Ages 4 Up
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Other great books by Helen Lester:

Tacky the Penguin   [Lesson Plan]
Tacky in Trouble
Three Cheers for Tacky
Princess Penelope's Parrot
It Wasn't My Fault
Listen Buddy
A Porcupine Named Fluffy

"Poor Wodney.
Wodney Wat.
His real name was Rodney Rat, but he couldn't pronounce his r's.
To make matters worse, he was a rodent. A wodent."

Because Rodney is different, he is teased by his fellow rodent classmates. They intentionally ask him questions to embarrass him.

"What's another name for bunny? they asked knowingly.
"Wabbit," he mumbled."

"'And how does a train travel?" They winked at each other.
"A twain twavels on twain twacks," Wodney replied miserably.'"

This made Rodney so shy that he ate lunch alone and would bury his head in his jacket from embarrassment.

But then one day, a mean and very BIG rodent came to school. Her name was Carmilla Capybara and announced to the class that she was bigger, meaner and smarter than all of them. Carmilla would "accidentally-on purpose" bully the other rodents.

But the tables are cleverly turned when Rodney is chosen to lead a game of Simon Says. Rodney shyly, with his head hidden in his jacket, began to call out:

"'Wodney says weed (read) the sign.' While the other rodents read, 'P.S. 142 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR RODENTS,' Camilla began pulling up weeds around the sign...till she was clear up to her teeth in dirt. The other rodents began to smile"

Rodney's shyness was disappearing. He constantly challenged the rodents..."Wake the leaves... play Wing Around the Wosie..." Suddenly Camilla wasn't quite as smart as she thought she was.

But when he says "Go West" (rest) after some really tough games, guess what Carmilla does?

For every child who feels like an "outsider" or "different," Wodney Wat is a must read. And for every child who likes to giggle, really giggle, look no further. Lynn Munsinger's illustrations are superb!