56. Mick Inkpen, Nothing (1995) (11/8/21)
It's the story of Nothing, a ragged and worn stuffed animal that is left behind when a family, a new baby on the way, move house—"Oh, it's nothing," says the mover on seeing him lying on the attic floor: hence his name. He is coached by a mouse to leave the house, through a gap under the eaves, before the new family arrives, who will surely throw him in the trash bin. Out in the world, he encounters a fox, a frog, and finally a cat named Toby—the very cat, in fact, of the family that moved, only he was out roaming the day the movers came, so they thought he was lost. In all these encounters, Nothing vaguely remembers aspects of his former, less worn and ragged self: whiskers, stripes, and there is something about that cat . . . But despite these nudges, Nothing can only wail, "I don't know who I am!"
Toby takes Nothing to explore the neighborhood, and they end up at the new home of the family that moved. Grandpa takes one look at him, then goes to his photo album. And so Nothing learns who he is: not Nothing, but a stuffed cat named Little Toby. And he is restored, and soon becomes the new baby's favorite thing to hug (and chew on).
Here are a few of the lovely watercolor illustrations:
Here is a short video where Mick Inkpen talks about a few of his books and the creative work.
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