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The Only Story

Illustrated by Susanna Chapman
Hardcover
$18.99 US
9-13/16"W x 9-1/16"H | 20 oz | 70 per carton
On sale Feb 09, 2027 | 40 Pages | 9781536242874
Age 5-8 years | Grades K-3

Whether you’re an only child or just feel different sometimes, this charming, dynamically illustrated book reminds us that we’re all the “only one” of something—and that sharing experiences means we’re never alone.

Pepper is an only child. That means her house is quieter than her friends’, and she spends lots of time with grown-ups. It also means she gets her bedroom all to herself, and she gets asked one question over and over again: Do you know how to share? Being the only child can get lonely. But when Pepper takes a look around, she discovers that she is not alone in feeling lonely. From the only one who feels shy to the only one who can limbo, from the only kid on wheels to the only one who just moved to town, everyone has something that makes them the Only. With a running narrative and spirited illustrations sprinkled with clever thought bubbles throughout, this insightful exploration from Susanna Chapman will not be read only once.
Susanna Chapman was an only child (still is, even though now she’s an adult). She has illustrated many books, some about families with onlys, like The Girl Who Ran by Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee, which won the Independent Publisher Gold Medal, and Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv. She has also illustrated stories about families with siblings, including The Fastest Drummer by Dean Robbins, Dragonflies of Glass by Susan Goldman Rubin, and Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans by Laurie Ann Thompson. The Only Story is the only book she’s both written and illustrated—so far! Susanna Chapman lives in Nashville with her husband and two cats (who are siblings).

About

Whether you’re an only child or just feel different sometimes, this charming, dynamically illustrated book reminds us that we’re all the “only one” of something—and that sharing experiences means we’re never alone.

Pepper is an only child. That means her house is quieter than her friends’, and she spends lots of time with grown-ups. It also means she gets her bedroom all to herself, and she gets asked one question over and over again: Do you know how to share? Being the only child can get lonely. But when Pepper takes a look around, she discovers that she is not alone in feeling lonely. From the only one who feels shy to the only one who can limbo, from the only kid on wheels to the only one who just moved to town, everyone has something that makes them the Only. With a running narrative and spirited illustrations sprinkled with clever thought bubbles throughout, this insightful exploration from Susanna Chapman will not be read only once.

Author

Susanna Chapman was an only child (still is, even though now she’s an adult). She has illustrated many books, some about families with onlys, like The Girl Who Ran by Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee, which won the Independent Publisher Gold Medal, and Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman and Olga Pastuchiv. She has also illustrated stories about families with siblings, including The Fastest Drummer by Dean Robbins, Dragonflies of Glass by Susan Goldman Rubin, and Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans by Laurie Ann Thompson. The Only Story is the only book she’s both written and illustrated—so far! Susanna Chapman lives in Nashville with her husband and two cats (who are siblings).

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