Author/Illustrator: Lane Smith
Publisher: Viking, 1993
Age: 3-5 (debatable; read on…)
Themes: family life, humorous stories
Opening: We Are the Hocky Family. I am Mr. Hocky! I am Mrs. Hocky! I am Baby Hocky! I am Henry Hocky! I am Holly Hocky! I am Newton!
Summary: A series of short silly stories written in the simple structure of a Dick and Jane book. But with an unusual sense of humor. (read on…)
Why I like this book: (If you haven’t noticed, my November picks are a little edgy, a bit darker – like November.) The humor is not necessarily the kind one usually finds in a picture book. In fact, when I first found this I was a bit shocked. But, sure enough, it held power over me, because I bought it, and I don’t really buy that many books. I put it on the shelf. As long as it would let me. When people stopped by, I started showing it to see how others reacted. Everyone laughed and we all agreed this was no typical picture book. That’s why I debate the age range given on the Amazon site, listed above. It’s for ALL us kids. We all laugh without turning the pages looking for the typical happy end, actually we just look forward to what Smith has thought of next! This is more about real life – we make mistakes, things get broken, and we don’t have to like everything about everyone. So I would suggest a parent read this themselves before sharing it with kids, because some parents might not be pleasantly surprised. In my opinion, kids are more comfortable with themselves.
Resources/Activities: the illustrations are very simple throughout, easy for a young person to emulate, but go to Ed Emberley’s blog Drawing Pages for lots of great suggestions and instructions on drawing with simple shapes; check out this must-read conversation-style review, between a dad and his kids – on Bookie Woogie; now that you’ve read the review, have a similar discussion with kids about what it is they see in the book, not what we assume they might. You might be pleasantly surprised!
More PPBF picks and resources for teachers and parents – HERE
julie rowan-zoch 
I’ll admit – I’m intrigued!
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If at first you you don’t believe, try, try again!
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Me too, very intrigued!
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This book sounds intering and very unique. I’m intrigued too!
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You do find some interesting ones, Julie! I’ll check this one out. . . now I’m curious.
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Oooo – I’m glad!
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Wow, Lane Smith has been published since 93! You have so persuaded me to check out a copy of this.
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Please let me know what you think!
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I’m very intrigued! Leave it to Lane Smith to walk the line between appropriate and subversive. 🙂
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That Mr Smith seems to have a strange sense of humor. I’ve seen quite a few of his books and he’s pretty crazy. And he seems to team up with Jon Scieszka pretty often. The two of them together make for some really funny stuff. The theme here in the comments seems to be intrigue! I’ll go along with that. Thanks for piquing my curiosity. ( i don’t often have the opportunity to use cool words like that.)
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Interesting:)
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Intriguing. I liked the links you presented too, Thanks Julie.
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Now the book has not one but 5 ‘intrigued’ customers! Cha-CHING!
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Well you’ve piqued my interest, that’s for sure, Julie! I’m dying to find out what’s dark and edgy! Clearly I will have to hie me to the library at once! 🙂
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Hi-ho! There she goes!
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I totally forgot about this book! I wonder if the library has it . . .
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Let me know what your’follow up’ reaction is.
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Interesting. The cover is cute, I like the funky illustration. 🙂 I am pretty sure if you thought it was funny so would I! 🙂
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I would definitely like to hear what you think too.
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You are my librarian after this one! Thanks for sharing the Hocky Family!
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Haha!
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It’s on my library list waiting for busy library workers to do their magic for me.
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Ok! I’ve got to read this! I just put it on hold at the library! Can’t wait 🙂
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Yes!
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