Hector the Collector

PreS-K--Hector loves acorns, and he keeps a huge assortment of them in his desk at school. When his classmates discover his stash, they make fun of him. Hector's kindly teacher invites him to explain why he collects them, and he expounds on his passion, showing off all the different kinds of acorns he has accumulated: -They're all different, and they're all the same, and they're all beautiful.- Many of the other students have treasured items of their own--pennies, stuffed animals, baseball cards--and from there the narrative segues into a look at larger collections, such as the Museum of Natural History. Graegin's illustrations depict a group of anthropomorphic animals (Hector is a dog, his teacher is a giraffe, and his classmates include a pig, a skunk, a bear, and a fox), all round heads and soft lines. With references to the book's New York City setting (yellow taxi cabs, the New York Public Library), the visuals give the tale a gentle feel that matches the simple, matter-of-fact text. Curator and art historian Beeny ends with a brief author's note on the wide variety of collections out there (the Louvre, the Frick, the New York Transit Museum). VERDICT Though this slight, sweet story could be used to prepare young children for a visit to a museum or art collection, it is probably best shared one-on-one with budding collectors, who will appreciate Hector's curatorial eye and fascination with seemingly ordinary objects found in the natural world.--Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Hector, an ingenuous, overalls-clad dog, is intrigued by acorns: "They were all different. They were all the same. They were all beautiful." Walking to and from school, he's completely focused on finding acorns, which he stuffs into his pockets and desk. Hector's animal classmates laugh at his stockpile when it's discovered, but their teacher assuages his embarrassment, explaining that Hector "is a collector," and the other kids quickly chime in about their own personal collections. Beeny, a curator and art historian making her children's book debut, then broadens the story's scope, showcasing collections that "belonged to everyone," housed in museums and libraries. Graegin (Little Fox Stands Up) gently highlights Hector's intimate connection with the acorns he treasures (as well as the subtle details and differences among them that have caught his eye) before transitioning to the grand public spaces of the New York Public Library, Museum of Natural History, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's less a plot-driven story than a concise introduction to the concept of a collection, which an author's note explores in greater detail. Ages 3-6. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (July)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"A sweet and child-sensitive addition to any picture-book collection." —Kirkus Reviews

"Best shared one-on-one with budding collectors, who will appreciate Hector's curatorial eye and fascination with seemingly ordinary objects found in the natural world." —School Library Journal

"A concise introduction to the concept of a collection." —Publishers Weekly

"In this sweet story, a young, overalls-clad pup named Hector finds wonder in one of autumn's most ubiquitous offerings: the acorn . . . By moving from personal to public assemblages, Beeny helps young readers grasp the concept of collecting." —Booklist