 Otto's Orange Day by Jay Lynch & Frank Cammuso | This Halloween, TOON Books has donated more than 500 books to some of our favorite independent bookstores to pass out to Trick-or-Treaters in support of Neil Gaiman's All Hallow's Read (learn more here). Our selection of this book to giveaway was inspired not just by the obvious color of Halloween, but by a heart-warming story we heard from a mom on Facebook about how Otto's Orange Day inspired her daughter, Lucia, to fall in love with reading. So if you live in one of these towns, be sure to bring your little one by to get your free copy (while supplies last!) on Halloween: New York, NY - Bankstreet Bookstore Philadelphia, PA - Locust Moon Comics Washington, DC - Politics & Prose Coral Gables & Miami, FL - Books & Books Lucia is also receiving a carton of Otto's Orange Day (132 books!) to pass out to trick-or-treaters at her own home and to give students at her school. Below the complete letter from her mom, Amanda. Thanks for sharing! |
| Dear TOON Books: I happen to be a big fan of Neil Gaiman and saw on his page yesterday that he had collaborated with you to do Hansel and Gretel. It occurred to me that you might like my daughter's story since it is really all about TOON Books. By second grade my kid, Lucia still didn't know how to read. Her 1st and 2nd grade teachers told us not to worry, that it would "click" and it would all come to her. I knew she wasn't going to grow up not knowing how to read but it did make me worry that books didn't interest her, and that she would never find a real love for reading. This was really hard for my husband and I as we are both huge readers. None the less we relaxed... and waited.In October of her second grade year our school had the Scholastic Book Fair and she loved Little Mouse Gets Ready. She was interested in the book so I got it for her. She adored it and despite it having very few words to read we were still very proud that she was able to read anything at all. When I say she couldn't read, I mean she really couldn't read. Anything. I have always loved graphic novels so I thought we should check out what other TOON Books there were. Maybe the pictures would help her understand what the words were---to help her make the connection. The next book I got her was Otto's Orange Day. It was the first book she ever read. And she read it hundreds of times. Here is a photo of the first time she couldn't get her nose out of a book. She walked all the way to lunch, 6 blocks away with Otto inches away from her face. She barely ate and just read it over and over again. It was her (and my) proudest moment. As a thank you present to her 2nd grade teacher (public school in case you were wondering) we bought 5 copies of Ottos Orange Day and a bunch of other TOON Books for her to use in book groups. They are now part of her curriculum. We pretty much have every book that you guys came out with in or by 2011 and plan on keeping them forever. Lucia is in 5th grade now and is reading at at 6th/7th grade level but she still pulls out Otto's Orange Day to read under the covers when she is supposed to be asleep. Lucia's love of reading began with a TOON Book. It grew on TOON Books. I just wanted to say THANK YOU. Amanda B. in Chicago, IL P.S. Lucia named our dog Otto-- in Otto's honor and because he's orange. |   An original sketch for Lucia by Frank Cammuso  Lucia with her orange dog, Otto |
Want one MORE book and one LESS piece of candy for your little trick-or-treater? This Halloween, head to one of these great bookstores for your copy of Otto's Orange Day (while supplies last).
Note: Otto's Orange Day might not qualify as the "scariest" book but it is intended for the little ones (ages 3-7)...and well, it would be pretty scary actually if the world WAS all orange now, wouldn't it?
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