D.M. Mullan's Curious Tale - Hector by D.M. Mullan & Kirsteen Harris-Jones 

Blurb 

If something is missing, and you’re feeling blue, you could learn from Hector, who feels this way too.

This little genius lives in an upside down boat, and he grunts from his hill like a grumpy old goat:

“Hector van Groat needs no one but Hector, because he is a genius, a crazy inventor!”

Book #1 in the D.M. Mullan’s Curious Tales series.

D.M. Mullan’s Curious Tales

D.M. Mullan’s Curious Tales is a series of peculiar modern fables from author D.M. Mullan and illustrator Kirsteen Harris-Jones.

With a classic rhyming style and wonderfully quirky illustrations, each book centres around a unique little individual and tells their story all whilst

Video Teaser - https://twitter.com/i/status/1400820628203184128

My Review
Hector is one of the Curious Tales by D.M. Mullan. The story follows a young genius inventor named Hector as he grumbles and growls from atop the hill where he lives in an upside down boat. Hector keeps to himself, creating inventions that he soon loses interest in. 
One day, on his way to town, he's hit with a snowball and has a fun fight with the other children. But soon, he reverts back to his old, grumpy self when he returns home. Nothing excites him or thrills him anymore. 
Hector soon realizes that maybe having some friends to share his inventions with might not be so bad after all.
I thought this was a delightful little story. The illustrations are fun, the rhyming scheme is engaging, and the story itself has a vibe that reminds me of Dr. Seuss meets The Grinch meets Edward Scissorhands meets Willy Wonka. It's quite wonderful, a bit eclectic, and overall just a fun read.
5 stars!

 About the Author

D.M. Mullan is a world-travelled author from County Derry, Northern Ireland. Now living in Belfast with her family, the author will launch the ‘D.M. Mullan’s Curious Tales’ series in 2021; her first work for children.

About the Illustrator

Kirsteen Harris-Jones is an illustrator with a colourful past. She’s worked at a variety of creative, graphic and animation studios since 1990. Her work has been published by Random House, Egmont, Bloomsbury, Little Tiger, and more.