Mr. Hoopeyloops and His Amazing Glass by Andi Cann is the story of Mr. Hoopeyloops, a special man who lives in an old, odd house with an old, odd barn. The town he lives is an ordinary town where all the buildings have the same structure and pattern. He drives an old, odd red pickup truck. Smoke curls out of his barn’s big fireplace and there are sounds of strange and compelling music drifting from the barn. The people of the town are accustomed to Mr. Hoopeyloops's odd behavior. One day he sends an invitation to everyone in the town: ‘Please come and see the wonders and magic that delight me.' The townspeople are excited and what they see inside the barn amazes them and changes their opinion about Mr. Hoopeyloops.
The story conveys a beautiful message, that of seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary. I like the contrasting images of a neat and organized town with that of Mr. Hoopeyloops. The illustrations are delightful and they give a good pace and movement to the story. Mr. Hoopeyloops’s secretive behavior makes his character mysterious and readers will be curious to know what he is doing with the sand and small steel pipes. There is an element of whimsy too in the story, which makes it a magical experience for young readers. Stories like this are good for children to help them understand the message clearly and change their perceptions on how to look at life, people, and appreciate the special talents people around them possess. It is a perfect story for read aloud sessions in classrooms and school libraries because of its magic, the secret, and the lovely message.