Desmond the cat is an expert at hiding. He hides in class, at the playground, on field trips, and even at home. Then one day an outgoing new student named Gloria comes to his class, and for the first time Desmond gets noticed. Gloria teaches Desmond that is alright to be noticed, and Desmond begins to show his unique personality to his peers. At the end of the story, Desmond helps another student come out of hiding. Alter’s illustrations feature a mix of insets and full-page spreads in vibrant pastel colors, with plenty of backdrops for Desmond to hide in. Children will have fun spotting Desmond and the many other animals hiding on the final pages of the story. This book will be especially relevant for shy or timid children who will relate to Desmond’s struggle to step outside of his comfort zone and make friends. Other children may relate to Gloria’s more flamboyant personality. A broader application of the book would be to teach children the value of being understanding and accepting of diverse personalities and seeking to include their peers who may seem a little different. Recommended. Ages 3-6. Disappearing Desmond by Anna Alter is about a painfully shy cat who does everything he can to make himself invisible at school. Desmond accomplishes his disappearances through camouflage clothing and carefully placed props. He blends into the wallpaper during reading time and with the plants during recess.All that changes, though, when Gloria shows up. Gloria is an outgoing, talkative child who knows who she likes. She doesn't seem to notice Desmond's hiding as a sign of shyness. Can her enthusiasm win him over and bring him out of the background?My daughter who is about the most out-going person I know, didn't pick up on the theme of shyness. She did however like playing "find Desmond" on each page. She also liked Gloria and probably related to her best of all.Disappearing Desmond reminds me of the picture book version of Secret Letters from 0 to 10 by Susie Morgenstern. The author's information at the back of the book explains how she too was shy as a child. She is appropriately dressed in true Desmond fashion!
What do You think about Disappearing Desmond (2010)?
A nice book about being shy and the difference a friend can make.
—flyingmonkey_02
This one is great because there are lots of things to look for.
—Brendagtzll
