I Am a Thief!
Description
When Eliza Jane Murphy—line leader, captain of the worm rescue team—impulsively pockets a sparkly green stone from her classroom’s “Exploring Green” display table, her heart crumples.
My heart stopped singing. My letters went wonky. I was too heavy to swing!
I wanted to put it back . . . But what if someone saw?
But when she discovers that nearly everyone in her family took something once in their lives—from her baby brother and mom, to her nana with her sausage-stealing dog—Eliza overcomes her shame to make things right.
A hilarious and heartfelt story about stealing and finding the courage to do the right thing.
Praise for I Am a Thief!
*Starred Review. This humorous story speaks to anyone who has made a regrettable mistake, rounding it out with a gently ironic surprise final spread...Hilarious and sweet, with a gentle, affirming moral.
— Kirkus Reviews
Rayner creates an engaging story through Eliza’s conversations, reflections, and disarming confessional narrative... Ruttan’s expressive mixed-media illustrations use “Wanted” posters at intervals, creatively portraying Eliza, her relatives, and their pets as thieves. This entertaining, original picture book leaves plenty of room for discussion.
— Carolyn Phelan
...this book will resonate with kids who have taken something that is not theirs, and, because it provides an avenue for dialogue, it may convince them to think twice.
— School Library Journal
"We all make mistakes and hope for the forgiveness of those we hurt. We also are all more than the worst decisions we have ever made. That message will resonate with all readers."
— New York Journal of Books