Hooray for Books!

August 21, 2017
Turtle is on the hunt for his missing favorite book in this follow-up to Hooray for Hat! and Hooray for Today! He knows he lent it to someone, but who? Zebra doesn’t have the book anymore, nor does Owl, Giraffe, or Elephant. The animals offer Turtle other reading options, but he’s committed to the hunt. Set against white backdrops, Won’s airy digital artwork quietly shows how the animals’ literary interests bleed into their lives—Giraffe loves a book about roller skating, and he straps on a pair as the group races to find the missing book. Plot-wise there isn’t much tension, and the repeated cheers of “Hooray for books!” don’t build much excitement around reading, but Won’s story makes it clear how shared passions and goals can bring friends together. Ages 4–7. Agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content.

June 15, 2017
The cast of characters from Hooray for Hat! and Hooray for Today! (2014, 2016) returns, this time cheerfully helping Turtle reunite with his favorite book.The opening artwork sets up ongoing humor: pale-green Turtle stands, holding his brown turtle shell and tossing out various objects. The text reads: "He searched his entire house--but no book." After ransacking an enormous pile of toys, sports equipment, and musical instruments, Turtle realizes that he may have lent his book to Zebra. Zebra has already passed the book along to Owl, and Owl to Giraffe. (Both Turtle and Zebra have male pronouns; no other animals are assigned genders in this text.) In between each friendly encounter, "HOORAY FOR BOOKS!" is repeated in large, colorful letters. Each animal offers a different book to Turtle, but he is intent on rereading his favorite. When Turtle finally retrieves his book from the bottom of Lion's enormous pile, older readers may be disappointed that the laws of physics do not lead to total chaos but to a rather controlled toppling of tomes. In fact, despite some droll humor and the reading-positive message, the text and illustrations probably will have the greatest appeal for children who are not yet reading independently; the simple sentences and repetitions lend themselves well to reading aloud. To a struggling emergent reader, however, this excited celebration of books may feel more like coercion than encouragement. Fun--but less imaginative than some other bibliophilic picks. (Picture book. 3-6)

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