I'm always hunting for new beginning chapter books, especially those right at that transitional cusp from easy reader to early chapter. So I was very eager to read these, but I'm... not sure they'll really click with the kids.

Arnold, a stolid and steady bear, and Louise, a scatty-brained chipmunk, are friends. Mostly. In their first adventure, The Great Louweezie, Arnold visits his friend to tell her they can't go on their picnic because it's going to rain. But Louise has other ideas anyways! She's a fortune-teller who can see the future and she's going to make a prediction - if Arnold gives her ten cents. Arnold offers her his lucky marble instead and instantly regrets it, especially when Louise takes him on a wild (and wet) adventure to make her prediction come true! In the end, Arnold helps Louise feel better after her failure to predict the future and the two are friends once more.

In their second adventure, Lost and Found, Louise really wants to borrow Arnold's best treasure. But Arnold likes to collect things - and Louise is really good at losing them! She promises to be careful and not lose this one... but she does. Will Arnold lose his good feeling - and his friend?

Two-toned illustrations, in gray and teal, decorate the stories showing a big, rather grumpy bear in overalls and the bouncy, silly Louise in a striped sweater. The text is simple, a good level for 1st and 2nd graders transitioning from easy readers to chapters. The stories are definitely on the easy reader side as far as content, featuring the classic oddball friends and simple woodland adventures. They're not likely to appeal to kids who are eager to read up, especially realistic stories, fantasy, or other popular genres, but they fit well into the Cynthia Rylant and Arnold Lobel classic style of gentle animal adventures.

I did feel that the friendship depicted was rather one-sided. Arnold gives up his special marble, goes on an uncomfortable walk in the rain, falls in the mud, and then has to comfort Louise in the first adventure; In the second he gives up his treasure twice, once to Louise to borrow and then again when she loses it and then gives it away to a bird family. Then he has to comfort Louise and give her another treasure, telling her that she's more important than anything he collects. It's a nice message of people over things, but at the same time I can't help but feel that Louise is a bit of a taker, not even trying to adapt or compromise for Arnold.

Verdict: While this is unlikely to be extremely popular, like the Scholastic Branches or Bad Guys, it's a nice filler book and will especially appeal to younger kids who are reading at a higher level and aren't ready for more complex plots.

Great Louweezie
ISBN: 9781524790394

Lost and Found
ISBN: 9781524790424

Published January 2019 by Penguin Workshop; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library