Chris Cochrane’s THE DINGLEHOPPER BLUEBERRY BELLY-BUTTON SNOOTER (with illustrations by Indre Ta) is an adventurous children’s book that tells the story of two sisters, Olivia and Caroline, who notice that someone is doing their chores without a clue of who it could be. They ask their mother and father if they are responsible for tidying their room, and they are not; but the sisters receive hints from their parents about a folkloric creature doing all this work. Now they’re even more confused, believing their parents are joking. However, their father tells them about the Dinglehopper Blueberry Belly-Button Snooter, a shy but friendly creature who loves to help people. The real adventure starts when their father returns one day and tells them that he saw this mysterious creature in the forest. The girls join him to search for and befriend their helper, who initially hides.
The story is narrated through engaging prose, detailed illustrations with bright, warm colors, and a heartwarming curiosity befitting Caroline and Olivia’s young age (as well as that of its target audience). The graphics show that Olivia and Caroline have a loving relationship with their parents, as their mother puts them to bed with a smile and a storybook while their dad plays with them and tells them stories.
The book is uplifting in its advocation for inclusivity and sensitivity towards those who seem different. The girls’ father gives them gentle reminders that the creature, whom they soon come to call Steven, probably hides from them because he’s shy. When they express fear about Steven being different, they’re encouraged that “only a friendly creature would clean your room for you.”
The conciseness of the text and its consistent formatting complement the graphics, creating a pleasant reading experience that is free from distractions. The book’s conclusion emphasizes showing appreciation and finding ways to repay a good deed with a good deed. There is a slight inconsistency in Steven’s inability to eat with his hands and help clean up after dinner (the reason given is clumsiness with his hands), since he was previously shown using those hands to clean their room. That’s not a big deal, though. Overall, this is a short, sweet story that gets its message across in an engaging manner.
Written by Chris Cochrane and illustrated by Indre Ta, THE DINGLEHOPPER BLUEBERRY BELLY-BUTTON SNOOTER is a wholesome picture book that encourages adventure and an open mind toward witnessing uncommon things.
~Gabriella Harrison for IndieReader