Hector on Thin Ice

Hector on Thin Ice by Elizabeth Shreeve is the fourth and final book in the wonderfully written and entertaining seasonal series "The Adventures of Hector Fuller." These short chapter books make exciting read-alouds for 1-4 graders and are appropriate for readers in that age group who are ready for chapter books. The books have for a main character a reluctantly adventurous wumblebug who steps into the world with a healthy dose of trepidation and good will. His love for and attachment to family, friends and home spur him on to acts of great daring and sacrifice. In Hector on Thin Ice, Hector is desperately trying to dig out a new home before deep winter, his old home having been destroyed by a flood in the previous book, Hector Afloat. When his bad-joking brother and his large family arrive unexpectedly and tell Hector they have come to stay, it is too much for the red wumblebug. He wanders out into the snow and almost freezes before being rescued by a little niece and nephew. The whole family decides to work together to expand Hector's hole but the additions soon lead them into the domain of many other hibernating creatures and his fearless niece thinks nothing about waking them up. Soon an ant lion is after them and, after an exciting chase scene, it is Hector's turn to come to the rescue. As a 2nd-3rd grade teacher, I have seen first-hand how appealing The Adventures of Hector Fuller books are to 7 - 10 year olds. Hector Fuller's conflicting feelings over his desire to stay close to all that is known and loved and the big world out there, which ever beckons him forward, is familiar to these children, as they take their first tenuous steps away from childhood.

Another in the adventures of Hector the wonderful wumblebug. We love him and all his friends and were so happy when this came out so we could see more of this funny guy. My kids love these books and don't even realize that they are learning a little about the natural world when we read them. We especially like the wumblepups in this book. Very funny - get this book for your early readers!