The apartment is quiet, the tea bag is steeping, and you’ve just opened the cover of a shiny new book, or maybe a tattered old favorite. Ahhhh. You curl up with your book and your tea and disappear into the pages. Or you don’t. The intercom buzzes, the phone rings, and a supposed-to-be-sleeping-child forgot that she actually does need the bathroom one last time, and is suddenly, desperately thirsty, and is now inexplicably interested in what you are up to. I get it. You get it. And Pearl gets it. I don’t care that she’s a fish—it’s been ages since I’ve identified with a book character so wholeheartedly.
Hooked on Books by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Kristyna Litten is the story of Pearl, an anglerfish who just wants to read her kraken adventure. But no matter how deep down she swims, every time Pearl cracks it open, there’s a big bunch of mollusks or comb jellies or yeti crabs in her face wanting to know what it’s about. Can Pearl just get some peace and quiet? Apparently not. At least not until she travels all the way down to the abyssal zone, with only marine snow to keep her company. But when Pearl reaches the satisfying conclusion of her book, there’s no one there to discuss it with her…And what’s the one thing readers love as much as reading? Talking about the books they love!
Margaret’s lighthearted tale of the delight of books and the joy of building community around reading is the perfect summer book, the perfect back-to-school book, the perfect anytime-at-all book. Kristyna’s rich palette of deep blues and vivid reds create ocean scenes you will want to dive right into. Side note: if you have never thought of shrimp as cute, check out the end papers and be prepared to gush. Hooked on Books is full of well-placed word play, humorous speech bubbles, unusual sea creatures, and the silliness of the literal lengths a fish will go to enjoy her book. It makes for a lovely read aloud, or in true Pearl fashion, a book to read alone in the dark with a flashlight and talk about later with your favorite fishy friends.
I love it! This sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
How delightful!!! Thank you, Sara.
I LOVE THIS!! ❤️❤️❤️
The title alone “hooked” me! I’ll have to check this fun book out!
Ah…reading books…and the ocean! As the song goes, “These are a few of my favorite things…” And I love the great title with a double “hook”! ! I look forward to reading the whole book. And congrats to Margaret and Kristyna!
Thank you for the lovely review!
Sara, I’ve been following this blog for YEARS and I just realized you are now a contributing author! How did I not know this? Anyway, leave it to you to find the best of the best picture books for content, message, and use as a mentor text. Pearl is going on my request list at the library. Thanks! 🙂
Now that first page is what I call a real hook! This is a book I want to read more of.
I just got this book and I agree, it is wonderful! I can’t wait to share it with kids.
Brilliant concept! And fabulous execution! Adding to my TBR list!
Can’t wait to read it!
Already added to my “to read” list! This looks adorable and so many “hooks!” 😉
This sounds delightful! Thanks.
So, so cute!
This book sounds like my kind of book! I’ll request it from my library. Thanks for sharing!
We will never run out of ocean book ideas, a fun place to explore and make up stories so let’s dive into the world of sea creatures. Have fun, us all! Congrats! Many more to come.
A beautiful story and a beautiful book!…Margaret, we have something in common: Kristyna Litten! She and I share two picture books.
Looks so cute! Can’t wait to read it.
OH, MY GOODNESS! The story of a book-loving anglerfish—who uses her lure as an itty-bitty book light! I’ve ALWAYS wondered what that light was for! TRULY BRILLIANT! LOVE IT!!! I CAN’T WAIT to read this one! THANK YOU for sharing it!