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Julian
The Stories Julian Tells
Julian is a quick fibber and a wishful thinker. And he is great at telling stories. He can make people—especially his younger brother, Huey—believe just about anything. Like the story about the cats that come in the mail. Or the fig leaves that make you grow tall if you eat them off the tree. But some stories can lead to a heap of trouble, and that's exactly where Julian and Huey end up!
This book has been selected as a Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories) in Appendix B
This book has been selected as a Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories) in Appendix B
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
121 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
About the author
Ann Cameron
69 books40 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Ann Cameron grew up in Wisconsin. Today, she and her husband live in Guatemala. From her house she can see a waterfall and three volcanoes. Ann Cameron has been a teacher and an editor as well as a writer.
She says that writing is hardest for her at the beginning of a book. To get started, she follows this important rule for writing: "Apply seat of pants to bottom of chair."
Ann Cameron grew up in Wisconsin. Today, she and her husband live in Guatemala. From her house she can see a waterfall and three volcanoes. Ann Cameron has been a teacher and an editor as well as a writer.
She says that writing is hardest for her at the beginning of a book. To get started, she follows this important rule for writing: "Apply seat of pants to bottom of chair."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
February 7, 2017
This book has “disappeared” twice in my four years as librarian at this school. That’s unusual in itself, but when the illustration on the cover is ugly (old edition - not this new one) and it still “disappears” then I know I have to read it.
The Stories Julian Tells, by Ann Cameron, is 20 years old and while it has a forgettable cover, it is a gem inside with terrific writing, characterizations, and plot.
Julian and his younger brother, Huey, get in trouble with their dad when they eat most of the pudding the three have made for their mom. After, the boys, along with their dad, order plants from a catalog for their garden. When Huey asks Julian what a catalog is, Julian makes up a story about invisible cats that live in them and who are released when the catalog is opened. I love the twist in this story and how the dad reacts to the boys fighting. I won’t give it away. Next, they plant the garden. In a hilarious chapter, Julian wants to grow so he eats the leaves of a fig tree in the garden. His dad can’t understand why the tree won’t grow. The chapter on pulling teeth brought back memories for me and the last chapter ends with Julian making a new friend.
The book reminds me of early readers with episodic chapters that all tie together as a whole. There is repetition of vocabulary that is higher than early readers and some wonderful descriptions such as pudding that tastes like a “raft of lemons.” This is a great story for readers who are just starting to read longer chapter books.
The parents in the book are presented as caring and loving but some readers might not recognize in the first chapter that Julian’s Dad is a loving and caring parent. He might come across as harsh. For instance, when he’s ordering the boys around to make the pudding I read it as playing a game to make cooking fun, but it could also be interpreted as shouting: “Stand back!… Pick up those seeds, Huey!… Sugar, Julian!… Wipe that up Huey!… p. 3) Julian describes how the boys love Dad when he laughs but he has wild black hair and when he is angry they “shiver to the bottom of our shoes” p. 2. This characterization is why the first chapter might leave some wondering about dad; he sounds wild and unpredictable when he’s angry. However, that is not the case. In the following chapters it is evident that he is a loving, sensitive father.
A wonderful book that can be read over and over again. I just have to figure out how to keep it in the library. Scribes during ancient times would put curses on or in books and chain the books to podiums. I’ll have to check into it ; )
The Stories Julian Tells, by Ann Cameron, is 20 years old and while it has a forgettable cover, it is a gem inside with terrific writing, characterizations, and plot.
Julian and his younger brother, Huey, get in trouble with their dad when they eat most of the pudding the three have made for their mom. After, the boys, along with their dad, order plants from a catalog for their garden. When Huey asks Julian what a catalog is, Julian makes up a story about invisible cats that live in them and who are released when the catalog is opened. I love the twist in this story and how the dad reacts to the boys fighting. I won’t give it away. Next, they plant the garden. In a hilarious chapter, Julian wants to grow so he eats the leaves of a fig tree in the garden. His dad can’t understand why the tree won’t grow. The chapter on pulling teeth brought back memories for me and the last chapter ends with Julian making a new friend.
