Waylon! Even More Awesome
by Sara Pennypacker ill by Marla Frazee
Are you ready for another serving of awesome? I certainly am. Sara Pennypacker delivers another tale of awesomeness with Waylon! Even More Awesome, the second of a three volume series featuring Waylon Zakowski. The boy we first encountered in the Clementine series is back and he’s bringing a friend, his recently acquired pet, Dumpster Eddy. Because mom is allergic to dogs and Eddy is a canine on the run, Waylon is constantly in search of a new home for his dog. More often than not, this includes ten day stays with Animal Control. This isn’t so bad. Waylon and his on-again off-again friend Baxter visit the police station each day, playing with their pooch and taking him out for walks. Unfortunately things are about to change. There is a new Animal Control officer and he has no intention of allowing Dumpster Eddy to continue his stays at the station. Eddy is about to be shipped off to a far away animal shelter. The boys must think fast and come up with a plan to save their dog and provide him with a home. They hit upon the ingenious idea of building an elaborate igloo or dogloo, complete with a special pad for cold nights. However when you’re working with a free-spirited dog, a hard-nosed official, and cold Massachusetts weather, there are bound to be complications. |
Award-winning artist Marla Frazee’s black and white line drawings perfectly capture the relationship between this ten year old and his beloved mutt.
The story is chock full is Waylonisms: his fascination with science including the creation of a comic entitled Cosmo-Quest and OAT, the One Awesome Thing game. Waylon, the boy who constructs battles between the food items on his plate “mashed potatoes could take the chicken nuggets any day...they were thick enough to wall off peas, wait out any siege” and carries Dumpster Eddy, safely zipped up inside his coat has won my heart.
OAT: One Awesome ThingWaylon enjoys playing OAT: recalling One Awesome Thing about his day.Try creating your own OAT bookmarks. What awesome thing happened to you today? Its a simple and easy way to maintain a positive outlook. Make homemade oatmeal cookies and share your OAT and delicious cookies with someone special. Awesomeness all around! |
Oatmeal Cookies 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup white sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon 3 cups quick cooking oats | In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. recipe from Bittersweet1, Allrecipes |