Cody and the Fountain of Happiness

Description

"It's hard not to cheer for Cody, with her sunny disposition and penchant for optimistic similes. . . . A deep, satisfying reading experience." - Kirkus Reviews For whimsical Cody, many things are beautiful, but nothing so much as the first day of summer vacation. She doesn't want to waste one minute of it. Meanwhile, teenage brother Wyatt is moping over a girl, Mom is stressed about her new job, Dad is off hauling chairs in his long-distance truck, and even camp has been closed for the summer. Just when all seems lost, Cody bumps into a neighborhood boy looking for a runaway cat. With a new friend and a soon-to-be-found cat, Cody is on her way to the fountain of happiness.

Secondary characters are fully fleshed, allowing for a deep, satisfying reading experience for children ready for longer books. Cody is sure to make friends with many readers, who will cross their fingers and hope for further adventures. -Kirkus Reviews Every First Day of Summer should start with Cody. Whether communing with ants, spouting science, or curing a case of the whim-whams, Cody's story is witty, heartwarming, and wise. -Megan McDonald, author of the Judy Moody and Stink series Cody is perfectly charming and charmingly imperfect! I'm already hoping for more. -Sara Pennypacker, author of the Clementine series Every once in a while, a book comes along that has tremendous heart, wit, and a voice so original and full of pure charm that it practically sings. This is such a book, and Cody is such a girl. -Shawn K. Stout, author of the Penelope Crumb series Cody's heartfelt intentions do not always yield the expected results, but that's precisely the pleasure in this sweet story that celebrates friendship and community connections. Set in a multiethnic neighborhood and featuring a biracial, Hispanic family, this will be a great fit for libraries looking to strengthen the diversity of their collections. -Booklist Springstubb's (Moonpenny Island) multicultural neighborhood comes to life nicely through Wheeler's ink-and-watercolor illustrations.... Wise advice ("First days are always hard. But everything will work out") and vibrant imagery ("Search back through the mists of time, and you would not find a shoe salesperson who worked as hard as Mom") round out this pleasing tale of friendship and family. -Publishers Weekly Cody's lively voice and keen observational skills build an involving story line out of the seeming simplicity of a vacation spent at home. Wheeler's stylish spot illustrations throughout suggest a diverse cast in this suburban setting. -Horn Book Wheeler's monochromatic ink and watercolor illustrations add warmth and detail to the middle-grade-friendly text and its multicultural cast. Fans of Cleary's classic Ramona series or McDonald's Judy Moody titles may especially enjoy creative-minded Cody. -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Cody's rosy outlook, Springstubb's fresh and imaginative writing, and Wheeler's whimsical pen-and-ink illustrations make a winning combination. -School Library Connection Artfully drawn sketches. -School Library Journal