Waylon! One Awesome Thing

by Sara Pennypacker, Marla Frazee (Illustrator)

Overview

Waylon has lots of ideas for making life more awesome through science, like teleportation, human gills, and attracting cupcakes by controlling gravity. But it's impossible for him to concentrate on his inventions when he's experiencing his own personal Big Bang.

Arlo Brody is dividing the fourth grade boys into two groups. Waylon would rather be friends with everyone. Well, everyone except the scary new kid, Baxter Boylen.

Waylon's older sister, Neon, is shooting away from the family. He wishes everything would go back to the way it was before she started wearing all black and saying "What's the point?" all the time.

Just when it looks as though Waylon's universe is exploding, something happens to bring it all together again, and it is, without a doubt, One Awesome Thing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781484701522
Publisher:	Disney Press
Publication date:	04/05/2016
Series:	Waylon Series
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.87(w) x 8.12(h) x 0.87(d)
Lexile:	680L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sara Pennypacker splits her time between Florida and Massachusetts, were she feels lucky to be able to write every day. She is the author of many children's books, including the #1 New York Times best-seller Pax; seven in the New York Times best-selling Clementine series; two in the Stuart series; Meet the Dullards; Summer of the Gypsy Moths; and Sparrow Girl. Her books have won numerous accolades, including a Golden Kite Award, a Christopher Award, and several children's choice state awards, and they have appeared on many Best Books of the Year lists. For more information, visit www.sarapennypacker.com.

Marla Frazee illustrated all of the books in the Clementine series. She was awarded a Caldecott Honor on two occasions: for All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, and her own A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. She is also the author-illustrator of Roller Coaster, Walk On!, Santa Claus the World's Number One Toy Expert, The Boss Baby (soon to be a Dreamworks film), Boot & Shoe, and The Farmer and the Clown. Marla teaches at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, has three grown sons, and works in a small backyard cabin under an avocado tree. Visit her at www.marlafrazee.com.

Editorial Reviews

On the surface, the stakes may not seem high, but after spending a few chapters with the endearingly oddball Waylon, readers will shudder at the thought that anything might squelch this boy's contagious joy and enthusiasm. And by the time the last page has been turned, readers might find themselves blurting out newly learned facts about, say, the number of atoms in a fingernail. Our world is "so amazing," as the book reminds us, "how could anyone hold it all in?"

The New York Times Book Review - Christopher Healy

02/29/2016
Pennypacker shifts attention from Clementine to one of the popular character’s fourth-grade classmates, science-loving Waylon Zakowski, in this first book in a spin-off series. Through Waylon’s rational perspective, Pennypacker offers smart insights into the frustration of realizing that life isn’t entirely in one’s control—with his classmates dividing themselves into “teams” and his older sister embracing a new Goth identity, Waylon feels like he’s living his own version of the Big Bang (“Everything in his universe was exploding away in different directions”). Waylon’s insecurities, bigheartedness, and awe of the world at large should easily endear him to readers. Art not seen by PW. Ages 6–8. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 01/01/2016
Gr 2–5—The creative team behind the "Clementine" books (Hyperion) launch a new series starring Waylon, Clementine's science-obsessed classmate. His universe is exploding in a very personal "Big Bang." Popular kid Arlo has divided all the fourth-grade boys into rival teams, which bums out Waylon, who prefers collaboration over competition. And his older sister Charlotte, aka Neon, has gone goth. When Neon reveals that it's just an act to keep both their parents and school cliques at a distance, Waylon responds, "Oh wow! Batesian mimicry!" New kid in school Baxter helps Waylon solve the rival teams problem when they concoct a plan to free Dumpster Eddy, a local shelter dog whose time is dwindling. In a rollicking conclusion, a group of kids defy team lines—even Arlo joins in—and work together on the canine caper. Pennypacker draws readers in quickly. Waylon's conflict with Arlo is established in the first chapter, and much of the action takes place during the high points of any kid's school day—lunch and recess. Waylon's parents are refreshingly stable yet slightly quirky characters, and Neon is intriguing enough to merit her own series. In Pennypacker's skillful hands, Waylon is an appealing everykid whose passion for science just might spark readers' curiosity as he contemplates ideas from angstroms to alien hand syndrome. VERDICT A winning, welcome new series for chapter book readers.—Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

School Library Journal

2016-01-09
Fourth-grader Waylon Zakowski is struggling to navigate change. Most immediately, he needs to figure out how to deal with charismatic Arlo, who seems determined to splinter the formerly cohesive class into "things." To further complicate his life, his 14-year-old sister, Charlotte, is now calling herself Neon and has gone goth. His parents seem unable to confront her, leaving him to fill the new gap in his previously loving family. Waylon is a scientist with a lot of bright but unusual ideas. As he carefully considers—as a good scientist must—the mostly wonderful world around him, he develops insights: he must become an isthmus, standing in the middle to keep the peace in school and at home. His point of view is nicely captured through his thoughtful third-person voice—authentically peppered with scientific trivia—and Frazee's frequent drawings (only a few of which were available for review). Unexpected bits of magic add depth and an aching tenderness, as when Neon steals into Waylon's room to play a game called OAT—One Awesome Thing—to help support her discouraged brother, later revealing that she hasn't really changed so much. Waylon is a blond white boy, Arlo is a dreadlocked dark-skinned boy, and judging by the names, their fourth-grade Boston-area class is a diverse one. An upbeat celebration of lively imagination, friendship, family, community, and the exuberance of childhood. (Fiction. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews

PRAISE FOR COMPLETELY CLEMENTINE

"The plot unfolds gently onward, seamlessly interweaving threads that are just right for their audience. Frazee's breezy pen-and-ink half-page, full-page, and spot illustrations capture Clementine's frenetic energy and goofy panache to expand upon already rich portrayals of her frazzled-but-loving parents, patient teacher, and similarly beset classmates. A warm, bittersweet sendoff for a beloved literary friend."—Horn Book

PRAISE FOR COMPLETELY CLEMENTINE

"Pennypacker puts a pleasing bow on the popular series, giving Clementine a complicated family situation to deal with and allowing her to explore the feelings that come with being angry at someone you love. Ingenious, too, is the way she finds for Clementine to finally resolve the situation, reminding readers that love can be as important as taking a stand. Frazee's illustrations always charm, and that's true here."—Booklist

"This Clementine series spin-off features another likable kid with lots of heart. Give this to readers who enjoy realistic school stories with a tinge of scientific inquiry."—Horn Book

"In Pennypacker's skillful hands, Waylon is an appealing every kid whose passion for science just might spark readers' curiosity as he contemplates ideas from angstroms to alien hand syndrome. VERDICT: A winning, welcome new series for chapter book readers."—School Library Journal (starred review)

*"Pennypacker is at her best here, creating vivid characters and showing the subtly shifting connections between them. Alternatively laugh-aloud funny and melt-your-heart tender, this illustrated chapter book is a great read-aloud choice and a memorable find for independent readers."—Booklist (starred review)

From the Publisher