Are you ready for another serving of awesome? I certainly am. Sara Pennypacker delivers another tale of awesomeness with Waylon! Even More Awesome, the second of a three volume series featuring Waylon Zakowski. The boy we first encountered in the Clementine series is back and he’s bringing a friend, his recently acquired pet, Dumpster Eddy. Because mom is allergic to dogs and Eddy is a canine on the run, Waylon is constantly in search of a new home for his dog. More often than not, this includes ten day stays with Animal Control. This isn’t so bad. Waylon and his on-again off-again friend Baxter visit the police station each day, playing with their pooch and taking him out for walks.
Unfortunately things are about to change. There is a new Animal Control officer and he has no intention of allowing Dumpster Eddy to continue his stays at the station. Eddy is about to be shipped off to a far away animal shelter. The boys must think fast and come up with a plan to save their dog and provide him with a home. They hit upon the ingenious idea of building an elaborate igloo or dogloo, complete with a special pad for cold nights. However when you’re working with a free-spirited dog, a hard-nosed official, and cold Massachusetts weather, there are bound to be complications.
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It’s not giving away too much to say that this dog dilemma reaches a satisfactory conclusion.
Award-winning artist Marla Frazee’s black and white line drawings perfectly capture the relationship between this ten year old and his beloved mutt.

The story is chock full is Waylonisms: his fascination with science including the creation of a comic entitled Cosmo-Quest and OAT, the One Awesome Thing game. Waylon, the boy who constructs battles between the food items on his plate “mashed potatoes could take the chicken nuggets any day...they were thick enough to wall off peas, wait out any siege” and carries Dumpster Eddy, safely zipped up inside his coat has won my heart.

I love Waylon! Sara Pennypacker does an excellent job of writing of the complex emotions of children. She is like a modern Beverly Cleary.

Waylon, friend of Clementine, returns in this adventure based on what makes a friend and how can you get a dog if your mom us allergic. Waylon and a kid from his class keep springing a dog from the pound, just before he's to be sent elsewhere, When the usual pound keeper is out on maternity leave, they have to get extra clever to try to save their dog before it's too late.

For fans of Waylon, this will be another great addition to the collection that is already forming. For fans of the series Clementine, this will be a great read as a spin-off. Waylon and Baxter's friendship with Dumpster Eddy, the lovable stray who they regularly spring from the local police station, is the primary focus. Along the way, readers will learn more about Neil DeGrasse Tyson, various behavioral science, and police codes of conduct than one might expect, but it fits in nicely with the overall narrative. In all, this is a nice story. The plot had just enough depth to keep young readers engaged without getting over their heads. Engaging and tidily wrapped up by the end, this would be the right fit for a primary grade elementary school reader. Well done.

Another winner from Sara Pennypacker! Great for newer readers.

I have already ordered a copy to share with our readers. Any friend of Clementine is a friend of mine.

This author and all her books are always a celebration and a welcome addition.

Sara Pennypacker does it again, in the continued adventures of fan favorite (see Clementine series) Waylon.
For fans of the Clementine series, this spin-off new series is an enjoyable read for kids.

I felt that the length and reading level of this book did not match up with the level of audience likely to read a story about 2 boys and a dog. In other words the story line was at a lower maturity level than the reading level. That said I think it would be a fantastic lower grade read aloud.

Absolutely delightful book and would expect nothing less from Sara Pennypacker! The characters are interesting and they are problem solvers. Excellent message to writers and how to collaborate in life as well.

What fun to read story about kids being kids! Waylon and his not-quite-friend Baxter are determined to save "their" stray dog. I love dogs, and found myself totally invested in their problem solving, pulling for them all the way. Good character development and a believeable solution. I loved this book and recommend even if you have not read the first Waylon story.

An excellent resource for the classroom with excellent illustrations and storytelling.

I loooove Clementine and was a little reluctant to try another chapter book series by Pennypacker. I'm not sure why. I just didn't think anything could possibly measure up? And I still love Clementine the most, but this is really darling. It's got all the same things I love about Clementine - terrific voice, well-developed, flawed characters who grow through the story, wonderful illustrations, a main character a lot of kids can identify with. Also, worth noting, I had not read the first Waylon book, so it may be useful for some readers to know that the book stands on its own. You don't have to have read the first one. Can't wait to read more of Waylon's adventures!