265. Upchuck and the Rotten Willy: Running Wild by Bill Wallace

Running Wild by Bill Wallace. Illustrations by John Steven Gurney.  (Canada) - (US)
Upchuck and the Rotten Willy, Book 3

Pages: 99
Ages: 7+
Finished: Dec. 5, 2011
First Published: 2000
Publisher: Minstrel Book
Genre: children, animal fantasy, humour,
Rating: 3/5

First sentence:

Okay ... it was weird.

Acquired:  Bought used from a garage/book sale or thrift shop.

Reason for Reading: I read this aloud to ds.  We wanted a short funny book for a change and have always had success with Bill Wallace (& his wife Carol). 

Upchuck and Rotten Willy is very similar to the "Gray Cat Trilogy" we read several years ago.  Although this is the last book in the series it didn't make any difference to us, mentions were made of their previous adventures but enough information was given to newcomers about the characters.  Chuck is a cat and Willy is a dog and they are best friends.  Neither has any other mates in the neighbourhood.  But this day two new cats move in and wander into Chuck's yard.  They are a bit uppity but Chuck makes friends with them and spends a nice day with them.  He learns quickly though that they are dog-haters and he agonises over what to do about Willy.  Should he drop Willy as a friend, I mean cats should play with other cats, right?  Or should he introduce his new friends to Willy and hope for the best that they might change their minds this one time, though it is hardly likely?

Written in Chuck the cat's narrative we have a simple tale that honestly reflects dog and cat behaviour. Is quite funny.  Sending us both into little giggle fits at times.  The story is fun-filled with lots of action, with baseball being a minor theme and as always with Bill Wallace a short pleasure to read.