Bart Is Different
Barroux
Otter-Barry Books

In Bart’s family are Father Spider, Mother Spider and four little spiderlets, one of which is Bart and he’s always been different. Unlike the other spiderlets, he likes to jump and run all over the place. He’s inattentive in school, daydreaming and shaping thread patterns which makes his teacher cross; and during playtimes some of his classmates laugh at him. As a result he tends to be alone in a corner of the playground, though occasionally he lets himself follow the call of the wind that says, “Have confidence, Bart. Be yourself! Be different.” Bart heeds the wind’s good advice; he shuts his eyes, clings onto his thread and lets himself be carried by the soft wind. He finds himself dancing left and right as he twirls and twists, releasing that inner artist

to make magical shapes until his web is a veritable masterpiece. Now his fellow students as well as his teacher are unable to take their eyes off the little spiderlet. Suddenly the silence is broken by a clapping sound coming first from Bart’s teacher and then his fellow students. Over the thunderous applause, Bart tells them all that he’s naming his picture ‘Happy In The Wind’. And happy is what Bart will feel henceforward and that happiness will stay with him throughout his life. for Bart is now a great artist.

Illustrated in pen and watercolour, this is a wonderfully uplifting story that celebrates creativity, and being true to one’s self and one’s talent.