Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks, Illustrated by Richard Egielski

When I don't know what books to get from the library, I go to the Caldecott Medal section. I think this in itself is a good strategy for young readers to to use to look for good books. In this way, I found the book Hey, Al, one of my favorite children's story to date. It is the story of Al, a janitor, and his dog, Eddie. who are dissatisfied with their lives in their small apartment. When a large bird arrives offering Al and Eddie a place with no worries and no cares, Eddie, the dog, wants to accept and eventually Al gives in. They begin to enjoy this paradise until they begin turning into birds. They flapped away and eventually returned to their apartment, happy as ever and ready to spruce up the apartment.

With a great message about being happy with what you do have, Hey Al highlights the importance of the little things that we take for granted on a daily basis. Sometimes what one imagines as ideal doesn't turn out like they expected. Al and Eddie were thrilled with the paradise island at first until they realized all the changes they encountered. Getting back to one's roots is important.

Having students read this book would also be a great opportunity to discuss the difference between real life and fantasy. Hel Al combines these elements in a unique fashion. A talking dog, a large talking bird, and an island in the sky are just some fantastical features of this story. Yet, Al is a janitor, a man who leads a fairly simple life with Eddie as his companion. Students can begin to distinguish the real parts of the story and the fantastical parts. As a writing assignment, students could imagine they are transported to a paradise island. What would the island have? What would they do on the island? Would they bring anything with them to the island?

The text is easy to read on each of these pages as it is set apart from the pictures. Against the white background, the text stands out for young readers. The pictures themselves are brightly colored and supplement the story nicely. With a bit of love and moment of realization, students can examine their own lives and realize how good they have it.