George and His Shadow

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.

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, to the amusement park, and everywhere else George goes.

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

“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

“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

“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