Hiding Hoover [Hardcover]

Elise Broach (Author), Laura Huliska-Beith (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Their daddy always says "NO PETS!" But when these two kids find an irresistible dragon named Hoover right in their own backyard, they just have to have him—and HIDE him, because their dad will be home soon! Should they, can they, stuff him in a closet, try a disguise, or, hmmm . . . help him blend in with other things in the house? Every pet-loving kid will find plenty to giggle over as two determined siblings take an imaginative approach to the house "no pets" rule—and make a gigantic new friend.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–A brother and sister desperately want a pet, but their father won't agree to the idea. When the children discover an aptly named voracious dragon in the backyard, they promptly adopt him and try to keep their father from learning their secret. Some extraordinary camouflages are used and, as the children believe, Daddy didn't notice a thing. Is the man really so obtuse? Readers' credulity is strained when Hoover becomes a flying umbrella–as well as a chandelier, stepladder, coat stand, and, of course, a vacuum cleaner. Folksy, brilliant illustrations are the main reason this book succeeds. While its premise is a familiar one and the language generally uninspired, the joyful silliness of each intensely colored and fearlessly cluttered picture drives the story forward. David LaRochelle's The Best Pet of All (Dutton, 2004), Dan Yaccarino's An Octopus Followed Me Home (Viking, 1997), and Jake Wolf's Daddy, Could I Have an Elephant? (HarperCollins, 1996) are all superior books about unusual pets. Hiding Hoover might be swallowed by the competition if not for the lively illustrations and a dragon with a very funny name.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (July 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803727062
• ISBN-13: 978-0803727069
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,003,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, lyrical read!, September 24, 2006

By 

Virginia mom (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hiding Hoover (Hardcover)

My kids love all books by Elise Broach. Hiding Hoover, like her others, expresses a real joie de vivre and is written in lyrical prose that makes it painless for parents to read the book over and over again, as our kids always demand. A particularly nice feature about Hiding Hoover is that its central (and only) adult character is a father, who is a very involved caregiver, shepherding his children effortlessly through their daily routines. Although at first the father comes across as a bit bumbling, he is not "obtuse" as the School Library Journal review above indicates. To the contrary, we discover at the end that he and Hoover (the dinosaur) have the last laugh, when the final page shows the father and Hoover toasting marshmallows with Hoover's breath after the kids have gone to bed. What we see here is a fun-loving, highly involved father whose love of life has nurtured his children's wonderful imaginations. Hiding Hoover has, in turn, nurtured my kids' own imaginations; they love to dream up new things that Hoover could do with his jagged tail or fiery breath. We are constantly on the lookout for new books by Elise Broach and regularly give her books as gifts. The vivid, humorous illustrations in Hiding Hoover are icing on the cake. Extremely highly recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute as a button!, September 17, 2010

By 

Kathryn S. Gibbs "Super Shopper" (Tn) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hiding Hoover (Hardcover)

We read this book a lot! Precious story line and great pictures! (3.5 yr old)