A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson-ADVISABLE

Hopkinson, Deborah.  Hendrix, John.  A Boy Called Dickens, 40 pgs.  Schwaratz & Wade, 2012.  $17.99.  Inside cover: “Step back in time to the winding, crowded streets of old London… We are here to search for a boy called Charles Dickens.  Who is he? A skinny, hungry child with patched sleeves?  Yes.  A worker in Warren’s rat-infested blacking factory?  That too.  But he’s also an imaginative boy who yearns for books, and who longs to create stories of his very own.  And he is a boy whose dream will come true: Charles Dickens will grow up to become one of the greatest writers of all time.”  We were fascinated while reading this book.  Learning about the young Dickens made us appreciate his later work!  After reading this story, we discussed how people can and do overcome trials and rise to greatness.  There are a lot of life lessons packed into this great book.  Pre-K,  EL (K-3). EL.  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: SL.