Quiet Please, Owen McPhee!

Trudy Ludwig ∙ Illustrated by Patrice Barton

Paperback

Published on Jul 11, 2023 | 40 Pages

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Hardcover

Published on Jul 3, 2018 | 40 Pages

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Ebook

Published on Jul 3, 2018 | 40 Pages

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Grades K–3
Ages 5–8

From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won’t stop talking—until he gets laryngitis. You don’t have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.

Owen McPhee doesn’t just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.

From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening.

Thought-provoking . . . An accessible addition to libraries that may function as a springboard for a discussion on positive communication and the importance of listening."—School LIbrary Journal

"Like Ludwig and Barton’s previous picture book, The Invisible Boy (2013), which concerns a quiet child, this book has a purpose. It deals with a recognizable problem, offers some points to discuss, and delivers its message lightly." —Booklist

"Sympathetic and most of all, hopeful."—Publishers Weekly

"The ending reflects real life in that Owen still has bouts of talkativeness, though now he does also listen for others’ input. . . . Similarly talkative youngsters struggling with social interactions may want to schedule their own laryngitis days." —Kirkus Reviews

“This delightful story shows the beauty and benefits of tuning in and listening to others in compassionate, caring ways—something we definitely need more of in our chatter-filled world!” —Dr. Michele Borba, bestselling author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World

A Junior Library Guild Selection

ISBN 9780593703601 (Paperback)
Published on Jul 11, 2023
Published by Dragonfly Books
Pages 40
Dimensions 8 x 10
Age Range 5-8 years
Grade Grades K-3
Reading Level Lexile: AD530L | Fountas/Pinnell: L

ISBN 9780399557132 (Hardcover)
Published on Jul 3, 2018
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages 40
Dimensions 8 x 10
Age Range 5-8 years
Grade Grades K-3
Reading Level Lexile: AD530L | Fountas/Pinnell: L

ISBN 9780399557156 (Ebook)
Published on Jul 3, 2018
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages 40
Age Range 5-8 years
Grade Grades K-3
Reading Level Lexile: AD530L | Fountas/Pinnell: L

Trudy Ludwig

Trudy Ludwig is a nationally acclaimed speaker and an award-winning author who specializes in writing children’s books that help kids connect and engage with their peers in kind, caring ways. She has received rave reviews from educators, experts, organizations, and parents for her passion and compassion in addressing friendship, bullying, and cyberbullying issues. Trudy wrote her first book, My Secret Bully, after her own daughter was bullied by some friends. Since then, she has become a sought-after speaker, presenting at schools and conferences both in the US and overseas, educating students, parents, and teachers on relational aggression.

Her books have received numerous awards and citations including Victoria Soto Legacy Award, IBPA Gold Benjamin Franklin Award, Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award, NAPPA Gold Medal Award, Mom’s Choice Gold Awards, Moonbeam Children’s Books Gold Award, Comstock Read Aloud Honors and are included in the Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s Best of the Year Selection, NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Books for Young People Selection, National Crime Prevention Council’s Circle of Respect Book Club Selection, Junior Library Guild Selection, School Library Journal’s Best Picture Books Selection, Scholastic Instructor Recommended Back-to-School Picks, and more.

An active member of the International Bullying Prevention Association, Trudy also collaborates with leading experts and organizations including Committee for Children, ConnectSafely.org, Sesame Workshop, and Passport to Peace Foundation.

Trudy lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, two children, and their loyal hound dog, Hannah. Visit her on the web at trudyludwig.com or follow her on Twitter @TrudyLudwig.

Patrice Barton

Patrice Barton created her first painting at the age of three, in Crisco on the dining room wall. She has illustrated many picture books, including Mine! by Shutta Crum and Sweet Moon Baby by Karen Henry Clark. Patrice lives in Cedar Park, Texas.