Wheedle on the Needle

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James (Illustrator)

A Wheedle goes to great lengths to prevent the people of Seattle from disturbing his sleep.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Geography

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Matthew Nyholm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun story. Unfortunately it does make it seem like native American people didn’t live in the Seattle area. I find I’m not able to ignore that and wouldn’t want to give that subtle misleading impression to a child.

[Jonathan Schildbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I acquired a 'Wheedle' Funko figure and couldn't remember if I'd ever even read the book, although I had a faint recollection of not being a big fan. I think I read it when my kid checked it out from her school library, or maybe one of her elementary school teachers had a copy of it in the classroom, because when I got a copy of it, it was familiar enough that I remembered why I wasn't a big fan. I just don't think there's much to this book. Wheedle is kind of a jerk who steals and tries to intimidate people, and all he ever wants to do is sleep. I think the one thing most people will agree with Wheedle about is that having to listen to people whistling incessantly is horribly annoying. Still, I'd like to point out that while things have changed a great deal in Seattle over the years, I don't recall any time in Seattle where widespread, excessive whistling took place, or any correlation between whistling and work getting done in the greater Puget Sound region.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun book to read to my children before/after a trip to Seattle 26 years ago to visit the wonderful Space Needle. Now this evening I'm sitting at my son's kitchen table looking out the window at the Space Needle all lit up against the night sky ... and the serendipity lines of the children's book Wheedle on the Needle come back to me as clear as can be. I'm sure the book is still out there, entertaining another generation of young ones.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Serendipity books which (I think) I was introduced to on Reading Rainbow. The Wheedle is just looking for some peace and quiet but his city (Seattle in the original tale) just keeps growing and growing, getting noisier all the time. The solution makes for a good tale about community involvement and making a solution work for everyone.

As a kid, this book made me want to travel to Seattle and go to the top of the Space Needle. Just in case.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remembered this book from my childhood, when I was already too old to believe that there really was a wheedle on the Space Needle. This is the best modern place-specific kids book of all time. Most such books feel like you're reading through a forced list of tourist spots that they hope the adults reading the book will be happy for their kids to learn about. This one instead weaves a living mythology with only a few landmarks that KIDS will recognize.

[Jen Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A childhood favorite -- whenever my sister and I saw the blinking light we'd scream out "WHEEDLE!!!!!!"

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites, every time I see the red light blinking, I know it's the wheedle!

[Kest Schwartzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

That is some weird shit

[Alison Lee Kubeny · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book erases Native Peoples. The first page beins with, "Many, many years ago, before explorers sailed to the Northwest, there lived a large, happy creature called the Wheedle."

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most favorite books as a child.

[Stefanie Ibanez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable bedtime story. Seven year old girl requested it.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of the first books in the Serendipity series, which began in 1974, the year that this particular book was first published. It's a highly unusual book in the series, since It's the only one that takes place in the real world -- specifically, Seattle.

The Needle in the title refers to Seattle's most distinctive building, the Space Needle, which opened in 1962.

The cute critter this time is a plump red humanoid with a Rudolph the reindeer-type nose, who bears a more than passing resemblance to Bigfoot.

The book is dedicated to the people of Seattle ... which makes me wonder how they took the news. I have a sneaking suspicion that Seattle-ites would rather be thought of as the home of Fraiser rather than the Wheedle.

And who the fuck whistles anymore? Even while working? I think the last time I heard anyone spontaneously breaking out into whistling was ... about 1974.

Another problem with the book is that there are no Native Americans in the Washington state area. The first people are "explorers" with metal axes. The only such person pictured, a lumberjack, is clearly white. Although this book is clearly a fantasy anyway, it's a bit weird that so much real history was omitted, though the damn Space Needle was included.

[JadeShea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was given to me a long time ago by a family member. I read it to my son when he was little. It is a cute story about a funny creature that doesn’t like the noise. He gets upset when humans, and city life start invading his happy place. Wheedle ends up going to Seattle’s Space Needle where he finds peace. This story feels like a tale from the city of Seattle and the noise surrounding it. It has fun illustrations, and interesting information regarding Seattle. I am not sure I would use this in my classroom unless I was maybe discussing Seattle for some reason or comparing cities. It might be interesting in that aspect, otherwise I do not see myself using this one. However, it is a really interesting book that I enjoyed reading.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful story with a child friendly creature who doesn't like whistling. I think this will work well for kids as young as two but also be great for kids up to 10 as there are a lot of words in it, and great reading practice as well as some fun facts. If Grandma likes it, then her grandchildren will probably like it too. LOL

I bought a number of these books back in the early 80's for our children and have recently dug them out and started sharing them with our grandchildren.

