I Am a Thief!

By Abigail Rayner, Molly Ruttan (Illustrator)

A young girl must face her guilt and make amends after taking a forbidden stone.

5.1/7 Bookroo experts·3.6/5 Goodreads · 280 ratings

40 pages

$17.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Eliza Jane Murphy, a spirited young girl, impulsively takes a sparkly green stone from her classroom. Overwhelmed by guilt, she learns that her family members have also taken things in the past. As Eliza grapples with her conscience, she must find the courage to return the stone and make things right. Will she overcome her fear of being caught, or will the weight of her secret keep her from doing the right thing? This heartfelt tale explores the journey from shame to redemption with humor and warmth.

From the publisher

When Eliza Jane Murphy–line leader, captain of the worm rescue team–impulsively pockets a sparkly green stone from her classroom’s “Exploring Green” display table, her heart crumples.

My heart stopped singing. My letters went wonky. I was too heavy to swing!

I wanted to put it back . . . But what if someone saw?

But when she discovers that nearly everyone in her family took something once in their lives–from her baby brother and mom, to her nana with her sausage-stealing dog–Eliza overcomes her shame to make things right.

A hilarious and heartfelt story about stealing and finding the courage to do the right thing.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 40
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: 530L

Themes & topics

Books about fixing mistakes Books about stealing Books about values and virtues Books about feelings and emotions Books about multigenerational

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.1

out of 7

5.0

“A great book providing a relatable story to help kids through the emotions of making a mistake and finding the courage to fix it. I like that her family, especially her parents, are their to comfort and help her.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

5.3

“Cute illustrations and does a wonderful job exploring Eliza Jane's actions and guilt in a way that normalizes it so that children don't feel alone while also emphasizing the importance of rectifying the mistake.”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one