A remarkable story and a great read-aloud. Fans of Jennings's Guinea Dog (Egmont USA, 2010) will find this a delightful book, one that stands with classics such as Avi's Poppy (Orchard, 1995). Woodrow is a most unlikely narrator, one who embraces his own nerdiness and stammers through most of his conversations. His only friend is Woodrow, who shares his love of fishing and finally becomes the one to stand up to the mean kids and ultimately see Toulouse for who he really is. He is a talented painter and musician, an accomplished fly fisherman, and the victim of the class bully and his henchman. Toulouse Hulot, a new kid in school from Quebec, wears dapper outfits, carries a briefcase, and even uses a quill pen to write his lessons.

Jennings does not skip a beat as he builds realistic relationships and problem-solving around an outrageously funny premise.' Vicky Smith, Children's & Teen Editor The rhythm of the prose is perfect for independent readers and for reading aloud clever art, music and literature references add to the fun.

While enjoying every minute of Woodrow’s slow discovery that Toulouse is actually an owl-and the even more amazing fact that no one else reaches that conclusion- readers also learn about the psychology behind bullying and about self-empowerment. Woodrow risks regaining his place as top victim as he decides to befriend and protect Toulouse, who has drawn unwanted attention to himself with such anomalies as his bowler hats and his furry vomit. His first-person account of befriending someone even weirder than himself divulges such truths as school-playground hierarchies, adults’ proficiency or lack thereof at handling bullying behaviors, and “kid rules” that enable bullies. Is this Woodrow’s opportunity to pass his own victim status to someone else? Woodrow openly admits his acknowledged dorkiness, as in his fondness for “duck tape,” his hesitant speech patterns and that time he got chopsticks stuck in his throat pretending to be a badger.

Woodrow and his classmates are surprised at the old-fashioned clothing and the tiny, delicate appearance of Toulouse, a newly arrived student from Canada. ' At last: a humorous, useful and pedantry-free book about bullying! Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award List 2017 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award List 2015-2016 Buy Out Standing In My Field (Paperback):īank Street College's Best Book of the Year 2015

Odd, Weird & Little by Patrick Jennings