Hooey Higgins and the Shark

Beginning chapter book meets screwball comedy in this British import. Hooey Higgins and his friend, Twig, plan to capture a shark and charge admission for a viewing in order to raise the money to buy the world's largest chocolate egg. Dodson's wacky spot art helps readers pick up on tone, and her opening spread, depicting the large cast, helps keep all the players straight in this over-the-top but propulsive read.

Beginning chapter books typically contain familiar, comfortable situations and characters, so this screwball comedy is clearly charting new literary waters. Hooey Higgins and his friend, Twig, spy the world's largest chocolate egg in Mr. Danson's bakery window. It's a sight of near rapture, conjuring up dreams of a pure chocolate pig-out. The price of the egg, sixty-five pounds, is daunting, but the boys figure they can raise the money by capturing a shark recently seen offshore. Hooey's older brother devises a plan: go to the seashore, use ketchup as chum to attract the shark, whack said shark with a cricket stick, move it (via duvet) to their bathtub, and charge admission for a viewing. Along the way, the three Stooges, er, boys manage to upset the entire village with a chase scene that takes them, their arch-enemy, their dog, and various shoppers through the local department store, spending lots of time in the intimates department dismantling the bra and panties display. Oh yes, and they spot a WWII mine, which the authorities detonate, spraying fish everywhere and finally attracting the shark -- which makes its escape with the best thing ever -- underwear! -- on its tail. Dodson's wacky spot art helps readers pick up on tone, and her opening spread, depicting the large cast of characters, helps keep all the players straight in this over-the-top but propulsive read. betty carter