Spunk is the name of the game with Julia and Oona. Two different gals, but who both know how to “get-r-done!”
Julia’s House Moves On is the latest in the Julia books by Ben Hatke (an author who covers several age ranges with their books, this being for the 5 and up crowd). This darn cute story about “best laid plans” and how things will work out for the better just is silly, funny and educational. As the joke says, “You want to make God laugh, tell them your plans.” Well, Julia’s plan to move her house and the critters changes quickly when the house takes it upon itself to get up and walk away! We see our spunky Julia trying to make lemonade out of a lot of lemons in these adorable, brightly colored and fun illustrations also by Hatke.
We see another spunky gal in the picture book Oona by Kelly DiPucchio, Delightful illustrations from Raissa Figueroa help move along a story that occasionally felt awkward in places to me. There are cute “hidden jokes” on pages that show Oona and friends determined to find a way to obtain the treasure that is literally out of reach for her. Oona swims and has fun and enjoys life, but like all of us, when things are tough and she cannot get what she wants, she becomes sad, depressed and for a while gives up. But because Oona is a mermaid with sass and spunk, she will not let things get her down for long. A good book to show your child that they are not alone with things being hard and struggling.
Give your spunky 5 and up kiddo one or both of these spunky heroine tales!