I was rearranging our booksale area and I found these two gems:
I had the library one as a kid—either that, or I checked it out of the library so many times that I FELT like I owned it?—and so when I found it on the shelf, obviously I had to do some looking around. My discovery? It was part of a huge series! I just went ahead and ordered another one, and I shall continue to do so until I HAVE THEM ALL ON MY BOOKSHELF.
Anyway, if you have one on hand, take a look. They very definitely have a '70s feel, but in some ways they feel quite modern as well—loads of arch humor that will appeal to adults, and lots of asides in both the text and the illustrations—which makes them feel a bit like precursors to Lauren Child's books.
YAY! I love when a childhood favorite holds up.
I LOVED these.
Posted by: CC | 30 October 2013 at 11:53 AM
Ahhh I want framed copies of the covers for my very own (slightly different kind of) queer library!
Posted by: Cass | 30 October 2013 at 12:44 PM
They are easily found at Amazon, eBay, and elsewhere!
Posted by: Leila | 30 October 2013 at 12:47 PM
My allergist's office had one of these! Whichever one had to do with lhasa apsos. I read that so many times while waiting for my allergy shots...
Posted by: Mia | 30 October 2013 at 07:48 PM
Gwen tapping her teeth--how many times did I hear that tapping as I read?
I so loved these, although I only remember reading a couple of them, so i will have to check out the others. Thanks!
Posted by: Michelle | 31 October 2013 at 10:26 AM
I loved these books! I actually used the library one as my book title for our school Halloween project/event called Books on Parade in second grade and won for my class! I made clay dogs. I still have my Lhasa Apso figurine.
Posted by: Emily | 01 November 2013 at 12:59 PM
Thanks so much everybody! Mordicai and I wrote these books almost 40 years ago, and we are still friends, and still love Fletcher, and both still writing and illustrating. My newest book is with Bruce Coville, Amber Brown is On the Move. Amber was started around the same time as Fletcher by our great friend, Paula Danziger. So we will try to bring these books back in print. And by the way, this December I'm working with a class in Brooklyn to write a mystery, featuring Fletcher. I love to write mysteries with kids, and it all started with Fletcher.
Thanks again,
Elizabeth Levy
www.elizabethlevy.com
Posted by: Elizabeth Levy | 04 November 2013 at 09:06 AM
"Gwen began to tap on her braces"--Yes! I adored Fletcher.
Posted by: Kate P | 04 November 2013 at 11:12 PM