Erica S. Perl

Sweet kid's book for book club that is true to many issues 11 year olds face: really wanting a dog, missing a deceased grandparent, fear of public embarassment, needing to fit in, and putting up with a younger sibling. Zelly really wants a dog, so her Grandpa (Ace, who talks in CAPITAL letter as such a force) challenges her to take on a "practice" dog -- an empty OJ gallon jug. To feed it, she must fill it with kibble, then walk it, and empty it as essential poop scooping duty. Of course show more this is supremely embarassing to be seen around her neighborhood, but it helps prove her dedication to a furry family member. While this drives the plot, there are other issues that surface -- her relationship with her grandpa, friendship, her Jewish identity and coming to terms with some growing-up issues. For a little book, it covers a lot of ground, very well. show less

I'm always hunting for new beginning chapter books, especially those right at that transitional cusp from easy reader to early chapter. So I was very eager to read these, but I'm... not sure they'll really click with the kids.

Arnold, a stolid and steady bear, and Louise, a scatty-brained chipmunk, are friends. Mostly. In their first adventure, The Great Louweezie, Arnold visits his friend to tell her they can't go on their picnic because it's going to rain. But Louise has other ideas show more anyways! She's a fortune-teller who can see the future and she's going to make a prediction - if Arnold gives her ten cents. Arnold offers her his lucky marble instead and instantly regrets it, especially when Louise takes him on a wild (and wet) adventure to make her prediction come true! In the end, Arnold helps Louise feel better after her failure to predict the future and the two are friends once more.

In their second adventure, Lost and Found, Louise really wants to borrow Arnold's best treasure. But Arnold likes to collect things - and Louise is really good at losing them! She promises to be careful and not lose this one... but she does. Will Arnold lose his good feeling - and his friend?

Two-toned illustrations, in gray and teal, decorate the stories showing a big, rather grumpy bear in overalls and the bouncy, silly Louise in a striped sweater. The text is simple, a good level for 1st and 2nd graders transitioning from easy readers to chapters. The stories are definitely on the easy reader side as far as content, featuring the classic oddball friends and simple woodland adventures. They're not likely to appeal to kids who are eager to read up, especially realistic stories, fantasy, or other popular genres, but they fit well into the Cynthia Rylant and Arnold Lobel classic style of gentle animal adventures.

I did feel that the friendship depicted was rather one-sided. Arnold gives up his special marble, goes on an uncomfortable walk in the rain, falls in the mud, and then has to comfort Louise in the first adventure; In the second he gives up his treasure twice, once to Louise to borrow and then again when she loses it and then gives it away to a bird family. Then he has to comfort Louise and give her another treasure, telling her that she's more important than anything he collects. It's a nice message of people over things, but at the same time I can't help but feel that Louise is a bit of a taker, not even trying to adapt or compromise for Arnold.

Verdict: While this is unlikely to be extremely popular, like the Scholastic Branches or Bad Guys, it's a nice filler book and will especially appeal to younger kids who are reading at a higher level and aren't ready for more complex plots.

Great Louweezie
ISBN: 9781524790394

Lost and Found
ISBN: 9781524790424

Published January 2019 by Penguin Workshop; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library show less

Rosie, Minty, and Pumpkin celebrate their birthday, and then their mother sends them out into the world. They make houses out of hay, cardboard, and tree bark and sticks, and not a moment too soon, because a fox comes prowling. There's the traditional back-and-forth (let me in, not by the hair of our chinny-chin-chins, then I'll huff and I'll puff...) but as the fox huffs and puffs, the guinea pigs escape from one house to another. Once they're in Pumpkin's house, she tricks the fox by show more sticking their "tails" out the window. Joke's on the fox: guinea pigs don't have tails! The tails are balloon strings - pop pop pop! - and the fox runs away and doesn't bother them again. A cute and clever retelling! show less

Delightful! I adored Zelly's big Yiddish grandpa, having had one of my own (though far more serious than Borscht Belt). Exploring religion with Zelly and Jeremy, whose families have different versions of Judaism, was powerful -- especially right after reading [b:The Whole Story of Half a Girl|11164727|The Whole Story of Half a Girl|Veera Hiranandani|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320500223s/11164727.jpg|16088800], with yet another version of Judaism. Laugh-out-loud funny, touching, deft show more navigation of the common middle grade themes of "how do I own my love for my embarrassing friend/family member?" and "what does it mean to be from x culture?" and "how do I stay friends with people who are growing up faster than I am?" The characters are a bit younger, but I think my 6th graders will enjoy this one immensely. show less