Interesting line drawings, but assumes lead character's an idiot, as nearly as I can tell.

*shrugs*

Not my thing, but nifty art. ( )

"While Chester Filbert sits glumly on the curbstone in front of his house bemoaning the lack of excitement in his life, he fails to see the numerous amusing and dramatic events going on around him". -- GoodReads

I had mixed feelings about this book after I read it. At first, the writing was very basic and boring but the more and more I look at the illustrations and details, I saw that the illustrations itself played out a story. In the beginning, I did not catch on to the illustrations. They were in black and white and only some of the pictures were in color. However, as I flipped from the previous page to the next, I could see right away that the pages all corresponded. I believe this book should be shown to individual students because this book would not be a good fit for a read aloud. The book is extremely small and the illustrations are too important for students to glance at. The reader of this book must pay close attention to the illustrations, just reading the words will not help understand what the overall idea of the book is for. The main idea of this book is to observe the world around you. Do not be closed minded because there are so many things happening when you least expect it. I thought the author/illustrator did an excellent job plotting a twist to this book. ( )

Have I mentioned that I love Ellen Raskin? In Nothing Ever Happens on My Block, a boy sits on his sidewalk complaining that his neighborhood is dull as we see all kinds of fabulous things happening around him. The idea is good, but the execution is where the brilliance comes in. This could be a great introduction to Ellen Raskin's picture books. ( )

Chester Filbert doesn’t think anything exciting ever happens on is block, and is too busy listing all of the things that never happen to notice the things that are happening all around him! Readers can spend minutes examining each illustration, noticing the subtle and not-so-subtle action taking place in the houses behind Chester. They may even need to go back to examine the progression of different changes that have taken place, such as the tree that was planted and begins to grow, or the house that sustains disaster after disaster to its structure! By the end, you want to yell, “Chester, just turn around!” Another book where the reader is in on the joke and will shake their head at Chester, who thinks nothing is happening.