Imagine That

PreS-Gr 2–What to do on a rainy day? In this second “Hoot & Olive” story, the young owl can’t seem to summon his imagination when his friend suggests a pretend adventure. Convinced that it is either lost or broken, he struggles to regain it, but while Olive sees floods, giants, and fairies, Hoot can only see a puddle or an old shoe. A metal colander “unscrambler,” hypnotism, standing on his head, and “perhaps, one or ten other somethings” are no help at all. “Why is it, when my imagination is the thing that’s broken, it’s my heart that hurts the most?” wonders Hoot. “‘That’s it!’ shouts Olive. ‘Should I try again?’ asked Hoot. ‘You should always try again…’ ” His wise friend explains that he must imagine with his heart. And sure enough, the pair finally, “… sailed to far-off places…built castles and tamed dragons…” The illustrations, rendered in watercolor with pen and ink and digitally added color, depict the waif-like girl and her somewhat bear-like feathered friend in a dark house with backgrounds that are alternately cluttered, stark or whimsical.