Hooked on Books

by Margaret Chiu Greanias, Kristyna Litten (Illustrator)

Overview

Pearl just wants to read her book in peace, but the other fish won’t leave her alone!

Pearl can’t wait to dive into her new book, but the other sea creatures keep interrupting and nothing she does will keep them away—not hanging signs, not hiding under the seaweed, nor swimming away to a shipwreck. So Pearl plucks up her book and swishes down, down, down for a distraction-free place to think and to read. But just as she settles back in, here comes a light show from the comb jellies! GAH! What’s a poor fish got to do for some quiet alone time?


Little ones who struggle to focus in busy environments will relate to Pearl, a grumpy anglerfish, as she searches for quiet in this funny and gentle reminder about establishing healthy boundaries and respecting personal space.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682633670
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	06/27/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.33(w) x 11.27(h) x 0.34(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Margaret Chiu Greanias has been hooked on books for as long as she can remember. She lives in a busy household in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and three children and sometimes gets grumpy when she can't find the time or space to read. She is the author of Amah Faraway and Maximillian Villainous.

Kristyna Litten Kristyna Litten studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and has gone on to illustrate and write numerous picture books for children. Her enthusiasm for nature, architecture, and pattern has lead to many exciting projects all over the world. She lives in a beautiful village in Yorkshire.

Editorial Reviews

"Litten’s whimsical illustrations, made up of adorably anthropomorphic undersea creatures, make wonderful use of light and dark. Coupled with Greanias’ adept storytelling, they capture the perfect balance between frustration and friendly compromise. Bookworms—whether on land or in the sea—will feel seen."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

06/23/2023

PreS-Gr 3—Pearl the angler fish really wants to read her book, but everyone in the ocean wants to talk to her or distract her in some way and she is getting really impatient. She dives deeper and deeper, introducing readers to some of the amazing creatures that live in the darkest parts of the ocean. Pearl eventually finishes her story and realizes that it would be even more fun to share the book with others. The illustrations of the sea inhabitants are dazzling—most have an intensely dark background to reflect the part of the ocean where the sunlight doesn't penetrate. The vividly colored creatures nearly leap off the pages. Readers will enjoy the humorous way Pearl tries to find her own space as well as the variety of other animals she encounters. VERDICT This fun and vividly illustrated book is a strong choice for libraries seeking books about sea creatures, respecting each others' personal space, or the joy of sharing reading with others.—Debbie Tanner

School Library Journal

2023-03-29
Pearl the anglerfish lives in the twilight zone—no, not THAT one, the real one…the one that lies far beneath the sea.

Pearl loves to read, using the glowing lure atop her head as a night light. But she can’t seem to get away from pelagic pests. Everyone wants to take a peek at her book (a scallop shell), but Pearl doesn’t want to share her long-awaited story about a kraken’s “quest for happiness” with anyone. To what depths must she go in order to get some peace and quiet? It helps that she has her own light source—especially since she’s trying to find the deepest, darkest spot in all the ocean. Eels, jellyfish, and mollusks all want to get in on the fun. And the yeti crabs mistake Pearl’s lure for a nifty disco ball! Aghhhh! Finally, she ditches the determined but unwanted denizens of the midnight zone and finds herself in the tranquil darkness of the abyss. But wait—when did blissful silence become just plain lonely? “She ached for someone—anyone—to bug her about her book.” Returning home, Pearl realizes that sharing doesn’t have to be annoying—well, not allthe time. Litten’s whimsical illustrations, made up of adorably anthropomorphic undersea creatures, make wonderful use of light and dark. Coupled with Greanias’ adept storytelling, they capture the perfect balance between frustration and friendly compromise. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Bookworms—whether on land or in the sea—will feel seen. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews