Wolfie and Fly

November 15, 2017
Grades 1-3 Lovable curmudgeon Renata Wolfman (Wolfie) reluctantly takes the stage in her second outing. The story opens at the breakfast tableWolfie busily reading about helicopters, and her parents gently encouraging her to participate in the school talent show, claiming it will help draw Wolfie out of her shell. She doesn't miss a beat before replying, I like being in my shell. Enter Livingston Flott (Fly), gregarious neighbor and aspiring friend to Wolfie. After barging into her house with his guitar and asking Wolfie to help him with his song, a few unexpected things happen. Wolfie discovers she enjoys playing the drums (actually an overturned pot and trash can), and she agrees to play with Fly in the show. As they practice, their imaginations kick into high gear, positioning the two rockers before a roaring crowd. A wild adventure ensues, returning the kids home just in time for the talent show. Entertaining and relatable, Wolfie and Fly's odd-couple friendship continues to illustrate the benefits of new experiences and stepping outside of one's comfort zone.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

Starred review from January 9, 2017
Renata Wolfman (aka Wolfie), a proud loner fascinated with undersea life, begrudgingly makes her first friend in neighbor Livingston Flott (aka Fly), an exuberant singer-songwriter who isn’t exactly swimming in pals himself. The two bond over a refrigerator-box submarine Wolfie has built, which she insists “is for educational purposes, not make-believe.” Fagan (Danny, Who Fell in a Hole) has lots of fun with the comedic contrast between Wolfie’s misanthropic tendencies and Fly’s enthusiasm, especially after the submarine seems to actually take to the seas (“Maybe you should take it easy on our oxygen supply,” Wolfie quips after the ocean’s beauty inspires Fly to reach for his guitar). Newcomer Si makes the most of the everyday-meets-fantastical setup in her b&w spot cartoons. It’s a promising first outing for this memorable odd couple. Ages 7–10.

January 1, 2019
Fact-loving loner Wolfie and her creative, quirky neighbor, Fly, embark on their second imaginary adventure--this time, playing a concert and escaping a mob of their fans. Packed with silly story details (such as an uncle who retired from the toaster factory to paint pictures...of toasters), this lighthearted sequel to Wolfie & Fly is lots of fun. Black-and-white ink and watercolor illustrations showcase the characters' personalities.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)