Book Description

In this amusing story—that is both slightly vintage and completely timeless— good old Ralph Jackson has deserted Brookfield School (his family has had to move to another city) just four weeks before the “picnic day” baseball game against the Lawson Lions. His buddies Trent, Wilmer and Harley are not happy, but they get only gleeful heckling, rather than sympathy from classmates Wonderful Wanda, Gorgeous Glenora and Susie Scott. The dismal situation is not improved by the arrival of a new boy, Archibald Brewster, who wears a suit and tie and is taken to and from school by a chauffeur—he is NOT the answer to the Brookfield Bumblebees’ prayers. However, the boys, especially Trent, cannot get rid of Archibald—he is there every time they turn around. He seems to be particularly captivated by Trent’s offbeat and lovable family made up of dad, mom and seven sons. So begin four rather harrowing weeks in which the Brookfield Bumblebees have the opportunity to discover that things are truly not always what they seem to be. Written by an accomplished storyteller, this touching and humorous tale is a great family read-aloud. Ethelyn M. Parkinson was born in 1906 in Oconto County, Wisconsin. She trained and worked both as a teacher and as a nurse, later drawing from her experiences to create the many humorous situations in which she placed her appealing young characters. She wrote plays, poetry and fiction for periodicals as well as her more well-known books for children. In 1970, she was awarded the Abingdon Press Award for her book Never Go Anywhere with Digby. Though her books are set in a period—1950’s-1970’s—in which attitudes, dress and behavior may seem somewhat strange to readers today, the stories remain engaging and accessible. It is human to smile and to laugh, no matter what the time-period, and Mrs. Parkinson provides her readers with ample cause to do both.