Boney

Boney

Written by: Fagan, Cary
Illustrated by: Tolstikova, Dasha
ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1

Annabelle discovers an animal bone in the woods and decides to make it her new plaything. But nature ends up moving Annabelle in mysterious ways.

At first, Boney, as Annabelle names him, makes the perfect companion. While Mom is busy with the baby, Boney and Annabelle share a meal, play at the park, and share a bedtime story before Annabelle tucks Boney into his shoebox-bed for the night.

But when creatures run wild through her dreams, Annabelle considers for the first time where Boney really belongs.

This thought-provoking story by award-winning picture-book creators Cary Fagan and Dasha Tolstikova encourages a deeper sense of wonder about the natural world and celebrates the wilderness that lives within us all.


Key Text Features

illustrations


Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Annabelle discovers an animal bone in the woods and decides to make it her new plaything. But nature ends up moving Annabelle in mysterious ways.

At first, Boney, as Annabelle names him, makes the perfect companion. While Mom is busy with the baby, Boney and Annabelle share a meal, play at the park, and share a bedtime story before Annabelle tucks Boney into his shoebox-bed for the night.

But when creatures run wild through her dreams, Annabelle considers for the first time where Boney really belongs.

This thought-provoking story by award-winning picture-book creators Cary Fagan and Dasha Tolstikova encourages a deeper sense of wonder about the natural world and celebrates the wilderness that lives within us all.


Key Text Features

illustrations


Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Published By Groundwood Books Ltd — Oct 4, 2022
Specifications 32 pages | 8.5 in x 10 in
Written By

CARY FAGAN writes books for children and adults. He has won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature, the Jewish Book Award, the IODE Jean Throop Book Award and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, among others. His picture books include A Cage Went in Search of a Bird, illustrated by Banafsheh Erfanian, and Son of Happy, illustrated by Milan Pavlović, which was named one of the Best Canadian Picture Books of 2020 by CBC Books. Cary lives with his family in Toronto.

Illustrated by

DASHA TOLSTIKOVA is the author and illustrator of The Bad Chair and A Year Without Mom, which received four starred reviews and was selected as an USBBY Outstanding International Book. Dasha has illustrated several picture books, including Violet and the Woof by Rebecca Grabill, Friend or Foe? by John Sobol and The Jacket by Kirsten Hall. Her illustrations have also appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Written By

CARY FAGAN writes books for children and adults. He has won the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature, the Jewish Book Award, the IODE Jean Throop Book Award and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, among others. His picture books include A Cage Went in Search of a Bird, illustrated by Banafsheh Erfanian, and Son of Happy, illustrated by Milan Pavlović, which was named one of the Best Canadian Picture Books of 2020 by CBC Books. Cary lives with his family in Toronto.

Illustrated by

DASHA TOLSTIKOVA is the author and illustrator of The Bad Chair and A Year Without Mom, which received four starred reviews and was selected as an USBBY Outstanding International Book. Dasha has illustrated several picture books, including Violet and the Woof by Rebecca Grabill, Friend or Foe? by John Sobol and The Jacket by Kirsten Hall. Her illustrations have also appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the New Yorker. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Audience ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1
Key Text Features

Illustrations

Common Core CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3

A poetic volume that raises keen questions about ephemerality, connection, and regard across the natural world. STARRED REVIEW

” —Publishers Weekly

Cary Fagan’s story provokes a lot of thought on emotions and on the idea of death. … It encourages an open discussion about expressing emotions and respect to wildlife.

” —CM: Canadian Review of Materials

A Where the Wild Things Are vibe may lead [readers] to think about the proper uses of nature.

” —Booklist

Fagan’s storytelling is simple but deeply felt. … Tolstikova’s childlike -mixed-media illustrations convey the emotional depth of the seemingly small experience. 

” —Horn Book

A wonderfully unusual and meaningful tale. … Singularly poetic and profound and funny. … For readers looking for books that explore children’s connections with and respect for wildlife, emotional processing, or more broadly about cycles of life, Boney is a terrific picture book pick.

” —Fab Book Reviews

A short but sweet story with very vivid and beautiful illustrations which are very thought-provoking. … It teaches us that, sometimes, we have to do things that aren't easy to make the situation right.

” —CanLit for Little Canadians

A slightly quirky picture book for early readers.

” —Winnipeg Free Press