Wolfie & Fly

Wolfie & Fly

By Cary Fagan
Illustrations by Zoe Si

Renata Wolfman (a.k.a. Wolfie) is a loner.  She has her own ideas about how things should be done and friends just get in the way.

One day she finds a giant refrigerator box just lying around.  She decides to build a submarine.  After adding a porthole, a control panel, a steering wheel and a propeller, Wolfie is ready to play!  But she is soon interrupted by a knock at the door.  It’s her neighbour, Livingston Flott (a.k.a. Fly), and he’s hiding from his mean older brother.

Wolfie has no intention of playing with Fly, but when Fly notices her submarine, there is no getting rid of him.  Annoyingly, Fly has his own ideas about what should be added to the submarine.  Wolfie is surprised to find that some of his ideas are actually good!

But when the two of them get inside the submarine, that’s when the magic really happens.  Can they really explore the ocean in their homemade sub?

Ask yourself, is it better to play by yourself or with a friend?  Wolfie might just change her mind about being alone all the time after she finally gives in to playing with Fly!

Wolfie & Fly is a fun easy read – perfect for early chapter book readers!

Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package

Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package

By Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen

“Eugenia Lincoln was a practical person, a sensible person.  She did not have time for poetry, geegaws, whoop-de-whoops, or frivolity.” (p. 1)

When an unexpected package arrives, Eugenia’s world gets a little off-kilter.  Her sister, Baby, is thrilled.  Even the neighbours, Frank, Mrs. Watson and Mercy the pig, arrive to investigate the large box on Eugenia’s doorstep.  

Much to everyone’s surprise, the box contains an accordion.  No one in the house plays the accordion, making the instrument’s arrival even more mysterious.  Eugenia immediately makes plans to get rid of it – after all, she must have order!  An accordion that nobody plays will throw the house into chaos!

Eugenia places an ad in the newspaper to sell the accordion.  This leads to the arrival of Gaston, the accordion teacher.  After he practically forces Eugenia to play the instrument, strange things begin to happen.  Music, it seems, has a transformative effect.  Can it really soften Eugenia’s heart?

Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package is the latest installment in Kate DiCamillo’s hilarious Tales from Deckawoo Drive.  It’s perfect for early chapter book readers and makes a great read-aloud too!

The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid

The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid

By Kara LaReau
Illustrated by Matt Myers

Louie and Ralphie Ratso want to build an arcade – not a video game arcade, but the kind you find at a carnival.  They decide that if they get to work clearing out a vacant lot, they can transform it into the Big City FunTime Arcade.

But the house next to the vacant lot looks haunted.  Louie is especially scared of the house and the possible ghost that lives inside.

Meanwhile, at school, Ralphie is teased for helping a girl that everyone calls Stinky.  Before he knows it, the whole school is singing the K-I-S-S-I-N-G song about them.  Ralphie is afraid of being made fun of, but he doesn’t know what to do about it.

Luckily, Louie and Ralphie’s dad reminds them not to let their fears be the boss.

When part of the new arcade goes through the window at the haunted house, Louie has to retrieve it.  Can he face his fears and knock on the door?

Can Ralphie stand up to the bullying and teasing at school?

And can two little rats and all their friends really build the Big City FunTime Arcade?

The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid is a lighthearted book about facing childhood fears and having fun.

Big Foot and Little Foot

Big Foot and Little Foot

By Ellen Potter
Illustrations by Felicita Sala

Hugo is a young Sasquatch who lives in the North Woods.  His home is in Widdershins Cavern, where a community of Sasquatches lives.  They have stores, a barber shop, a post office, and a school.

The Sasquatches enjoy leaving their cavern from time to time to go out in the Big Wide World, but they have to be careful – Sasquatches do not want to be seen by Humans.  After all, a Human might capture or hurt a Sasquatch.  Also, Humans stink – at least that’s what the Sasquatches think.

One day, when the Squidges (Sasquatch kids) are outside practicing their sneaking, Hugo sees a Human boy.  Instead of hiding, Hugo laughs and allows himself to be seen.  The boy doesn’t look dangerous, but Hugo’s teacher is livid.  Hugo has a note sent home to his parents and he is punished.

After that, Hugo feels pretty glum.  Wishing he could have an adventure, he sends his little toy boat out on the stream that runs through his bedroom.  Days later, to Hugo’s surprise, the boat returns with a toy inside.  And so begins an exchange of letters and then a friendship with a boy named Boone.

But when Hugo decides to leave the safety of his home to go looking for Boone, his adventure really begins.  Will he find him?  Can Hugo stay safe when he enters the world of humans?

Big Foot and Little Foot is a gentle story of friendship and adventure for two boys: one Sasquatch and one Human.  This early chapter book makes a great read-aloud too!