The Horn Book Guide

PICTURE BOOKS

Lester, Helen

Hooway for Wodney Wat

32 pp. | Houghton/Lorraine | April, 1999 | Trade ISBN 0-395-92392-1 $$15.00

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. Rodney Rat, who can't pronounce his rs, is the shyest, most miserable kid in school, until one day he saves his classmates from the mean bully Camilla Capybara. Wodney's transformation from cowering to empowered is beautifully underscored in the humorous, expressive illustrations. Appealingly, Wodney doesn't need to overcome his impediment to be liked--and it's the impediment itself and Wodney's clever use of it that foils the villain.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999