult topics with children. The book’s magic will draw you back again and again.

　　Ross Montgomery has worked as a pig farmer, a postman and a primary school teacher, so obviously writing books was the next logical step. He spent his childhood reading everything he could get his hands on, from Jacqueline Wilson to Beano annuals, and it taught him pretty much everything that's worth knowing. If you looked through his pockets you'd find empty crisp packets, lists of things to do, and a bottle of that stuff you put on your nails to stop you biting them. He lives in London with his girlfriend, a cat called Fun Bobby, and a cactus on every available surface.

　　Richard Johnson is an illustrator whose picture books have been published by Penguin, Faber & Faber, Macmillan, DK, and many others. His work is deeply thoughtful and conjures up powerful atmospheres with detailed, delicate pencil strokes.