cover image Wodney Wat’s Wobot

Wodney Wat’s Wobot

Helen Lester, illus. by Lynn Munsinger. Houghton Mifflin, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-547-36756-9

Still having trouble with the letter R, Wodney Wat receives a talking “wobot” for his birthday, which repeats everything he says and—best of all—has no trouble pronouncing “R’s.” Things are great until the return of infamous bully Camilla Capybara (“Everyone thought Camilla had gone west. Forever”), who resumes tormenting her classmates. But Camilla is nothing if not shrewd: when Wodney’s wobot stops working, she swaps her frilly, pink dress for doctor’s scrubs and confidently replaces its battery (before being chased away once again). Readers should have fun reading aloud in Wodney’s voice, but multidimensional Camilla is a scene-stealer herself. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)