Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures

K-Gr 2--Khalil's new house has two apartments. He lives upstairs with his big, noisy family, while his quiet neighbor, Mr. Hagerty, lives downstairs. They both love to spend time in their shared backyard. Mr. Hagerty gardens while Khalil digs for treasure. Despite their different interests, the two forge a close bond over their time spent together in the backyard. Khalil asks Mr. Hagerty for help with words in his book that he cannot read, and he helps Mr. Hagerty remember words when he cannot recall them. Khalil is often invited inside Mr. Hagerty's house to enjoy chocolate cake and milk. This book highlights the concept of opposites: upstairs/downstairs, old/young, noisy/quiet. Readers will pore over striking, detailed illustrations in a collage with oil and charcoal. Most pages contain one simple sentence except for a place in the book where wordless artwork is stretched across both pages. Children will be eager to see what happens next. VERDICT A perfect read-aloud book for storytime.--Noureen Qadir-Jafar, Syosset Library, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Two-level living results in an intergenerational friendship in Springstubb (the Cody series) and artist Taherian's leisurely picture book. Khalil's brown-skinned family, which lives upstairs with colorful curtains, is "big and busy and noisy." Downstairs occupant Mr. Hagerty, meanwhile, a white, bearded man shown reading the news, prefers quiet. But the boy and the elderly gentleman both enjoy the backyard of their shared residence, where they bond over language. Mr. Hagerty maintains an expansive vegetable garden and leans on Khalil to help him remember words ("my digging thing, my hole maker"); Khalil hunts "for bugs and interesting rocks," leaning on Mr. Hagerty for help reading. One summer day when "everything looked droopy," Khalil suggests a hunt for buried treasure, one whose meager findings (a bobby pin, shriveled carrots) lead to better things--refreshments ("big pieces of chocolate cake and tall, cold glasses of milk") and, by way of a second treasure quest, a burgeoning friendship. In pencil, oil, and collage spreads, illustrator Taherian builds out a layered garden as well as two abodes whose backgrounds hint at the way each friend fills the other's loneliness. Together with Springstubb's text, it makes for an affectionate rendering of friendship as a wonderful and unexpected surprise. Ages 5-8. (May)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Readers will pore over striking, detailed illustrations in a collage with oil and charcoal...Children will be eager to see what happens next. A perfect read-aloud book for storytime.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Elaheh Taherian's paper-cut collage illustrations seem to pop off the page, and add an element of whimsy to this wonderful story about making friends, no matter how old or young you are. This story would be a great recommendation for people seeking nonfamilial intergenerational stories.
—Booklist

Taherian's illustrations—collage with oil and colored pencil—strengthen the focus on the relationship between Mr. Hagerty and Khalil, revealing little details...These careful glimpses give readers space to build their own backstories for Springstubb's endearing characters. Khalil and his family have olive skin, and Mr. Hagerty presents white. A sweet and simple story about an intergenerational friendship and the bond between neighbors.
—Kirkus Reviews

In pencil, oil, and collage spreads, illustrator Taherian builds out a layered garden as well as two abodes whose backgrounds hint at the way each friend fills the other's loneliness. Together with Springstubb's text, it makes for an affectionate rendering of friendship as a wonderful and unexpected surprise.
—Publishers Weekly