Hooked

November 13, 2017
Joe loves to fish, even though he has had no luck catching “the big one.” He wouldn’t mind company, but his father flatly refuses. “I like more action,” he tells his son, sitting in an armchair reading the newspaper. Joe finds camaraderie in a fishing club, but he’s dismayed to learn that an upcoming ice-fishing expedition requires children to have a parent chaperone. Reluctantly, his father agrees to accompany him on the condition “that I never have to do it again.” Before long, Joe’s father starts to enjoy himself, and Joe’s only catch—a waterlogged stuffed elephant—seems destined to become part of his family’s lore (Joe’s father insists they bring the toy home, where it gets a spin in the washer and dryer). Greenwald (the Charlie Joe Jackson series) spins a bittersweet story that recognizes that not every parent is the up-for-anything, emotionally available type. McPhail’s delicate, homespun pictures exude a solitude that matches Joe’s loneliness, though his father doesn’t always look consistent from page to page. Ages 4–6. Author’s agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Faith Hamlin, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

October 15, 2017
A young angler finally catches The Big One, but it's not what readers expect. Joe loves to fish. Even when he doesn't catch much, he watches the water and the sky and lets his imagination roam. But McPhail's poignant illustrations make it very clear to readers just how badly Joe would like his dad to accompany him and how disappointed Joe is when Dad declines his invitations (not enough action, doesn't like worms); readers are certain to empathize--in fact, his plight is drawn so starkly readers may find their responses overwhelming. Joe joins the town fishing club instead, but when their ice-fishing trip requires a parent for each child, will Joe's dad agree? He does, but only on the condition that he never has to go again. The duo trudge out to the lake, carve a hole in the ice, drop their lines in, and wait. Greenwald captures in four short sentences the awkwardness between them. But then they start to talk and enjoy each other's company, sharing jokes and hot chocolate. Though a pink stuffed elephant is all they catch, they fondly reminisce on the way home, and when Joe is getting ready for his first spring fishing trip, his dad asks to come along; Joe has caught his Big One: his dad. The message for caregivers is not at all subtle, but kids like Joe need them to hear it. (Picture book. 4-8)

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December 1, 2017
Preschool-G Little Joe loves fishing. Equipped with rod, reel, and bait, he sits by a big old tree on the river, watching his bobbin float in the water and patiently dreaming about catching The Big One. But Dad? He doesn't like worms. He thinks fishing is boring. He just didn't get it. So Joe joins the town fishing club. When winter ice fishing commences, Joe needs a parent or guardian to go out on the ice. So Dad agrees to go along, and as they wait on the ice, the two chat, tell jokes, and drink hot chocolate. A bite! Hilariously, it's a soggy pink stuffed elephant and not a big fish. Dad discovers he loves fishing almost as much as his son, and Joe sees that the companionship during their shared pastime is really The Big One. In this sweet story, the illustrations are lovingly realistic depictions of children, family, nature, and emotion. The talented McPhail's artwork in pen-and-ink and watercolor is done with soft pastels, subtle shading, and delicate brushwork.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)