Hooked

by Tommy Greenwald, David McPhail (Illustrator)

Overview

A boy and his dad discover all they have in common on a fishing trip in Hooked, a sweet picture book about father-son bonding by Tommy Greenwald with illustrations by David McPhail.

Joe loves fishing. He loves watching the water and looking at the sky, he loves the peacefulness, and he especially loves dreaming about catching the Big One.

Joe’s dad does not love fishing. He doesn’t like the waiting, or the worms, or the fact that nothing much happens.

But when Joe needs a parental chaperone for an ice-fishing field trip, his dad agrees to go along. And when the waiting turns into talking, exchanging jokes, and sharing hot chocolate, Joe's dad discovers something unexpected.

He doesn’t just like fishing with Joe—he loves it.

You could even say he’s hooked.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250297747
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	01/09/2018
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Tommy Greenwald is the author of many books for children, including the Charlie Joe Jackson series and the Crimebiters! series. He did indeed go ice-fishing once, with his young son Joe. The only thing they caught were colds.

David McPhail published his first children's book, The Bear's Toothache, in 1972. Since then, he has written and/or illustrated more than fifty books including No! and The Abandoned Lighthouse, published by Roaring Brook Press. He lives in New Hampshire.

Tommy Greenwald has enjoyed reading all his life, which is why he's appalled that his kids Charlie, Joe and Jack, would prefer getting a dental check-up to checking out a book. After years of pleading, threatening, and bribing, Tommy finally decided the only way to get his kids to read was to write a book about how to get out of reading. The result was Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Not Reading. And they read it! (So they say.) The Executive Creative Director at SPOTCO, an entertainment advertising agency in New York City, Tommy lives in Connecticut with his wife, Cathy; his non-reading sons, Charlie, Joe and Jack; and his dogs, Moose and Coco.

Editorial Reviews

A sweet shared father-son experience . . . Kids who’d similarly love to share a beloved pastime with a parent will relate to Joe, and if the story convinces some adult readers-aloud to join youngsters in fishing or Minecraft or whatever, so much the better.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"[This] book reflects, with ease, the tender love between father and son"—Horn Book

“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.” —Booklist

“Poignant . . . Readers are certain to empathize.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2017-10-01
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)

Kirkus Reviews