The Happy Hocky Family By Lane Smith

This picture book is very unique. Instead of using plain white paper, the text is written on recycled paper with a brown tint. The book starts off by introducing everyone in the Hocky family. In this book there is a variety of stories. Each child from the Hocky family tells their own story. This book is also interactive. Smith invites readers to guess how many dishes can be made out of broken glass, to see how many items will survive the washing machine and asks the reader if they have ever had the same situations happen to them. This book also engages the reader by using illustrations that almost seem to have texture. The illustrator includes a variety of illustration styles. On some pages the illustration only takes up half the page, while on other pages there is no text and only illustrations. Although this book provides a variety of stories, the author brings it all together by providing some type of order. Smith begins and ends this book with baby Hocky telling his story. The author also provides a page that says goodbye to the reader that is written by the Hocky. I enjoyed reading this picture book because it sends the message to readers that each family can have fun in their own unique way.