Let’s Go, Hugo!
Written & Illustrated by Angela Dominguez
Dial • 2013 • 40 pages
Hardcover ($16.99)
ISBN 978-0-8037-3864-5
Ages 3-5
Hugo is a small yellow bird that lives in Paris. He is different from the other birds because he does not like to fly. In fact, he walks everywhere. Hugo has a secret. He is afraid to fly. However, he is very creative and likes to make art on the streets and parks of Paris. One day, another little bird named Lulu sees him creating a miniature Eiffel Tower, and invites him to fly with her to go visit the famous site and see what it looks like from the air. Ashamed to tell her that he is afraid of flying, Hugo uses all sorts of excuses not to go.
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The birds go to the park instead. They eat popcorn. They see a ballet. By the time they finish doing all of these things, it is too late to go to the Eiffel Tower. Lulu tells Hugo that it’s okay, and that she will return the next day. With the help of a night owl named Bernard, Hugo begins to practice flying that very night so that he can go to the Eiffel Tower with Lulu. When the next day arrives, Hugo confesses his fear to Lulu, who quickly encourages him to continue to practice. When Hugo is ready, both birds fly to the Eiffel Tower, and Hugo learns that it is more beautiful than he ever imagined it would be.
This is a wonderful book about friends helping and encouraging one another not to give up even when one is afraid to try something new. Debut picture book author Dominguez uses several techniques to illustrate her book—gouache, cut paper, pencil and ink—offering a uniquely picturesque view of Paris.
—Reviewed by Dr. Veronica Covington, School of Information, University of Texas, Austin
