Wow! What a lovely story about a 9 year-old boy, a "hoper" (full of hope, optimism and imagination) who wants to know why his name is Dillon Dillon! I got the book at the library (title caught my eye; my oldest son is named "Dylan", and the cover photo looked like him!) and loved it so much I bought a copy to keep! My 12 and 9 year-old sons loved it. The author nails the voice of Dillon Dillon and his thoughts perfectly. Her prose is lyrical. Wonderful dialogue. Despite the sad news Dillon hears on his 10th birthday (reason for his name), the story becomes inspirational and sweet as Dillon bonds with a family of loons, and copes with the revelation of his name. A perfectly delightful read that will leave you smiling! What an unforgettable character! A great read-aloud book too!

Did you ever think that you were an animal? The book I read was called Dillon Dillon by Kate Banks. In this book Dillon, the main character, thought that he was a loon because two loons became his friend and he thought that he could talk to them when they talked to him.

In the beginning of the story, Dillon was being made fun of because of his name, Dillon Dillon. He didn't like it when they made fun of him. So when he got really mad he would do mean stuff, like put pencil shavings in the kids' milk.

Every summer Dillon and his family go to their cabin on Lake Waban. This summer it was Dillon's 10th birthday. So he asked his parents why they gave him that name. That's when he found out that he was adopted. His real parents died in a plane crash and the family that had been taking care of him were really his aunt and uncle and his two cousins, Daisy and Didier.

While they were driving to the cabin, they stopped at a gas station and Dillon met a really nice girl named Eunice. While he was talking to her he noticed that he liked the same things that she did. So then Dillon asked her where she was going and she said Camp Tanglewood on Lake Waban. He was really surprised that she was going to be close to him all summer. But you will have to read the book to see if they meet at Lake Waban.

Now about the loons: While Dillon was at Lake Waban he met two loons that soon became his friends. He could talk to them when they were talking to him. One day, the loons took his shoe and made it into a nest. A couple of days later there was an egg in his shoe. A few months later the egg hatched and that baby soon liked Dillon. But one day something horrible happened to the mother and the father loon.

I think you should read this book if you like books full of adventure. I really liked this book and I hope you will like it too.

I loved this book, the first time I read it, and loved it even more the 2nd time I read it with my 2 boys ages 8 & 10. I will keep it on my bookshelf and probably read it again when I need a reminder that every problem can be solved and there is wonderful beauty and hidden meanings in Nature. A must read for any age. A delightful read about a young boy discovering who he is over summer break.

This book is a book to read over and over. The many metaphors make it a meaningful book for adults as well as a great book for children. I read it after the death of my mother and found it helped with the grief process.