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MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW: The Lost Candy Bar by Steve Kihm

When Steve Kihm was nine years old he went fishing with his gruff and clumsy grandfather. His mother had packed his lunch box with a very special treat in the form of a candy bar -- something not often seen by his family back in those financially hard pressed times. While they were fishing, his grandfather accidentally capsized the boat and the candy bar (along with the fishing gear and the rest of Steve's lunch) were lost. When Steve's father and uncle went the next day to right the boat, they decided to try and recover the lost fishing gear. They also recovered the lunch box and in it was that prized candy bar -- but the brown chocolate had been washed off by the water leaving only a white candy bar middle behind. Was the bar still good to eat? Artwork by Tom Lowes wonderfully illustrates this very funny and charmingly written little story from the author's own childhood and will be especially entertaining for young readers ages 6 to 9, particularly any young boys who don't particularly care to read books for pleasure!

The Lost Candy Bar
By Steve Kihm Illustrated by Tom Lowes
Goblin Fern Press (2004)
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (2/06)

If you have a youngster between the ages of 6-9 and finding a book he will read has become a difficult chore, you may have just found a solution to your problem if you pick up a copy of "The Lost Candy Bar." Award winning author, Steve Kihm, writes a true and fast moving tale about a fishing trip he reluctantly went on with his grandfather. He writes of his fondness for his all-time favorite snack, a Hershey’s Chocolate Bar.

The young and shy nine-year old Steve has always been just a bit frightened of the wild Grandpa Leo, so Steve is especially afraid when Grandpa requests Steve to accompany him on a fishing trip on the Mississippi River. Steve decides he wants to go on the trip when Mom promises a special lunch packed in his lunch box, complete with a special treat, his very favorite Hershey’s Candy Bar. Steve has a brother and five sisters, and with not a great deal of money, treats are given only for special occasions. Mom’s promise of a whole Hershey’s Candy Bar all to himself entices Steve to become very excited for the fishing trip.

Grandpa Leo and Steve go out on Grandpa’s boat, complete with a new and somewhat unfamiliar anchor system, which in Steve’s eyes, can only mean trouble. Much to everyone’s disappointment, there is a mishap, and the boat becomes submerged. The fishermen must find a way to get safely back to shore, but more importantly to Steve, where is his lunch box with the Hershey Candy Bar inside? Steve goes on to share his unforgettable adventures on the river with Grandpa Leo and the mystery of the lost Hershey Bar.

"The Lost Candy Bar" is written to keep a young child reading on his own, interested in reading. There are clever illustrations on each page to look at. The font of the different paragraphs changes frequently, along with the boldness of some specific words, to keep the attention of young readers. The story is almost written like a poem. It is interesting to see that the illustrations in the story of nine-year old Steve are very similar to an actual picture of Steve on the back cover of the book. Good job, Tom Lowes, illustrator!

Almost all children and most adults who are kids at heart can identify with the extremes one may go to for the sake of a tasty Hershey Bar. Children will relate with the way the story is told through the vivid and wild imagination of a young boy. Life can be a catastrophic and scary experience one moment, but with a loving family and a special treat, the moment can change to blissful and calm the next. I heartily recommend this book to all young children who enjoy reading, and even to those who don’t! Children and their parents will enjoy reading this book together!