From Big Red Chair Books, $3.99 each
|
|
|
|
|
|
Review by Michelle Tolstedt
An imaginative, adventurous and constantly hungry Jack Russell terrier is the hero in "The Adventures of Wishbone," a new series of books for middle-grade readers. Based on the popular Emmy Award-winning television series that premiered in October 1995, each book features Wishbone and his friends in new adventures related to classic books in literature, rather than an episode of the TV series. Six titles in the book series have been released with more on the way.
As Wishbone, his owner Joe Talbot and Joe's friends face challenges in today's world, Wishbone recalls similar situations from his favorite books such as "Treasure Island" and "The Prince and the Pauper." Wishbone relives these classics by imagining himself as one of the book's characters. By pretending to be the shipwrecked Robinson Crusoe or the brave warrior Beowulf, Wishbone shows how to make reading even more fun. Thus he demonstrates one of the greatest things about reading. In addition, each book contains editorial notes on the piece of literature, its author, and the time period in which it was written.
In Book #1, Brad Strickland's "Be a Wolf!," Wishbone's owner Joe Talbot accidentally leaves his backpack by the fence of Mrs. Grindle, a grouchy neighbor with a big dog. The name Grindle rings bells for Wishbone and soon he's seeing himself as Beowulf, the bold warrior who slays Grendel, Grendel's mother and various other threatening creatures. Although Joe is scared to speak to Mrs. Grindle, Wishbone knows that "sometimes you have to be a wolf."
But Wishbone is hardly wolflike when he meets Mrs. Grindle's mean bulldog. As Joe gathers the courage to return to Mrs. Grindle's in search of his backpack, Beowulf (Wishbone) conquers monstrous enemies. While Joe learns what kind of person Mrs. Grindle really is, Beowulf, now King Beowulf, shows how the kindness and wisdom of age blend with the courage of youth. By the end Mrs. Grindle reminds herself of what is still good in her life, and Beowulf happily remembers how he brought peace and prosperity to his people.
In Book #4, "Robinhound Crusoe" by Caroline Leavitt, Joe is looking forward to the chance to impress the eighth-grade basketball coach. When his mom has car trouble, he's afraid he'll miss the big game. Then the power goes out over half the town. Living without electricity (and the electric can opener) reminds Wishbone of young Robinson Crusoe who runs off to sea in search of adventure, and Wishbone's imagination takes him to an uninhabited island. He teaches himself how to survive and must figure out how to build shelter, grow food and outwit cannibals.
Joe faces some challenges of his own. Determined to make the game by starting time, he stops to help a lost child and face a threatening Doberman. Through it all, he thinks of his friends who are depending on him.
The series also includes Brad Strickland's "Salty Dog" (Book #2) inspired by "Treasure Island," Caroline Leavitt's "The Prince and the Pooch" (Book #3) and Michael Jan Friedman's "The Hunchdog of Notre Dame" (Book #5).
"Wishbone 1998 16-Month Calendar" starts with September 1997 and goes through 1998. Calendar pictures feature photographs from episodes of the "Wishbone" television series and some behind-the-scenes glimpses at how the show is made.
Michelle Tolstedt is a bookseller in a children's bookstore and the mother of two boys.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.
Support your