Willie and Uncle Bill

Schwartz, Amy     Willie and Uncle Bill    

Holiday House     2012  unp   $16.95

978-0-8234-2203-6       elem    VG    Realistic fiction

In this book, elementary-school students meet a little boy named Willie and his Uncle Bill, and get to read three short stories about them in an easy-fiction picture book.  In the first part, Uncle Bill comes over to baby-sit Willie while his mother is out.  While Uncle Bill cooks lunch, Willie locks himself in the bathroom and cuts his hair.  When Uncle Bill sees Willie's hair, he tries to fix it, but then realizes he needs professional help.  In the second story, when Uncle Bill comes to baby-sit again, the two make Icky Stew and look for customers to try the stew.  The third story has Uncle Bill and Willie out watching and interacting with a rock band while Uncle Bill is baby-sitting again.  Students will enjoy reading the adventures of Willie and his Uncle Bill and they may be able to relate them to their own adventures in baby-sitting.

This book includes colorful illustrations created with gouache and pen-and-ink and an easy-to-comprehend text.  There is an Accelerated Reader quiz available,  quiz #150148.          

VG    Charleen Forba-Mayer    Uncles, Family, Easy readers