A Boy Called Dickens

A Boy Called Dickens. Deborah Hopkinson. Illustrated by John Hendrix. 2012. Random House. 40 pages.

This is Old London, on a winter morning long ago. Come along, now. We are here to search for a boy called Dickens. He won't be easy to find. The fog has crept in, silent as a ghost, to fold the city in cold, gray arms. Maybe the boy is down by the river--the thick, black Thames. There are ragged children here, to be sure, scrambling for bits of copper and wood to sell. Or maybe he's dashing into that schoolroom along with the other lads, their cheeks pink from the cold and crumbs of hot buns still on their lips.
Oh, look! There he is--that skinny twelve-year-old, huddled in a doorway, wearing a worn, patched jacket. He is watching the schoolboys with hungry eyes. But though he'd like something to eat, he longs for their books even more. Almost all of his own books, which he loved so well, were lugged to the pawnshop long ago.
Suddenly Dickens is gone.
Hurry! Let's not lose him in the twisting, turning alleys.
There he is, running to that run-down rickety house by the river. Are we brave enough to follow him?

A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson is such a fun book. It is informative, but it's also creative! There's just something so inviting, so engaging about it! I really love the narrative tone of this one.

In this picture book, readers are introduced--albeit briefly--to a young Charles Dickens. Readers see just a day or two, nothing more, from an important time in Dickens' life.

I definitely love this one! It's just beautifully written. What do you think? Do the opening pages make you want to read this one?

Read A Boy Called Dickens

• If you want a non-intimidating introduction to Charles Dickens
• If you're a fan of Charles Dickens and are always looking for more to enjoy
• If you are interested in Victorian England, particularly London
• If you are interested in what it was like to be a child during this time period

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews