The Goblin and the Empty Chairby Mem Fox. Illus. by Diane and Leo Dillon

When we finished this book, my 7 year-old son looked at me and said, "Mom, that was really good." And to me that is the best praise that I can offer. The book 'moved' my child and made him think.


First let me say that The Goblin and the Empty Chair by Mem Fox, is not just a cute book that's a good read aloud. It is a book with a memorable story; a story with some real depth to it, and I am so thankful to be able to share this with my family.

It begins with a well garbed goblin seeing his reflection in water and deciding that he is so scary that he will hide his face away from the world. What he cannot hide, however, is his good heart, and when he sees a farmer breakdown one day, drop his tools and bury his head in his hands, the Goblin decides he must act.

Taking sympathy on the fellow the Goblin goes at night and "[H]e dug where digging was needed. He chopped where chopping was needed." And "[H]e painted where painting was needed. And was careful not to be seen."

In a short course of time, something similar happens with the farmer's wife and the farmer's daughter. They are overwhelmed by their burdens, and in each case, the Goblin goes and does what needs to be done... quietly, and secretly. Or so he thinks.

**if you don't like spoilers you might want to skip down to Talking Points**

The book ends with the family sitting down for a meal. They look at the empty chair at their table. The mother gets up and gets a setting for it. The daughter then goes and opens the door, and they wait for the Goblin to join them. After some delay, he does, and then the little girl takes away the wrap that the Goblin has been using all these years to hide his face. Then they smile at one another and dine.


I hardly ever go into so much detail in my reviews, but I felt compelled to do that for this book because it has such as lovely message. What I told my son and daughter -- and I think this is a book adults should talk about with children -- was that the Goblin hid away his face, but not his heart. He did good deeds and did not expect to be recognized and praised for them.

And the farm family at the end of the book, accepted him and weren't frightened by his appearance because they saw him first through his deeds, and because he was such a good person, they could not be afraid of him.

Talking Points :::
o Delightful artwork. Diane and Leo Dillon have made the Goblin a wonderful and mysterious creature.

o Excellent story with a message.

o Very, very good read aloud. (I read the book alone, but it didn't really come alive until I read it out loud)


Pam
Somewhere in the X-burbs

The Goblin and the Empty Chair

Accelerated Reading level : generic "2"

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Beach Lane Books (September 22, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1416985859