Giant Island by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Doug Keith

Giant Island by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Doug Keith. Flashlight Press, 2022. 9781947277182 

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

What did you like about the book? Layers of intrigue surround this fun book from Jane Yolen and Doug Keith. Ava and Mason join Grandpa and Cooper the dog on a fishing trip to Giant Island. While approaching the Island they wonder where the island got its name. The kids decide to explore and see if they can find the giant while Grandpa attempts to catch some fish. They explore paths and caves and stare at shiny stones and jump off rocks into the sea but they don’t see a giant – but we do! Doug Keith’s fun and detailed illustrations show a hidden and mostly submerged giant whose eyes are made of rocks and hair is made of seaweed. Big sea turtles swim around outcroppings of rocks that are shaped like the giants’ fingers and arms. As the kids are ready to give up their hunt, the giant (island) suddenly grins at them. Grandpa wonders who has been disturbing the fish and Ava and Mason know – so do we…

Anything you didn’t like about it? This is a great book

To whom would you recommend this book?  Lovers of Jane Yolen’s picture books and anyone who loves when the illustrations tell a story that the words do not.

Who should buy this book? Elementary school libraries, public libraries and anyone who wants to share a fun book with children.

Where would you shelve it ? Picture books

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Sure, it’s fun to investigate the island with Ava and Mason

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Pam WattsFlavin, Head of Children’s Services, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA

Date of review: November 15, 2022