A Special Something

A Special Something is a children's book written and illustrated by Jan Fearnley and published in the United Kingdom by Egmont Books (under the imprint Methuen Publishing) in 2000.

A girl notices that her mother's tummy had grown larger. When the girl asks what is inside, the mother says it is "a Special Something". The girl imagines that there is a hippopotamus inside and starts worrying that it will take all the room in her swimming pool and hog all her toys.

When asked, the girl's mother tells her daughter that there is not a hippopotamus inside her and tells her to put her ear to her tummy. When she hears a woofity-boom, the girl thinks that it is a dinosaur with a drum. She fears that it will bang all night, keeping her awake, resulting in her being late for school and getting in trouble with her teacher.

The girl's mother states that it is not a dinosaur with a drum and tells her daughter to give her a cuddle. The girl feels a wriggledy-jiggle and thinks that it is a crocodile. She worries that it will wriggle and jiggle the table, ruin all her drawings, and get her in trouble for making a mess.

The girl's mother says that there is not a crocodile in her tummy. She then tells her daughter to put her hand on her tummy. The girl feels something go "kickety-kick" and fears that it is an angry kangaroo that will steal her ball to play soccer and kick it into the neighbor's yard, where it will be taking by her spiteful neighor. (Although it is referred to as a male, the kangaroo has a clear pouch.)

The girl's mother states that there is not a kangaroo in her tummy, but it is time for her story. Halfway through, the girl feels a nudge. She fears that it is a monkey that will nudge her in class (which will put her in trouble for fidgeting) and tease her when she's trying to eat her breakfast nicely or trying to be good in the back of the car.

The girl goes to bed worried, but when she wakes up the next morning, she sees her grandmother stroking her hair. The grandmother states that the mother has gone to fetch the "Special Something" and takes the girl to the hospital. The girl sees her mother in bed with something in her arms. The girl's father tells her to look in the bundle. The girl sees that it is her baby brother. She holds him in her hands, and her father takes a photo of his "two Special Somethings".