The book reminds me of early readers with episodic chapters that all tie together as a whole. There is repetition of vocabulary that is higher than early readers and some wonderful descriptions such as pudding that tastes like a “raft of lemons.” This is a great story for readers who are just starting to read longer chapter books.
The parents in the book are presented as caring and loving but some readers might not recognize in the first chapter that Julian’s Dad is a loving and caring parent. He might come across as harsh. For instance, when he’s ordering the boys around to make the pudding I read it as playing a game to make cooking fun, but it could also be interpreted as shouting: “Stand back!… Pick up those seeds, Huey!… Sugar, Julian!… Wipe that up Huey!… p. 3) Julian describes how the boys love Dad when he laughs but he has wild black hair and when he is angry they “shiver to the bottom of our shoes” p. 2. This characterization is why the first chapter might leave some wondering about dad; he sounds wild and unpredictable when he’s angry. However, that is not the case. In the following chapters it is evident that he is a loving, sensitive father.
A wonderful book that can be read over and over again. I just have to figure out how to keep it in the library. Scribes during ancient times would put curses on or in books and chain the books to podiums. I’ll have to check into it ; )
September 12, 2020
Much to love here! Beautifully told, just feels so alive, so warm, so true. Illustrations are wonderful (I have the original edition and hope that the original illustrations are still inside the books with the updated covers). The book is full of the everyday magic of childhood, the ups and downs that feel so momentous when you're a kid. My favorite chapters were about the catalog cats, the fig tree, and when Julian makes a new friend. The family is warm and loving. HOWEVER, the first chapter does keep this from being a five star book for me because of the part where the father tells the children they will get a beating and a whipping for sneaking the pudding. Now, it turns out that they are going to have to make the pudding over again and that the beating and whipping will happen to the recipe and not to themselves. I know this book is somewhat "dated" and it is clear at other times that the father is very loving and involved... , but the children seem genuinely fearful of him and his anger and I just don't think it's right to threaten with something like that even if it's ultimately in jest -- I'm not sure if we are to assume the father uses these methods at other times, hence why the children are so fearful, because otherwise I'm not sure why they would be so genuinely scared that he is in earnest? If this is not something you want to share with your children you could easily just skip that first chapter as it really has nothing to do with anything else in the book, each chapter is a fairly self-contained little episode. Otherwise, I highly recommend the book and wish our library had one of the many sequels!
January 9, 2019
This really was that old time classic reading I often enjoy.
December 18, 2018
In spite of the publication date, these stories don't seem dated at all. Julian and Huey create mischief all around, while Julian's dad radiates delightful parenting skills. So super bonus points for a great book-dad, plus fabulous early '80s illustrations, all combined in a package of great and funny stories.
October 3, 2020
Now that I am a third grade teacher, I am reading 'book group' books with my third grade class. The Stories Julian Tells is a good book for the age group. We had some terrific conversations about gender in friendships and race and parent-kid relationships and sibling relationships.
That being said, if I had the choice, I would never put this in an eight-year-old's hands or any kid's hands for that matter. My main problem is how it relies on racial stereotypes of black people. When the dad finds out that his two sons, Julian and Huey, ate the pudding they just made for their mother, he tells them he's going to "beat them" and "whip them." This raises forth the awful stereotype of angry black man who abuses his kids. But then he has them beat eggs and whip the mixture together to create a new pudding for everyone to enjoy.
This is a book written by a white woman in the '70s. I can appreciate what she's trying to do: introduce stereotypes about a black family and then subvert them to show a good family unit. But most kids don't pick up on that subtlety. No matter the intention or result, an eight year old reading about a father wanting to beat and whip his kids is unacceptable, especially since there are a lot of white kids getting formative impressions on black people and black families from this book.
The ensuing chapters follow other situations that make the dad angry, and his kind and gentle solutions for dealing with the problems. I just think she bungled how to handle race in this book, even if the story is written well and offers otherwise good lessons. I think this book should remain in the archives. 1 star.
