Title: Hatching Sharey
Author: Bao-Khanh Tran
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-5434-1745-6
Pages: 24
Genre: Juvenile Fiction / Animals
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
An original story of a platypus being born and seeking its family is brought to the imagination of readers of the book titled Hatching Sharey by author Bao-Khanh Tran. With beautiful illustrations by the author along with artist David Swaschnig, this story takes readers on a journey of a platypus being born and after seeing itself in the reflection of a pool of water, it goes on a journey to find others which look like it. It goes up to a duck asking if they are family, because they both have beaks, but Mrs. Duck says to the platypus “we ducks have feathers and you have hair, so you’re not from our family.” Discouraged, the platypus then seeks out a mole which looks almost the same, but once again isn’t family – and so it goes on and on, with a beaver and other creatures. Finally the platypus is given an egg to hatch, who is ultimately named Sharey, hence the title.
Author Tran has written a beat with a rhyme to her words, reminiscent to techniques used in many books intended to be read to toddlers or preschoolers at bedtime. With a comforting “sing-song” rhyme and simple yet imaginative interleaving illustrations, the story can easily capture the children’s imagination and lull them off into dreamland. The quest of an animal seeking out family of its own type, along with a journey of meeting other kinds of different creatures along the way, pose a challenge which needs to be accomplished by the platypus with tenacity and faith. Ultimately, although not finding additional platypuses to live with, it makes a newborn mole as its extended family, bringing the fanciful tale to a happy ending.
As with all illustrated children’s books, this message is thoughtful and loving. The talking animals are easily believed to converse, and the setting is peaceful and safe. These are the essential elements in making story books for children so much fun to read, especially at bedtime.
I see Hatching Sharey as one of many episodes of storytelling capable of being published by the talent of Bao-Khanh Tran, along with her illustrator. This story will certainly be one reached for many times over by children wanting to be read the story of the platypus – most undoubtedly the funniest sounding name of the animal kingdom, as they are tucked in and sent on their own journeys into dreamland.
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