The Happy Hut - by Tim Hopgood (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The children visit Grandpa at his Happy Hut throughout the year, in spring, summer, autumn and even winter. Each season brings its own adventures and shows the hut in a new light each time. This poignant story goes on to depict the family coping with Grandpa Martin's death in a gentle, uplifting manner as they make sure that the Happy Hut stands as a reminder of all the memories they made together."--

Book Synopsis

A sensitive, beautifully illustrated story about three siblings' time with their grandpa at his beach hut, where his memory lives on.

Grandpa Martin has a little beach hut, which he paints a vivid yellow so it seems like the sun is always shining on it. He calls it his happy hut, and for three siblings who visit, time with Grandpa is happy indeed--climbing on rocks and dodging rain showers in spring; wading in the ocean and playing cards in the summer; flying handmade kites and helping with "essential" repairs in autumn; even shore walks and fruitcake with tea by the stove in winter. When illness keeps Grandpa away from his hut, the grandchildren worry and miss him dearly. And when the time comes to honor his memory, they each have a loving task to perform to bring his treasured hut back to life. With charming artwork infused with light and a simple, affecting text, Tim Hopgood pays tribute to a special bond across generations.

Review Quotes

Hopgood writes with a light touch, folding in homey details that fully realize Grandfather Martin (his love of woolly socks and slippers, his habit of shouting "Flipping fiddlesticks!"). . . . Joyous, warm, and tender.
--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Tim Hopgood is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books include Two Birthdays; My Big Book of Outdoors; What a Wonderful World, a picture-book version of the song made famous by Louis Armstrong; and Love, the Earth by Frances Stickley. Tim Hopgood lives in Yorkshire, England.