The Goblin and the Empty Chair

The Goblin and the Empty Chair is a 2009 children's picture book by Mem Fox and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. It is a modern fairy tale, and is about a hermit goblin who observes a farming family that is so aggrieved (possibly due to the loss of a child) that they cannot carry out their daily tasks; for 3 days the goblin secretly does their work not realising that he has been seen, eventually the goblin is invited to partake in breakfast with them.

The Goblin and the Empty Chair
AuthorMem Fox
IllustratorLeo and Diane Dillon
Cover artistThe Dillons
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's picture book
Published2009 (Viking Australia)
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages32 (unpaginated)
ISBN9780670074211
OCLC808380354

Publication history

Reception

Reviews of The Goblin and the Empty Chair have been favourable with Publishers Weekly writing: "Acceptance and healing are less common picture book themes; Fox (Time for Bed) handles them with particular grace".[1] Kirkus Reviews called it a perfect combination of words and images.[2]

The Goblin and the Empty Chair has also been reviewed by Booklist,[3] School Library Journal,[4] Horn Book Guides,[5] Library Media Connection,[6] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[7] Magpies,[8] and Reading Time.[9]

References
  1. "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  2. "The Goblin and the Empty Chair (starred review)". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2021. Fox is a master at crafting tales that linger in memory over time, gently adding to the canon of classics. Her text is full of imagery and repeats several lovely phrases, with the theme of gentle kindness permeating the carefully chosen language. The Dillons' signature style raises the level of achievement even higher.
  3. Daniel Kraus (2009). "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". Booklist. American Library Association. Retrieved 29 September 2021. The all-star team of Fox and the Dillons brings poise and sensitivity to this folksy tale of the pitfalls of self-perception.
  4. Barbara Scotto. "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". School Library Journal. Media Source Inc. Retrieved 29 September 2021. Like the pictures, this quiet, simply written tale lacks real drama, but its message of kindness and compassion will appeal to many readers.
  5. "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". Horn Book Guides. Media Source Inc. Retrieved 29 September 2021. With its rhythmic repetitions, the text has a cozy folktale feel, but the illustrations tell a starker, more twenty-first-century story.
  6. Michele Turner (2009). "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". Library Media Connection. Linworth Publications. Retrieved 29 September 2021. While the simple text can be read by children on their own, the pictures, story, and subject matter make this a natural for sharing aloud with children of all ages.
  7. Kate Quealy-Gainer (December 2009). "Fox, Mem. The Goblin and the Empty Chair". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Johns Hopkins University Press. 63 (4): 153. doi:10.1353/bcc.0.1356. S2CID 144940096. Retrieved 29 September 2021. The melodic and understated text is accompanied by line-and-watercolor illustrations that set the story in a stylized medieval world and create an interesting dynamic by making the goblin princely in wealth and dress whle the family are country laborers. .. Although more somber than some storytime choices, this gentle read will still leave listeners satisfied as both the family and the goblin find their happy ending...
  8. "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". Magpies: Talking About Books For Children. Vol. 24, no. 5. Magpies Magazine. November 2009. p. 31. ISSN 0817-0088.
  9. "The Goblin and the Empty Chair". Reading Time. Children's Book Council of Australia. 54 (1): 22. February 2010. ISSN 0155-218X.
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