That being said, if I had the choice, I would never put this in an eight-year-old's hands or any kid's hands for that matter. My main problem is how it relies on racial stereotypes of black people. When the dad finds out that his two sons, Julian and Huey, ate the pudding they just made for their mother, he tells them he's going to "beat them" and "whip them." This raises forth the awful stereotype of angry black man who abuses his kids. But then he has them beat eggs and whip the mixture together to create a new pudding for everyone to enjoy.
This is a book written by a white woman in the '70s. I can appreciate what she's trying to do: introduce stereotypes about a black family and then subvert them to show a good family unit. But most kids don't pick up on that subtlety. No matter the intention or result, an eight year old reading about a father wanting to beat and whip his kids is unacceptable, especially since there are a lot of white kids getting formative impressions on black people and black families from this book.
The ensuing chapters follow other situations that make the dad angry, and his kind and gentle solutions for dealing with the problems. I just think she bungled how to handle race in this book, even if the story is written well and offers otherwise good lessons. I think this book should remain in the archives. 1 star.
January 29, 2009
Julian and his little brother Huey are full of imagination that sometimes gets them into tight spots with their parents, but kids and adults will admire the courage with which they explore new ideas and experiences. This series is one of few gentle, positive portrayals of growing up black in America. The parents are individual characters with humor and imagination themselves. Any family would enjoy this series, which is targeted for seven to 12 year olds, but families of color (like mine) will especially find it a rare gem.
February 13, 2023
Entertainment Weekly described this book as "tender and funny." They got it exactly right. The chapters in this book are about Julian and his family. When his dad makes homemade pudding for their mom, it is so hard for Julian and baby brother Huey to keep their fingers out of it -- with beating and whipping results (eggs, not kids). When you don't know what a catalog is, your big brother can talk you into believing in Catalog Cats who like to garden. In another chapter, Julian tries to keep growing with some help from his fig tree, but what to do when the tree stops growing? And in the final chapter, Julian makes a new friend when a girl named Gloria moves in down the street. I'll bet Gloria will be back in More Stories Julian Tells.
November 19, 2023
A nice and entertaining story, but underwhelmed by this read. It didn’t have any lessons or teaching points to grow students world view. There were some nice similes and cause/effect. For a book required in the curriculum it wasn’t problematic, but it didn’t really bring anything either. My students enjoyed it and it’s easy to comprehend.
March 2, 2019
Pre-reading before handing off to the little one. Remember this one from my own childhood.
June 15, 2019
The father in this book reminded me of my own jokester dad. We enjoyed this one.
November 6, 2025
Our cover is the classic one and way cuter. Such a great, short chapter book. ❤️
December 28, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
Julian is a young African-American boy with a talent for spinning yarns. Whether he’s making excuses for eating his mother’s pudding or convincing his little brother, Huey, that cats come from catalogs, he always has a great story to tell, and a dad who appreciates and cultivates his big imagination.
I was surprised right away by how beautiful the writing is in this book. It’s simple enough to be read by a newly independent reader, but it doesn’t sacrifice art for the sake of simplicity. Author Ann Cameron weaves lovely figures of speech in and out of her sentences, and her words project strong, complete images into the reader’s mind. Here’s just one example:
My father is a big man with wild black hair. When he laughs, the sun laughs in the windowpanes. When he thinks, you can almost see his thoughts sitting on all the tables and chairs. When he is angry, me and my little brother, Huey, shiver to the bottom of our shoes.
There are a lot of ways to tell a reader that a character’s father has a strong influence on him, and a strong presence, but this is by far the most appealing way I can imagine. It’s also a very accessible description, even though it’s not completely straightforward. Kids can recognize all of those words, and if they pause to consider them, they can decode the meaning of Cameron’s metaphors.
Another great strength of this book is its dreamlike style of illustration. Julian’s imagination, and his dad’s, seem to consume each of the drawings, bringing elements of the adventures they invent right into their everyday lives. The visual cues provided by the illustrations also help kids to understand the more poetic tone of this book as compared with other early chapter books, which will give them a little more context for understanding Cameron’s style.
