Book Review: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

If you go to the library before your next co-op shift, pick up a copy of Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. It's always nice to have a fresh picture book on hand to read to a child having separation anxiety or to the group as a whole when things get a little rambunctious.

And this is such a sweet story.

The mailman delivers a mysterious package to lonely old Mr. Hatch one February day. The attached note says, "Somebody loves you," so Mr. Hatch assumes he has a secret admirer. This revelation changes Mr. Hatch. As he goes about town he wonders who his admirer might be, and his actions toward everyone become more generous and kind. He begins to make lots of friends.

When he finds out that the package was delivered to him by mistake, Mr. Hatch once again becomes sad, lonely, and withdrawn, but now that he has a whole slew of new friends, they won't let him stay sad for long.

It's a heartwarming story, and it might just soothe some young hurt feelings and self-consciousness.