A fun little book about being different and setting trends. It could be about how little siblings always copy older siblings, or about trying to set yourself apart from the pack only to have the pack follow you (see [b:Stephanie's Ponytail|285740|Stephanie's Ponytail|Robert Munsch|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348256170s/285740.jpg|3302964]). It could be about a bigger kind of conformity and difference, too.

Jeffers' Hueys have so much humor and pathos for such simple little pencil drawings. It's really great.

Side note: Oliver Jeffers often draws noses on this charaters' foreheads. What's up with that? ( )

The Hueys are all the same...until Rupert knits a nice new orange sweater. Most of the other Hueys are horrified, but Gillespie "thought being different was interesting." He knitted a sweater to match, so "he would be different too!" Eventually the trend catches on and all the Hueys are wearing matching sweaters. The text reads, "Before long, they were all different, and no one was the same anymore": but of course, the illustration shows a bunch of identical Hueys. Then Rupert decides to wear a hat...

See also: The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss, Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen ( )

All of the Hueys looked alike. They also all acted and dressed alike. Until, that is, the day that Rupert knitted a bright new orange sweater and made himself stand out. Some of the other Hueys weren't sure that they approved - didn't Rupert know that they were all supposed to be the same?!? - but his friend Gillespie decided he too wanted a sweater. So began a trend, with all the Hueys jumping on the bandwagon. Soon Rupert had to find a new way to stand out...

The first of four picture-books featuring that crowd of creatures known as Hueys - subsequent titles include The Hueys in It Wasn't Me, The Hueys in None the Number, and The Hueys in What's the Opposite? - The Hueys in the New Sweater explores the nature of conformity and difference, and how sometimes everyone is the same, in wanting to be different. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that everyone wants to be special. I got a chuckle out of Rupert's discovery that being different isn't quite so simple, when you become a trend-setter, and appreciated (as always) Oliver Jeffer's amusing, scribble-style illustrations. Recommended to all fellow Jeffers fans, and to anyone looking for children's stories about standing out (or not) from the crowd. ( )

A picture book about being yourself/individuality. The Hueys are all the same until Rupert knit himself a sweater. Pay attention to the individual illustrations of other Huey's. They aren't all the same as they seem. ( )

A picture book about being yourself/individuality. The Hueys are all the same until Rupert knit himself a sweater. Pay attention to the individual illustrations of other Huey's. They aren't all the same as they seem. ( )