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The Surprise Hardcover – Picture Book, June 28, 2022

by Zadie Smith (Author), Nick Laird (Author), Magenta Fox (Illustrator)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 13 ratings
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This back-to-school season, individuality is in! Nothing makes a splash like being uniquely yourself—and celebrating what makes you different.

From acclaimed authors Zadie Smith and Nick Laird, with art from exciting newcomer Magenta Fox, comes a powerful picture book debut!

"[A] delightful tale for little oddballs everywhere."—Entertainment Weekly

Meet Maud: a guinea pig who inexplicably wears a judo suit—and not everyone understands or approves. When Maud is thrown into a new and confusing situation, it takes brave decisions and serendipitous encounters for her to find her place and embrace her individuality.

The Surprise is an endearing story about the quiet power of being different by New York Times bestselling author Zadie Smith and award-winning writer Nick Laird, and introduces an exciting debut illustrator, Magenta Fox. Together they have created a picture book that adults and children alike will treasure.
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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    3 - 7 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 2
  5. Lexile measure
    AD530L
  6. Dimensions
    8.75 x 0.25 x 11.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Viking Books for Young Readers
  8. Publication date
    June 28, 2022
  9. ISBN-10
    0593525973
  10. ISBN-13
    978-0593525975
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

2
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—A guinea pig wearing a judo outfit is Kit's surprise birthday present. When Kit leaves her apartment to go to school, the new pet, also known as the Surprise, finds her differences are being judged and are creating a disparaging conversation among the other pets in the household; Dora a cat, Paul a parrot, and Bob a hard-of-hearing pug. The established pets quickly label her as odd and ignore her. The Surprise, wanting to fit in, tries to copy the other pets in their appearance, style, and physical abilities only to find her efforts cause her to be blown out of the apartment's window by an inconvenient gust of wind. Luckily, she is rescued by a sympathetic neighbor and oddball herself, Emily Brookstein. The two spend the day together and the Surprise discovers that being an oddball can be a good thing. Emily returns the new pet to Kit when school is over and the Surprise learns she has been given the name Maud. Maud is summarily accepted by the other pets and teaches them judo. This simple story of rejection then acceptance is sweet but predicable. Fox's illustrations boasting a soft watercolor-like palette are complex and unassuming simultaneously. Her characters are expressive, while the setting is filled with delightful detail and energy. VERDICT This charming story embraces friendship, self-discovery, and fun. For its relatable message, it would be a good addition to a classroom, library, or school counselor's anti-bullying picture book collection.—Lynne Stover

Review

Raves for The Surprise:

"[A] delightful tale for little oddballs everywhere."—Entertainment Weekly

"Adorable and sweet...A fun story of friendship and acceptance."—Kirkus Reviews

"This charming story embraces friendship, self-discovery, and fun. For its relatable message, it would be a good addition to a classroom, library, or school counselor’s anti-bullying picture book collection."—School Library Journal

"The wholesome conversations between Emily and Maud about being different spur Maud’s growth, as she moves from defeated self-doubt to joyful confidence, giving the hopeful message that 'life’s too short not to be an oddball.'"—BCCB

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers (June 28, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593525973
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593525975
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD530L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.75 x 0.25 x 11.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 13 ratings

About the author

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Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith

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Zadie Smith is the author of the novels White Teeth, The Autograph Man, On Beauty, NW and Swing Time, as well as three collections of essays, Changing My Mind, Feel Free and Intimations, and a collection of short stories, Grand Union.

White Teeth won multiple awards, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Guardian First Book Award. On Beauty was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won the Orange Prize for Fiction, and NW was shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction.

Zadie Smith is currently a tenured professor of fiction at New York University and a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She is a regular contributor to the New Yorker and the New York Review of Books.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
13 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kimberly
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2022
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My son loved this book!
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Mass Customer Joyce Frank
5.0 out of 5 stars “Life’s too short not to be an oddball.”
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2022
Well, you'd expect Zadie Smith and Nick Laird to write a unique story with charming dialogue and they do, but the illustrations are divine. Children will return to visit this visual neighborhood - adult and animal - again and again.
One person found this helpful
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roberta
5.0 out of 5 stars What a sweet book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2022
It's ok to be an oddball. It's ok to be whomever you are. Because everyone is special, in their own special way! And Maud is the perfect example. This is a must-read for children (and adults) that are trying to understand who they are.
One person found this helpful
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Mark Currey
1.0 out of 5 stars Unable to download
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2022
Kindle purchase contained error message indicating the book was not compatible with my iPad Kindle APP
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Kory D. Cookson
5.0 out of 5 stars Kids loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2022
My kids (8 & 5) loved this book. Easy read with fun illustrations.
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