Odd, Weird, & Little by Patrick Jennings (review)

When a tiny, wide-eyed kid wearing a hat and a bow tie walks into class, ten-yearold Woodrow is unsure whether to try to befriend a fellow outcast or be grateful that Garrett, the class bully, may have a new target. Toulouse Hulot, the new kid, turns out to have a knack for wood-working and reading, two of Woodrow’s favorite pastimes, and Woodrow makes a pal of Toulouse. Garrett’s bullying does escalate as a result, especially after Toulouse vomits up what appears to be a furry rodent in class. With Toulouse at his side, however, Woodrow doesn’t find Garrett nearly as intimidating, and although the new kid doesn’t say much other than “who” and nod, his moral support is enough to make Woodrow stand his ground, overcome his stutter (at least temporarily), and tell the bully off. Those familiar with Jennings’ Guinea Dog (BCCB 6/10) will recognize the author’s tendency to inject the ordinary with the absurd; the owl-in-disguise element is surprisingly effective, taking a standard tale of an underdog’s triumph and giving it a charming weirdness that reaffirms the value of being a bit odd. Simple sentence structure and Woodrow’s conversational tone make this easily accessible to newly independent readers, while Woodrow’s astute observations of school dynamics—the difference between rules made by the adults and rules made by kids, the dog-eat-dog world of the playground—will likely strike a chord with plenty of kids who worry about their not-so-normalness. The surprise reveal of Toulouse’s avian status at the end is undermined by the cover’s giveaway, but readers will likely be charmed enough to not give a hoot. (Sorry.)