The Reader

by Amy Hest, Lauren Castillo (Illustrator)

Overview

In this timeless picture book, a new reader trudges through deep snow with a mysterious suitcase in tow. He has something important to share with his faithful companion, who bolts ahead to wait at the top of a tall hill. Our small hero climbs higher and higher, until finally, he is there, too. Then he opens his suitcase—click, click—and soon the only sound in the world is the sound of the reader reading their very favorite book to the very last page…the very last word.

Amy Hest’s spare evocative text is a true celebration of new readers and good friends everywhere, while Lauren Castillo’s pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, with their bold saturated colors against winter white, perfectly capture the wonder and delight of this magical day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761461845
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	10/02/2012
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,076,821
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy Hest’s many acclaimed children’s books include the New York Times bestseller Kiss Good Night. A three-time winner of the prestigious Christopher Award, she lives in New York City. She claims to have absolutely no hidden talents, unless you count an uncanny interest in coffee ice cream and certain dogs in the Wheaten Terrier or Airedale family. Amy likes to take long walks (in the city), ride a bike (in the city), and swim (also in the city). She likes movies and reading, of course!

Editorial Reviews

As snow falls gently, Castillo’s (Happy Like Soccer) woodcutlike ink-and-watercolor spreads show a boy in red boots and scarf pulling a sled, accompanied by his dog. Hest (Letters to Leo) doesn’t name the boy; he’s “the reader” of the title. He takes the dog to the top of a hill, unpacks a winter picnic, and opens a book: “The dog waits. It is hard, but he is good at waiting. And then at last the reader reads.” Castillo’s cheerful, red-cheeked boy and his tail-wagging companion will engage younger viewers, while Hest’s spare, lyrical writing seems directed toward an older group (the sled’s “train tracks are impeccably straight. They are beautiful”). Although the read-aloud episode is at the heart of the book, there’s also satisfaction to be had from the boy’s experiments with parenting as he takes his dog on an outing, reads to him like a child, and “wraps the dog in his two strong arms.” A reassuring bedtime entry for a chilly night. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

It’s a simple tale of a boy and his dog but yet so much more. Amy Hest and Lauren Castillo take their young audience on a wonderfully descriptive adventure…The flow is natural and accessible for young readers and the imagery is whimsical and engaging. Kids aren’t the only ones who'll envision themselves leaping into the pages—and the snow. You simply can’t beat the message: love of reading and sharing that with a good friend. It’s enough to make you all warm and fuzzy despite the snow.” —Entertainment Weekly (Grade A)

From the Publisher

Reading anytime, anywhere is touted in this story about a boy, his dog and a snowy day. Never named in the text, the titular reader packs up a suitcase for a day of sledding and reading with his dog. Reaching the hilltop, they frolic about, making snow "angels … snowballs … more angels … and a snow dog for the dog." Then, it's time for "warm drinks and crunchy toast for two." Well-fed and satisfied with their play, instead of heading home to read indoors, the reader takes out a book called Two Good Friends and reads aloud to his dog, delightedly saying, "Just like us!" at book's end. After repacking the suitcase, they then sled downhill and return home. Although the premise might seem a bit odd--the snowy scene could spell book damage, after all--one might regard it as the wintertime equivalent of a beach read. The evocation of imaginative play on a snowy day is reminiscent of Uri Shulevitz's Snow (1998) and, of course, The Snowy Day. Castillo's soft, inked lines and luscious watercolors echo the text's gentle tone. Subtle incorporation of white painted letters falling like snow around the pair during the read-aloud scene adds a lovely touch to a spread begging to be made into a poster touting the joys of reading. A charming (if rather implausible) celebration of a snowy, book-y, day. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews