Dimity Dumpty: the Story of Humpty’s Little Sister by Bob Graham.

The Dumpty family is part of a traveling circus. They do a high trapeze act, but Dimity is not like the rest of her family.  She is quiet and has no interest in joining the family act.  In fact, her favorite thing is to head for a still place and play music on her flute.  It isn’t until her brother Humpty takes a bad fall that she finds her voice and her place.

I enjoyed this story of a quiet child who remains true to herself.  My favorite illustrations are the ones where Dimity is playing her flute surrounded by listeners.  The language used to describe Dimity’s playing is also evocative: “soft as a snail on a cabbage leaf, quiet as the grass growing on the hill, gentle as a beetle’s breath.”  They are a joy to read aloud and really create a sense of who Dimity is by showing and not telling.  It is a lovely thing to find in a picture book. 

Use this with other take offs on nursery rhymes or for units on siblings.  Quiet children, or even noisy ones with a gentle soul will enjoy this book.