I Was a Second Grade Werewolf

by Daniel Pinkwater

Paperback

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Juvenile

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 1983

About the author

Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When second-grader Lawrence Talbot wakes up one day and discovers that he has been transformed into a werewolf, he expects to make quite a stir. Imagine his surprise, when no one - not his parents, not his teacher, not even his best friend James - even notices!

I seem to have become obsessed recently with the work of Daniel Pinkwater, whose dead-pan sense of humor always seems to tickle my funny bone. But despite my appreciation for Pinkwater's work, I couldn't help feeling that I didn't really "get" I Was a Second-Grade Werewolf. I couldn't decide whether Lawrence's transformation was genuine, and the people around him were simply too self-absorbed to notice (a distinct possibility in Pinkwater), or if he was imagining, and becoming frustrated at the inability of others to join in his game...

I'm not sure the distinction will matter to actual second-grade readers, who will no doubt enjoy this short tale, but I myself wasn't as entertained by this offering, as I'd hoped to be.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Pinkwater does a great job writing this story, and introduced themes that connect to children of all ages. The illustrations are fun and help tell the story well, and the end of the story is also very nice.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

My three year old liked it but I felt like I didn’t really get it. Did he really turn into a werewolf? Was he just imagining it? Was it a metaphor? I was lost. I didn’t enjoy the illustrations either.

[elstaffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pull quote/note
"Daniel Pinkwater has had extensive experience with werewolves. He says,
'They are behind a great many things in the world today. Did you realize werewolves invented canned spaghetti, TV, and drinking straws? And it was a werewolf who first discovered that you can make a nourishing popsicle by freezing chicken soup in an ice-cube tray.'
Most of his research on the subject was done at his farm in Hyde Park, New York." (back inside flap)

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked this book. There was a storyline that made sense and was easy to follow. Considering this is a Daniel Pinkwater book, this is good.

The illustrations are very rudimentary.

[Jordan Kinser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Lawrence Talbot, a boy who wakes up as a werewolf! He does all the things you would expect a werewolf would do, but nobody notices! This is an entertaining read for those kiddos with a great sense of imagination. I would use this book to talk about acting, especially if we were going to act out scenes in a story to work on comprehension.

Genre: Fiction
Grade: Pre-K - 2

[Monster]

When Lawrence wakes up in the morning he’s happily excited to discover that he’s no longer a boy- he’s a werewolf! Unfortunately, in spite of snarling, running to school on all fours, and biting the girl who sits in front of him in class, nobody seems to notice. Even his best friend doesn’t take him seriously. Illustrated with large, colorful, happy drawings that look as if they might have been done by a second grader, it’s clear that there’s nothing to fear in this gently funny little book. Early elementary readers will get a kick out of Lawrence’s imagination and enthusiasm, and adults will be relieved to find a engaging beginners’ book. Recommended.

Review by Kirsten Kowalewski

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short tale of a boy who turns into a werewolf for a day but nobody notices. As with most humourous books, I think this one would be more funny if read aloud, as it gives readers permission for social engagement and more time to get the jokes. As with most Daniel Pinkwater's works that he illustrates himself, this contains some nice subtle physical humour.

[Brynn Scheibel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book I thought it was cute. The illustrations are bright and colorful. I like how you almost could have two different interpretations of the story. Since it is a fantasy we don't know weather or not the second grader does turn into a werewolf or he is just imagining it because none of his family, friends, or teacher notice that he looks like a werewolf.

[Molly Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fun to read because it allows the children to be captured by the book, and having the opportunity to really use their imagination. It describes different physical features so they students could grow to understand the different terms, along with giving descriptive language to allow the students to expand their vocabulary and understanding while they are reading.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st-2nd grade students
Take your students through the day with this werewolf and stop them occasionally along the way . Ask them who they think will finally notice that this young boy has turned into a werewolf.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems like the sort of book that only Daniel Pinkwater would write. It's odd, reminded me a twisted sense of the Allan Say book about the boy who turned into an old man overnight and was etirely enjoyable.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son liked this one but he thought the kid was actually a werewolf:)

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-reading in 2019, this story doesn't hold up as much as Wempires or Halloween potatoes, but still, Pinkwater's deadpan humor is a hoot.

[Larry Wegman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stupid, even for a kids' book.