Hooey Higgins and the Shark

by Steve Voake, Emma Dodson (Illustrator)

Overview

Meet Hooey Higgins — along with his oddball family and friends — in a laugh-out-loud madcap adventure loaded with boy appeal.

Hooey Higgins is desperately in love — with the humongous chocolate egg in Mr. Danson’s store window, that is. Too bad he and his best friend, Twig, have nowhere near enough money to buy it. But when a shark is spotted off the coast, Hooey and Twig dream up a plan: capture the shark and charge people to view it. Brilliant! With Hooey’s older brother masterminding the foolproof scheme, they set off with ketchup, a cricket bat, a floral quilt, and a rope in tow. What they find is so amazing it blows the shark plan out of the water! Aided by Emma Dodson’s comical illustrations, Steve Voake introduces a hilarious new character in a fast-paced story kids will sink their teeth into.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763657826
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	04/24/2012
Series:	Hooey Higgins
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	650L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Steve Voake is the author of the Daisy Dawson books as well as two books for older readers. He lives in Somerset, England.

Emma Dodson is the author-illustrator of Speckle the Spider. She lives in Surrey, England.

Editorial Reviews

Already an established series figure in Britain, Hooey appears here in his American debut, and readers who speed through this fast and funny read will hope that more installments quickly become available. Voake’s text is both lively and wry and his characters are fresh and believable. Dodson’s numerous monochromatic ink and gouache illustrations are equally original. Although this has broad appeal, it might be a particularly good choice for the boys goofing off in the back of the room.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Mix in some underwear, a World War II sea mine and old guys wearing the Union Jack on their swim trunks, and you’ve got a romp that might just drag a few eyes away from the Wimpy Kid books. Fast-paced fun.
—Kirkus Reviews

Beginning chapter books typically contain familiar, comfortable situations and characters, so this screwball comedy is clearly charting new literary waters... [A] propulsive read.
—The Horn Book

This is a book that children will gravitate to and reluctant readers will embrace.
—Library Media Connection

Voake is a good storyteller, building plot steadily and toward a satisfying end.
—Booklist Online

The humorous illustrations complement the funny tone of the narrative. Hooey’s entertaining antics explode in a rather delicious ending.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Best friends Hooey and Twig go to great lengths to raise money to buy a giant chocolate egg. Mr. Danson wants to raise money to build a new shop window with his name etched into it, like a "true chocolatier." Hooey and Twig just want his enormous oeuf en chocolat, which sports an equally oversized price tag. Being 8-year-olds, they are willing to take on the fundraising challenge, coming up with one plan after another. First, they try to catch a shark for the reward that they imagine will follow. While spilling ketchup to attract the shark, Hooey discovers a giant sea urchin and comes up with a plot to charge folks to see it. Things never go the way they are supposed to, of course, and the urchin proves to be more than the boys can handle. Over-the-top situations are matched perfectly with exaggerated black-and-white illustrations. Anything that skinny, spiky-haired Hooey doesn't want to do will be embraced by big-eared Twig, including wearing a sandwich board and gluing straws in his hair to mimic a sea urchin. Mix in some underwear, a World War II sea mine and old guys wearing the Union Jack on their swim trunks, and you've got a romp that might just drag a few eyes away from the Wimpy Kid books. Fast-paced fun. (Chapter book. 7-12)

Kirkus Reviews