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Sep 20, 2012
The thing about the Hueys (and there were many of them) was that they were all the same. They looked the same. They thought the same. They did the same things, and they wore the same clothes. Then, one day, Rupert Huey knitted himself a new jumper (sweater) in a unique design and colour. He wore it everywhere. The Hueys (most of them) were horrified. Rupert stood out like a sore thumb in his new jumper! Didn’t he know that the Hueys prided themselves in being all the same? Gillespie Huey, however, thought that being different was intriguing and he knit himself a new sweater, just like Rupert’s. This way, he would be different too. When the other Hueys saw Rupert and Gillespie together, both in their new sweaters, they didn’t think that Rupert looked so strange anymore. Now they wanted to be different too. Each began to knit an outfit identical to Rupert’s. Before long, they were all different, and no one was the same anymore. Or were they? Then, one day, Rupert decided to wear a unique hat. British author/illustrator Oliver Jeffers’ newest picture book for children is deceptive. At first glance, it’s a simple and amusing story. However, it’s also a rather sophisticated little fable which uses subtle plays on words and logic (plus illustrations of stick people which are both simple and expressive) to present a message about individuality.