This book is so skinny it often gets lost on my library shelves. Now that I’ve read it, I can’t wait to recommend it to my early chapter book readers - especially the boys who need something beyond Magic Tree House and Star Wars.
Julian is a young African-American boy with a talent for spinning yarns. Whether he’s making excuses for eating his mother’s pudding or convincing his little brother, Huey, that cats come from catalogs, he always has a great story to tell, and a dad who appreciates and cultivates his big imagination.
I was surprised right away by how beautiful the writing is in this book. It’s simple enough to be read by a newly independent reader, but it doesn’t sacrifice art for the sake of simplicity. Author Ann Cameron weaves lovely figures of speech in and out of her sentences, and her words project strong, complete images into the reader’s mind. Here’s just one example:
My father is a big man with wild black hair. When he laughs, the sun laughs in the windowpanes. When he thinks, you can almost see his thoughts sitting on all the tables and chairs. When he is angry, me and my little brother, Huey, shiver to the bottom of our shoes.
There are a lot of ways to tell a reader that a character’s father has a strong influence on him, and a strong presence, but this is by far the most appealing way I can imagine. It’s also a very accessible description, even though it’s not completely straightforward. Kids can recognize all of those words, and if they pause to consider them, they can decode the meaning of Cameron’s metaphors.
Another great strength of this book is its dreamlike style of illustration. Julian’s imagination, and his dad’s, seem to consume each of the drawings, bringing elements of the adventures they invent right into their everyday lives. The visual cues provided by the illustrations also help kids to understand the more poetic tone of this book as compared with other early chapter books, which will give them a little more context for understanding Cameron’s style.
This book is so skinny it often gets lost on my library shelves. Now that I’ve read it, I can’t wait to recommend it to my early chapter book readers - especially the boys who need something beyond Magic Tree House and Star Wars.
August 22, 2014
I read The Stories Julian Tells for a third grade class. Julian is African America, which is nice to see in elementary books because ti is fairly not too common. The stories mainly take place around Julian, his little brother named Huey, and their parent; the final story is Julian and his new friend Gloria. There is a strong loving relationship among the characters in this realistic fiction, but the boys do tease and trick each other like many real siblings. These are heartwarming stories. The students seemed to enjoy them, The best part is that there are six stories in this 70 page book, so it is easy to read one at a time.
I don't want to give away the plot of these stories, so I will make a small comment on each one only:
-"The Pudding Like a Night on the Sea" is about what happens after Julian's father makes a lemon pudding as a special gift for his wife.
-Julian tricks Huey into believing that catalogs contains special gardening cats in "Catalog Cat."
-"Our Garden" and "Because of Figs" both about planting in their garden. The first is a very short story where they plant seed while the next talks about Julian's cooky idea about the fig tree that he received for his birthday.
-"My Very Strange Teeth" explains what happens when Julian has two teeth growing out of one space.
-"Gloria Who Might Be My Best Friend," is about Julian becoming a friend with the new girl who moves into the neighborhood.
I recommend this book for children who are beginning to read easy chapter books. The stories are realistic fiction, so kids can connect to some aspects of the book.
I don't want to give away the plot of these stories, so I will make a small comment on each one only:
-"The Pudding Like a Night on the Sea" is about what happens after Julian's father makes a lemon pudding as a special gift for his wife.
-Julian tricks Huey into believing that catalogs contains special gardening cats in "Catalog Cat."
-"Our Garden" and "Because of Figs" both about planting in their garden. The first is a very short story where they plant seed while the next talks about Julian's cooky idea about the fig tree that he received for his birthday.
-"My Very Strange Teeth" explains what happens when Julian has two teeth growing out of one space.
-"Gloria Who Might Be My Best Friend," is about Julian becoming a friend with the new girl who moves into the neighborhood.
I recommend this book for children who are beginning to read easy chapter books. The stories are realistic fiction, so kids can connect to some aspects of the book.
