17 Mar Review: Hopscotch
Hopscotch
Written and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Groundwood Books, 2023
ISBN: 9781773068435 (hardcover)
$19.99 CAD
40 pages
Ages: 3 years old and up
Review by Mell
Hopscotch is a fictional story that follows Ophelia as she moves through big changes in her life. From losing her canine pal, moving homes, starting at a new school, and having to learn a new language, Ophelia is plagued by anxiety and feelings of loneliness. Eventually, her resiliency starts to shine as she finally breaks through her feelings of isolation over a game of hopscotch with her new classmates. The illustrations play with scale and elements of surrealism that help you place yourself in Ophelia’s own imagination. This story might be difficult to capture the attention of younger children due to the length, along with the inclusion of many metaphors and abstract concepts. This book is a good addition to any elementary school library or personal collection.