Jordan Wheeler, illustrated by Christopher Auchter,
Chuck in the City
Theytus Books, 2009.

Rating: G*

Readers might recall Chuck's earlier adventures in Just a Walk. This time, when Chuck and his Mom visit Kookum (Grandma, in Cree) in a big city, Chuck promptly takes off on his own. At first Chuck is excited by all the people and buildings, but then realizes that he is completely lost. He starts to miss his Mom and Kookum and realizes he must form a plan to get home. Finding a police car in a doughnut shop parking lot, Chuck falls asleep and wakes up to hear his Mother's voice when the Police car responds to her call of assistance.

Wheeler really captures a child's sense of wonder, excitement and impulsiveness and children will enjoy the fast pace of the rhyming text. Christopher Auchter's humourous illustrations reflect his animation background. His exaggerated comic style is a terrific match for Wheeler's understated humour. In 2009, Auchter's book Jenneli's Dance was one of two Honour Books for the Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. This is a great Author-Illustrator pairing and I expect more will follow from these two.

Thematic Links: First Nations; Cities

Zoe Johnstone
Vol. 15, number 4
April 2010

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.