Hooey Higgins and the Shark by Steve Voake with illustrations by Emma Dodson
Voake, S. (2012). Hooey Higgins and the Shark. London, England: Candlewick Press.
This delightful story centers around Hooey and his best friend, Twig, who has more quirks than a branch has twigs! This collection of adventures recount everything from how to catch a shark with ketchup as well as how Twig becomes obsessed with buying a humongous chocolate egg—a oeuf en chocolat (French translation of a chocolate egg)! With a crazed plan to help Twig purchased the “egg of the golden goose” they plan to catch a shark using ketchup, a cricket bat and a blanket! A classic combination of male-aloofness and determination makes this a side-cracking humorous read! All fans of the Diary of the Wimpy Kids series will find this comedic book, the new rookie! I would definitely use this brief chapter/picture book as a class read. Notation must be made to the British quirks that American students might miss, but that should assist in the Twiggy hilarity that becomes this book!
Lulu and the Duck in the Park by Hilary McKay with illustrations by Priscilla Lamont
McKay, H. (2012). Lulu and the Duck in the Park. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Every young girl needs a heroine to model. Whether it’s Clementine chopping off her hair or Lulu collecting every animal she can care for, girls are the stronger, smarter sex, not because of obvious factors—giver of life, nurturer and care-giver—but because no matter what, they can out-smart the boys! And that alone should be legal tender! The title will catch the eye of a reader, but it’s Lulu’s heart to save her duck egg that will win over the audience. A tender-hearted third grade girl, Lulu’s determined to give her pet-less teacher the perfect pet and keep out of trouble for acquiring another pet, even if it is an egg. This book’s great for teaching children how to problem-solve, as well as cleverly outwit a grown-up! In everyday instances, Lulu’s obstacles present a lesson-to-be-learned! Children will relate well to her getting in trouble!
Just Ducks by Nicola Davies with illustrations by Salvatore Rubbino
Davies, N. (2012). Just Ducks. New York, NY: Candlewick Press.
Ducks have a certain charm and elegance about them. Though they offer only one discernible sound—quack—the variation in a duck’s “quack” can come with vigor, anger, sweetness and inquisition. The watercolor visions Rubbino created calmed and supported the movement of the ducks with fluidity and grace. Children identify with ducks; perhaps because they’re small and approachable, much like children themselves, or because aside from a peck, they really can’t do a child any harm. Whatever the reason, Davies captures the imagination with these fine feathered friends. She instills an appreciative understanding of a duck’s way of life that offers enriched vocabulary. One can imagine that Davies is in fact the observant little girl in the story for she paid such attention to detail. Any school that has a duck pond nearby should carry this book, a loaf of bread or sleeves of crackers and become one with mallards, swans, and brown flappers and perching ducks alike.
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