Great story and great illustrations.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wheedle has been around for a very long time. As workers built and whistled as they worked, the Wheedle couldn’t sleep. Eventually he found a way to sleep at the top of the Space Needle. But the people of Seattle were unhappy. Could there be a compromise? Readers will find out a silly reason for the red blinking light at the top of the Space Needle. This is a fun read for anyone visiting or living in Seattle!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a child and recently re-discovered it and read it to my 5yo. She loved it and ask s for it to be read to her at bedtime again the following night. It’s a story about finding a solution to challenge and how when we talk and understand each other’s needs, people can help us find a solution.

[Grace Thurman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wheedle did not like all the whistling that the people were doing in Seattle. So he gathered all the clouds, when up to the space needle, and made it rain so that the people would not feel happy enough to whistle.

[L.A. Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have actually taken my copy of this book to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle, read it there, and have a picture of me, with the book, up there.

Twice.

And no, I was not a child. I was a full grown adult.

I regret nothing

[Drew White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia plays a major factor in this rating. This was my favorite book from my early childhood

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another classic. A must for any family who loves Seattle as we do.

[Atlantis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is part of a series from the ‘70s (Serendipity). Colorful pictures and a little lesson in each story. About one paragraph a page alongside a full page picture.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute kids book about the Wheedle who couldn't sleep with all the people whistling. A well told story with a great ending. A really fun story.

[Hattie Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet :-) And he feels the same about whistling as I do!

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read for kids with imagination that provides an interesting rationale for Seattle's damp weather.

[Ikayuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute little story about the 'origin story' (local cryptid style!) of the blinking red light on the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. Thoroughly enjoyable with amazing art as always!

[Lynnette · Rating 2 out of 5]

just not a fan. lots of words.

[abcdefg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a local children's classic that tells the story of a "Wheedle" who lives peacefully in the great Northwest until his peace and quiet is encroached upon by the people who come to settle in Seattle.

The people whistle while they work, making it impossible for the Wheedle to get proper rest, so the Wheedle escapes to the summit of Mount Rainier for some peace and quiet. However, over time, the Wheedle eventually wakes up to find that the people have built their city and towns so close to his domain, that he now can hear them once again.

What follows is the Wheedle taking his residence up on top of the Space Needle along with a bag of clouds and an idea that he hopes will once again restore the longed-for silence so necessary to the Wheedle's contentment.

I liked this book. It wasn't quite as touching as Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" or as adventurous as "Where the Wild Things Are" by Sendak, but it had a fun, local touch that I enjoyed. Cosgrove dedicated this book to Seattle, which I thought was a charming sort of homage to the city, and the illustrations were big and colorful (as was the Wheedle).

I also like how he connected the Wheedle to the blinking red light on top of the Space Needle. That was a fun tie-in and a stretch of the imagination that made this children's book all the more entertaining.

[Shayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a Wheedle. He lived in the wild, and all of a sudden men came and started colonizing close to where he lived. These men whistled while they worked, and that bothered the Wheedle. He could not sleep while they were constantly whistling. So eventually the town’s people made him earmuffs, and they all lived peacefully in each other’s company.
I like this book because there is text on one side of the page, and there is a detailed picture on the other side of the page. The text and pictures complement one another. There is also a moral to be learned at the end of the story. Which make this book a very worthy read.
I would use this book to teach my children. They would enjoy looking at the pictures, and they would also learn some great life lessons. They would be better kids for reading this book.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only a twist on the fables that we grew up with but a great how-to story. The story starts off showing the effects that man has on the poor Wheedle and his trying escape from their racket. Although he gets temporary relief he finds himself up and seeing that civilization has advanced to his doorstep.

An entertaining story that is short and simple to read of one creature's attempts to find a place in the world while at the same time the same world having to learn to compromise. And definitely makes me want to visit Seattle although I can imagine what someone may have to say if I yell out Wheedle when I am there lol.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic plot: The Wheedle loves his sleep.

I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.