Lin Oliver

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I picked up this book, the first in a series written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. No, there is no typo in this review, as it is the same Mr. Winkler many of you may know from the television show Happy Days, and this is surprisingly not the first time the “Fonz” has worked with Ms. Oliver to write a book. After doing some online research, and reading over the Acknowledgements page at the back of this story, it was interesting to find out that show more their collaboration has been going on for two decades!

Now that I have that aside, onto the plot…

Willow Feathers, a curious little duckling, is being raised by her father, a beaver, in Dogwood Pond, and dreams about becoming a detective someday. On the lookout for a mystery to solve, she soon meets a puzzling challenge when a large, black object lands smack-dab in their pond and disturbs Harry the catfish from where he had been resting. Sal the salamander suspects that it is an alien spaceship carrying one-eyed aliens that will eat them all, just like in the comic books he reads from a nearby campground. But when Willow begins to investigate the object further, she discovers the truth about the item with the help of her friends. Together, they work at removing the mysterious object from their home as they learn what large impacts a small act can do.

The illustrations and quality of the book are worth mentioning as a bonus to the storyline, which is also well-written and incorporates some older sayings I can picture Mr. Winkler speaking. I found the message of environmental mindfulness to be one that is not shoved onto the reader, but is still a part of the plotline in a meaningful way. As I read the book, I could not stop myself from saying “Swiper, no swiping,” from Dora as a similar occurrence happens with a not-so-beloved weasel throughout the story. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes animal stories, themes of overcoming obstacles, and a message of continuing to follow your dreams, even when the road gets a little tough. It would also be a great gift or a donation to a Little Free Library. show less

Very enjoyable. An interesting and insightful twist on several oft-read themes including (a) new kid at school has to decide whether to behave like peers to be accepted into certain group, (b) best friends growing apart, and (c) confronting anxiety about new interests and perceived betrayal of old ones. In this case, however, the best friend is the protagonist's twin -- someone who will be with her in the same family no matter how their interests and attitudes diverge.

This was the first book in Battle of the Books that I've finished so far. Winkler does a terrific job of getting into the head of a boy with learning challenges. Hank Zipzer has a hell of a time in school, mostly because his head isn't suited for learning in the traditional, acceptable way. His way of dealing with the struggle to write a 5 paragraph essay on his summer vacation inspires the book's title (without giving a whole lot away).

This is the first book in what appears to be a pretty show more big series. Alena thought it was okay, but there are other books so far that she's enjoyed more. show less

This book has cute and funny poems for little kids that will have them giggling and - here’s the possibly bad part - asking to have it read to them over and over and over. And over.

But the good news is that poems are so delightful, you may not mind….

I also like the fact that the poems suggest ways to recite them interactively with the child. For example:

"My Nose
Upward from your feet and toes
You’ll find a thing they call your nose.
It’s in the middle of your face -
this is, I think, the show more perfect place.
For if it were inside your ear,
You’d find it very hard to hear,
And if it grew out from your knee,
How strange and silly would that be?"

Or this one:

"Noisy Me
Achoo, hiccup
Babble, burp
Gurgle, giggle,
Snort and slurp.
Noises come and noises go.
They really put on quite a show!"

Any book illustrated by Tomie dePaola (pronounced Tommy da-POW-la) makes me sit up and take notice. In addition to awards for individual books, his work has been recognized by the Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, the Kerlan Award from the University of Minnesota for his "singular attainment in children's literature," the 2011 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his "substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children” and the 2012 Original Art Lifetime Achievement Award form the Society of Illustrators. His pictures are warm and magical, and are loved by both children and adults.

Evaluation: Adorable poems and adorable illustrations make a winning combination for the very young. There are even free stickers included in the back. show less