Nobody from Reycraft Books Delivers a Message of Reassurance and Hope to Lonely Young Readers
Rhyme and illustration combine to capture the experiences of a girl who feels like an outsider.
New Rochelle, NY, Oct. 1, 2022—Leading children’s trade publisher Reycraft Books is proud to present the debut of author Jane Berger Konigsberg with her picture book Nobody, illustrated by Petronela Dostalova. Published in hardcover on September 15, 2022, Nobody tackles the theme of feeling lonely and left out—a relatable reading experience for its target audience of children in Grades K–2.
Through rhyme, Nobody tells the story of a young girl who feels that she is being excluded by her friends. She knows they are doing activities together, including trick-or-treating, watching movies, and going swimming, all without her. Being the only human in a social circle of animal pals only adds to her feelings of alienation. She’s left to wonder—does nobody care for her? As she—and readers—will discover, there just may be a big surprise around the corner. Petronela Dostalova’s colorful, expressive illustrations help bring the story to life
“The book is about feeling like an outsider and the importance of reaching out to people to let them know they are seen and valued,” Reycraft Books associate publisher Wiley Blevins says. “It reinforces that even when we feel alone and left out, there is always, always someone who cares.”
Blevins adds that the story of what led to the writing of the book is about as great as the book itself. “In 2006, at the age of 70, the author, Jane Berger Konigsberg, went back to college,” he explains. “She had left in her senior year in the 1950s, right before finishing, and then went on to raise a family. After getting her degree, Jane set out to fulfill her lifelong goal of writing a children’s book, and when she was around 80, she finally did it!”
According to Konigsberg, she chose the subject matter for her first book because “the feeling of being left out is universal, but it’s more pronounced in children. This book is for them.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jane Berger Konigsberg puts family and children at the center of her life. She raised four children and twelve grandchildren in Rye Brook, New York. In 2006, at age seventy, Jane returned to college to complete her degree, after leaving in her senior year in the 1950s. With the publication of her first children’s book, Nobody, she fulfilled a lifelong dream.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Petronela Dostalova graduated from the Cambridge School of Art with an M.A. in Children’s Book Illustration. She was born in the former Czechoslovakia and grew up in a small village near the Hungarian border called Borsa, Slovakia. Her work was shortlisted for the 2021 Bologna Illustrator Exhibition. Petronela lives and works in Tattingstone, England, with her partner, Dan, and rescue dog, Haribo. She enjoys muddy dog walks and estuary swims.
ABOUT REYCRAFT BOOKS: Reycraft Books partners with award-winning and up-and-coming authors and illustrators, primarily from underrepresented communities, to provide high-quality books that delight, inform, and honor the voice and vision of all children. Founded in 2019, the imprint publishes authentic stories—engaging picture books, chapter books, middle grade books, graphic novels, and more—that build knowledge, perspective, and connection, meeting the diverse needs of children, families, and educators.