The Eyes and the Impossible

(Newbery Medal Winner)

Paperback

Grades 3–7
Ages 8–12

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER • #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

An enthralling novel for all ages by award-winning author Dave Eggers, told from the perspective of one uniquely endearing dog—featuring beautiful artwork from Caldecott honoree Shawn Harris.


“Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good nature run like a bright thread through the novel’s pages.” —The New York Times

Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison. His friends—a seagull, a raccoon, a squirrel, and a pelican—work with him as the Assistant Eyes, observing the humans and other animals who share the park and making sure the Equilibrium is in balance.

But changes are afoot. More humans arrive in the park. A new building, containing mysterious and hypnotic rectangles, goes up. And then there are the goats—an actual boatload of goats—who appear, along with a shocking revelation that changes Johannes’s view of the world.

Lushly illustrated with old world paintings and new artwork from Caldecott honoree Shawn Harris, this story about friendship, beauty, liberation (and running very, very fast), will make readers of all ages see the world around them in a wholly new way.

Bestseller
Award Winner

"Johannes is a highly engaging narrator whose exuberance and good nature run like a bright thread through the novel’s pages…. There is a deeper story here, too, about being yourself and finding freedom." —New York Times

“[Johannes is] one of the most appealing heroes in recent children’s literature... an early standout for 2023 and, as it happens, a lot of fun to read aloud.” —The Wall Street Journal

“This outstanding adventure story weaves complex thoughts about loyalty, friendship, and purpose into an epic escape plot that’s pure bliss to read.” —Common Sense Media

“This book is begging to be read aloud to oneself and to others. You’ll want to use your most special bookmark and find an honored place to keep this gem.” —The Denver Post

★ “Utterly delightful…. Eggers touches on deep topics with a light hand, effortlessly building suspense and a wonderful sense of adventure.” —Booklist, starred review

★ "One remarkable creature vividly shows readers that ‘there is so, so much to see.’” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Eggers crafts a marvelous, fully fleshed protagonist in Johannes....whose compassionate narration delivers a rousing tale of community, joyful self-reliance, and the pleasures of running very, very fast.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Animal lovers will be enthralled, and even for readers who mostly stick with humans, this is a standout example of the power of chosen family rather than biological ones." —The Bulletin, starred review

★ “The Eyes and the Impossible is compelling and heartfelt, destined to be read again and again.” —Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ “Almost proselike, the voices and personalities of Johannes and his comrades are endearing; their unique story will enchant readers and encourage them to focus on what is most important in life.” —School Library Journal, starred review

ISBN 9781524764234 (Paperback)
Published on Apr 1, 2025
Published by Yearling
Pages 256
Dimensions 6-1/2 x 8
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: Y

ISBN 9780593613016 (Audiobook Download)
Published on May 9, 2023
Published by Listening Library
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: Y

ISBN 9781524764203 (Hardcover)
Published on May 9, 2023
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages 256
Dimensions 6-1/2 x 8
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: Y

ISBN 9781524764210 (Hardcover Library Binding)
Published on May 9, 2023
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages 256
Dimensions 6-1/2 x 8
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: Y

ISBN 9781524764227 (Ebook)
Published on May 9, 2023
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages 272
Age Range 8-12 years
Grade Grades 3-7
Reading Level Lexile: 790L | Fountas/Pinnell: Y

Dave Eggers

DAVE EGGERS is the author of The Circle, The Monk of Mokha, A Hologram for the King, What Is the What, and The Museum of Rain, among other books. He is the cofounder of 826 National, a network of youth writing centers, and Art + Water, a nonprofit visual art hub on San Francisco’s waterfront. A classically trained artist and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Eggers has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award, and is the recipient of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and the American Book Award. In 2024, The Eyes and the Impossible was awarded the Newbery Medal.


daveeggers.net

Shawn Harris

Shawn Harris is an award-winning creator of books for kids. His authorial debut, Have You Ever Seen A Flower, was called a “stunning tour de force…” by The New York Times, and was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor. The National Museum of Wildlife Art awarded Shawn’s cut-paper art in A Polar Bear in the Snow (by Mac Barnett) the Bull-Bransom Award for excellence in the field of children’s book illustration with a focus on nature and wildlife. Harris has illustrated a number of other books, including Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers, and Everyone’s Awake by Colin Meloy. Shawn lives in Northern California, where he also likes to write songs, surf, and play racquetball.

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