22. Lone Wolf Gets a Pet

 

22. Lone Wolf Gets a Pet. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, humor, animal fantasy]

First sentence: Wolf lived by himself. His mornings were quiet. His evenings were still. He never had to tell anyone where he was going. Today, he was going for a ride to buy jellybeans. Wolf loved jellybeans.

Premise/plot: How far will Wolf go to get jellybeans????? When the store is OUT of jellybeans, Wolf realizes that the only way to get his jellybean fix is to win a local competition for PETS. Will Wolf get a pet????? Maybe. Maybe not. Will he get his jellybeans????

My thoughts: I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. Did I love it more than Lone Wolf Goes to School???? Maybe. Both books are so fantastic. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series! I love how funny the books are. Lone Wolf is a hoot.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

21. George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles

 

21. George Washington's Spectacular Spectacles. Selene Castrovilla. Illustrated by Jenn Harney. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book biography, history, j nonfiction]

First sentence: George Washington had to wear glasses. It was secret. He hid them in his pocket and never showed anyone. It was too embarrassing. He worried: glasses made him look odd! He feared: glasses made him look weak! He frowned: glasses made his nose look big!

Premise/plot: Did you know George Washington wore glasses? This picture book biography--more a biographical slice than a proper biography--shares an incident with young readers from American history. George Washington was trying to calm down angry soldiers who had not been paid for their service. He had a speech prepared, however, when it came time to give it....he found he couldn't read it without his glasses. Will his glasses save the day or ruin it?

My thoughts: I'd not heard of this particular incident before reading this picture book. (Newburgh Conspiracy) I enjoyed this one. Though I don't believe I've read the author before, she states in her note that this is her fifth book, I believe, about George Washington. I will have to see if my library has them.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers