Thursday, June 18, 2009


Thursday, June 18, 2009



Hooway for Wodney Wat

Author: Helen Lester

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed:
anger and conflict resolution

Year of Publication: 1999

Publisher & Location: Walter Lorraine Books, Boston

ISBN#:0395923921

Target Age Level: Lower and Upper Elementary School

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Lynn M. Munsinger has done colorful and funny illustrations of this little 'wat'.

Brief Summary:

Poor Rodney Rat can't pronounce his R's and the other rodents tease him mercilessly. But when Camilla Capybara joins Rodney's class and announces that she is bigger, meaner, and smarter than any of the other rodents, everyone is afraid. It seems she really is bigger, meaner, and smarter than all of the rest of them. Until our unwitting hero, Wodney Wat, catches Camilla out in a game of Simon Says.

He surprises himself and his classmates by single-handedly saving the whole class from the big bad bully. Children will delight as shy Rodney Rat triumphs over all and his tiny voice decides the day, R's or no R's.


Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: I like that Wodney confidently does the right thing in this story. It shows that you can be brave no matter the size and stick up for what is right in a conflict situation.

Activity: Verbalize a complaint and write it out in a sentence. Be a part of the solution and not the problem when verbalizing the problem and giving a solution.

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