The Invisible Boy

Illustrated by Patrice Barton
Ebook
On sale Oct 08, 2013 | 40 Pages | 9780449818206
Age 6-9 years | Grades 1-4
Reading Level: Lexile AD680L | Fountas & Pinnell N

A gentle story that teaches how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish, from esteemed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton.

A simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend...

Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody in class ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.

When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.

Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource. Includes a discussion guide and resources for further reading. 

  • WINNER
    School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2017
    Illinois State Library Monarch Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Georgia Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2015
    Kentucky Bluegrass Award
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Missouri Show Me Reader Master List
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Nebraska Golden Sower Master List
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Master List
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Virginia Young Readers Program Master List
  • NOMINEE | 2014
    Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
  • SELECTION | 2014
    IRA Teachers' Choices
"A lovely lesson in the simple acts of friendship, especially recommended for the most popular kids in class." —USA Today

"This is a simple yet heartfelt story.” —School Library Journal, starred review

"Tender illustrations rendered in glowing hues capture Brian’s isolation deftly...Accessible, reassuring and hopeful." —Kirkus Reviews

"Ludwig and Barton understand classroom dynamics...They portray Brian’s situation as a matter of groupthink that can be rebooted through small steps. It’s a smart strategy, one that can be leveraged through the book’s excellent discussion guide."
—Publishers Weekly

"Trudy Ludwig has given us the gift of another empathic, poignant book for children that addresses the complex topic of peer relationships...A must-read."
—Carrie Goldman, award-winning author of BULLIED: What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know about Ending the Cycle of Fear

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.

View titles by Trudy Ludwig
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. View titles by Patrice Barton

Classroom Activities for The Invisible Boy

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Discussion Guide for The Invisible Boy

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

A gentle story that teaches how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish, from esteemed author and speaker Trudy Ludwig and acclaimed illustrator Patrice Barton.

A simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend...

Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody in class ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party . . . until, that is, a new kid comes to class.

When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class project together, Brian finds a way to shine.

Any parent, teacher, or counselor looking for material that sensitively addresses the needs of quieter children will find The Invisible Boy a valuable and important resource. Includes a discussion guide and resources for further reading. 

Awards

  • WINNER
    School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
  • SELECTION | 2017
    Illinois State Library Monarch Award
  • NOMINEE | 2016
    Georgia Children's Book Award
  • NOMINEE | 2015
    Kentucky Bluegrass Award
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Missouri Show Me Reader Master List
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Nebraska Golden Sower Master List
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Master List
  • SELECTION | 2015
    Virginia Young Readers Program Master List
  • NOMINEE | 2014
    Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award
  • SELECTION | 2014
    IRA Teachers' Choices

Praise

"A lovely lesson in the simple acts of friendship, especially recommended for the most popular kids in class." —USA Today

"This is a simple yet heartfelt story.” —School Library Journal, starred review

"Tender illustrations rendered in glowing hues capture Brian’s isolation deftly...Accessible, reassuring and hopeful." —Kirkus Reviews

"Ludwig and Barton understand classroom dynamics...They portray Brian’s situation as a matter of groupthink that can be rebooted through small steps. It’s a smart strategy, one that can be leveraged through the book’s excellent discussion guide."
—Publishers Weekly

"Trudy Ludwig has given us the gift of another empathic, poignant book for children that addresses the complex topic of peer relationships...A must-read."
—Carrie Goldman, award-winning author of BULLIED: What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know about Ending the Cycle of Fear

Author

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.

View titles by Trudy Ludwig
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. View titles by Patrice Barton

Guides

Classroom Activities for The Invisible Boy

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Discussion Guide for The Invisible Boy

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Register for the 2025 Penguin Random House First-Year Experience® Conference Author Events!

Penguin Random House Author Events at the 44th Annual First-Year Experience® Conference February 16-19, 2025 New Orleans, Louisiana Hyatt Regency New Orleans Click Here to RSVP A complimentary meal and a limited number of books will be available to attendees. Each event will also be followed by an author signing. Interested in hosting one of these

Read more

What Students Will Be Reading: Campus Common Reading Roundup, 2024-25

With the fall semester in full swing, colleges and universities around the country have announced their Common Reading books for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year. We’ve compiled a list of over 336 programs and their title selections, which you can download here: First-Year Reading 2024-25. We will continue to update this listing to provide the

Read more

2025 Catalog for First-Year & Common Reading

We are delighted to present our new First-Year & Common Reading Catalog for 2025! From award-winning fiction, poetry, memoir, and biography to new books about science, technology, history, student success, the environment, public health, and current events, the titles presented in our common reading catalog will have students not only eagerly flipping through the pages,

Read more