The Hottest Boy Who Ever Lived

This is a book about just how life really is, hard. I just loved it, as did my children. We are Australian by the way, and so is the author and illustrator. I think it's a great story to read to our children, who can make connections through relating the story to incidents in their own lives..and we as adults can help to guide them through the more difficult aspects by being open and honest in our communication. We cannot deny that all of our children, regardless of where you come from, will have to someday learn about different things ranging from life through to death, from bullying and alienation, to acceptance and understanding, and there are lots of people who think because we are different there is no hope for us......these issues all crop up in the book. It is especially good for a child who does display a different way of doing things and may be getting bullied at school. It shows that the first judgement people make about you is not always correct, it asks us to show tolerance to our fellow man, and give them time and space to reveal themselves....it asks as to be gentle with one another and look for the good things, and not to judge people from a fearful stance if they look a bit scary....sure they might have unusual ideas, but their difference is what makes the world interesting, better, and it helps us to grow. This was the best children's book I've ever read. It takes a child to a place in their imagination, too often missing now in the lives of children, who are required by some to live as an adult. What they are learning is to let go of 'learning' for a moment and dwell in a creative space, allowing the ideas that are fairly emotional ones, to seep in. It shows children that if someone is different and has another skillset that we don't understand, that we shouldn't try to alienate or compartmentalise them, that in fact they might be able to teach us something about the world, something about life......that we can learn from listening to different unusual people and their ideas.....I related to the story very much, as an artist myself. It inspired me in my painting life, and my children absolutely loved this beautiful story. We really as adults need to still our souls sometimes and listen to the child within us....or life can get very dry. I also found the book full of humour and funny circumstance, but perhaps you have to be familiar with aussie humour to 'get it'.....or just allow the child within you to listen.

Poor Hector! He's so lonely, but finds a friend in the end. My preschoolers in my class ask to read this story over and over, they love it! It's a nice story and addresses tolerance of differences and friendship.