C. J. Hong is an Ottawa-based children’s writer.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Greetings, Floof!
Illustrated by A. J. Smith.
Toronto: Kids Can Books, 2024.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Floof – from the planet Ploof – has just landed on Earth! Luckily, alien expert Dr. Greta Goodnote is here to guide readers on how to interact with him. She explains how to make Floof feel welcome by raising your arms and jiggling them, protect him from the rain by blowing clouds away, and most important of all: stop him from poofing up when he gets wet! There’s a whole lot to do and a whole lot of silliness to enjoy.
With its lovable alien character and giggle-inducing activity prompts, debut author C. J. Hong’s playful, inventive story is sure to be a hit with young readers. A. J. Smith’s stylishly retro art, with its midcentury space race look, gives Floof just the right amount of cuddly, fluffy appeal. Besides the high entertainment factor, this book contains themes of inclusion and welcoming new friends, and a simple introduction to how a scientific hypothesis works. With a new activity on every spread – other examples include pointing to hiding animals, blowing Floof a kiss and clearing dust with a brush of the fingers – this is a perfect pick for high-energy story times.
Links
Publisher Kids Can Press