The Thingity-Jig: A Whimsical New STEAM Storytime Read

The Thingity-Jig
by Kathleen Doherty
illustrated by Kristyna Litten

One night, under the light of a silvery moon, an inquisitive bear wanders into people town, where he makes quite the curious discovery. It looks friendly and quite comfy, but what could it be? Bingity. Bing. Boing! This “Thingity-Jig” is a springy thing—a bouncy thing—a sit-on-it, hop-on-it, jump-on-it thing! It’s a bit too cumbersome to bring back to the woods, however, so Bear hurries home to tell his friends. His sleepy friends want to wait until morning, so Bear smacks, wallops, and whacks until he invents a “Rolly-Rumpity” to wheel home the “Thingity-Jig.” Through trial and error—and lots of shooing away from grumbly, tired friends—Bear finally wheels the “Thingity-Jig” home to the woods, where he graciously shares his find.

Reading specialist and former educator Kathy Doherty blends upcycling and STEAM with a delightful story of friendship, imagination, and whimsical wordplay in this charismatic picture book that’s ideal for read alouds with animal lovers and little inventors alike! Illustrator Kristyna Litten’s imaginative art brings Bear’s charming world to life.

Start your STEAM storytime in this excerpt, and download this teacher’s guide to bring Bear’s inventions into the classroom.

Watch author Kathleen Doherty unbox her first copies of The Thingity-Jig in this video, and learn more about her inspiration for the book in this Q&A!

“Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud. The moonlit night sparkles in town and city as Litten’s fanciful illustrations fill in the details of the tale and showcase Bear’s inventiveness. Little readers might want to create their own Thingity-Jigs. A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] intricately illustrated picture book that rejoices in creative play—and in imaginative takes on ordinary objects.” —Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Making the most of Bear’s wacky, ingenious contraptions, the appealing artwork rewards curious viewers with visual details that reappear in different contexts as the story unfolds. The well-constructed text rolls along in a satisfying way, enhanced by the devices’ inventive names, which are uniquely fitting and great fun to read aloud. A dynamic, enjoyable picture book.” —Booklist

“With text as energetic and playful as Bear himself, the story builds a delightful anticipation for each new Rube Goldberg-ian invention. Atmospheric illustrations are washed in softly textured nighttime blues and are chock-a-block full of endearing detail…. With language that trips off the tongue and pictures filled with charming ingenuity, this is a read-aloud that will endure.” —School Library Connection

Pick up a copy of The Thingity-Jig today at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble and let your bedtime reading adventure begin. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles at Peachtree this season!