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!

 

Howard Wallace, P.I.

Howard Wallace, P.I.

By Casey Lyall

Howard Wallace is a twelve-year-old middle schooler.  He’s a bit awkward and doesn’t have many friends.  However, Howard does have skills that bring people to him; he is a private investigator – one of the best.  And although he is often hired for rather minor investigations – such as locating little Kevin’s Spaceman Joe – Howard is about to be pulled into the investigation of his career.

Luckily, he is not alone.  Much to his chagrin, the new girl in town, Ivy Mason, is determined to become Howard’s partner.  After accosting him several times in his “office” and while on a stakeout, Howard reluctantly agrees to take Ivy on.

The two P.I.s are faced with a serious case.  Meredith Reddy, treasurer of the Student Council, has had the school cheques stolen from her and is now being blackmailed.  Threatening notes are found, and if Meredith can’t clear her name, all the power on the Student Council will go to Lisa Grantley, a girl whose family runs the whole town.

Howard starts receiving threatening notes too, but he and Ivy can’t be stopped.  Although they risk getting in trouble with their parents, teachers and the school principal, they persevere.  Can Wallace and Mason solve this case, making a name for themselves along the way?

Despite its middle school subject matter, Howard Wallace, P.I. is a riveting mystery.  Kids will identify with both Howard and Ivy’s shortcomings and enjoy their creativity in turning day-to-day life into a passion and a potential career.

 

Coyote Tales

Coyote Tales

By Thomas King

With his signature tongue-in-cheek humour, Thomas King presents readers with two tales of Coyote, an important figure in Indigenous stories.

Coyote first causes trouble in Coyote Sings to the Moon, when his terrible singing voice causes Moon to dive to the bottom of the pond and hide, plunging the nighttime world into darkness.  Old Woman and the animals in the forest are annoyed with Coyote and his antics, and must find a way to coax Moon back into the sky.  But listening to Coyote sing is driving them all crazy!  How can they get Moon back and keep Coyote quiet?

In Coyote’s New Suit, Raven convinces Coyote to steal the other animals’ suits, leaving Bear, Porcupine, Skunk, Raccoon, Beaver and Moose, naked in the woods!  Coyote even steals the human beings’ clothes from their clotheslines.   Meanwhile, Coyote wears his new suits “to the supermarket…, to the baseball game…, [and] to bingo.” (p. 48-49) But when he holds a yard sale to get rid of all his new suits, all the animals and humans show up.  Will everyone find their old clothing?  Or will they all get new suits?

Black and white illustrations by Byron Eggenshwiler add to this fun early chapter book.  Coyote Tales is a great read-aloud both at home and at school.

Highly recommended!