February 5, 2015
Julian loves to make up stories, and sometimes they get him into trouble. When his dad makes a special pudding for his mom that tastes like "a whole raft of lemons" and "a night on the sea," Julian and his little brother Huey just take one little taste. And then another. And then they have to smooth out the pudding with spoons, so they eat just a little more. Will there be any pudding left? Will Julian ever stay out of trouble? Another time, Julian tells Huey that catalogs are books full of cats that will jump out and help in the garden. Will Huey believe him? What will their dad say when he finds out Julian's been telling his brother this crazy story? One thing's for sure - life with Julian and his family is never dull!
This was a cute early chapter book with some impressive language and imagery (like that pudding that tastes like "a night on the sea"). Julian's adventures are pretty realistic but also unique and creative, and I think kids will enjoy reading about him. I love that this is an early chapter book with an African-American family with a lot of heart and imagination.
I would recommend this book for grades 2-3, especially those who like realistic fiction, humor, and creative stories. Other early chapter books with an African-American boy protagonist include the Tiger Turcotte books (he is African-American, Hispanic, and Native American) by Pansie Heart Flood or the EllRay Jakes books by Sally Warner.
This was a cute early chapter book with some impressive language and imagery (like that pudding that tastes like "a night on the sea"). Julian's adventures are pretty realistic but also unique and creative, and I think kids will enjoy reading about him. I love that this is an early chapter book with an African-American family with a lot of heart and imagination.
I would recommend this book for grades 2-3, especially those who like realistic fiction, humor, and creative stories. Other early chapter books with an African-American boy protagonist include the Tiger Turcotte books (he is African-American, Hispanic, and Native American) by Pansie Heart Flood or the EllRay Jakes books by Sally Warner.
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November 13, 2014Summary: Each of the six chapters in this book is a story narrated by Julian. He lives with his mom, dad, and younger brother Huey. His dad is a smart, fun, yet serious man. He is loving towards his family as he makes pudding for his wife with the help of Julian and Huey. He is honest as he teaches Julian different ways to pull out his loose tooth. He helps Julian and Huey start their own garden. Julian has a large imagination which makes him great at fibbing. He convinces Huey that catalogs are what you order cats from. He convinces himself that fig tree leaves will make him grow very tall. Julian finds friendship in Gloria who is as fun and creative as he is. He lives a happy childhood and is a great storyteller.
Questions: 1. Why do you think Julian lies a lot?
2. Explain some ways Julian's father showed that he loved his sons very much.
3. When Huey was upset about catalog cats not jumping out of the pages, what did his dad do? Is that what you were expecting? Why do you think he played along with Julian?
4. When Julian met Gloria, what did she say that made him like her? Why?
5. You are Julian. Write another short story that you think he might tell.
APA Citation: Cameron, A. (1981). The Stories Julian Tells. New York: Random House Children's Books
Questions: 1. Why do you think Julian lies a lot?
2. Explain some ways Julian's father showed that he loved his sons very much.
3. When Huey was upset about catalog cats not jumping out of the pages, what did his dad do? Is that what you were expecting? Why do you think he played along with Julian?
4. When Julian met Gloria, what did she say that made him like her? Why?
5. You are Julian. Write another short story that you think he might tell.
APA Citation: Cameron, A. (1981). The Stories Julian Tells. New York: Random House Children's Books
September 23, 2015
I don't really know anything about this book or its author, but I kind of loved it, and my son liked it as well. Adding to the allure is that mine is a 30+ year old weeded school library copy (terrible-looking but indestructible) that I must have kept for its ironic promise but grabbed the other night in desperation in an attempt to demonstrate to my 4-year-old son that not all chapter books are "scary." (He was recently traumatized by Augustus Gloop being sucked up a chocolate plumbing system.)
Real review or blog post to come if I start blogging again.
Real review or blog post to come if I start blogging again.
September 1, 2020
This book would be funny for kids to read. Its about 6 different short stories about things in his life. It shows him getting in trouble with his parents because of baking. He learns to have patience because of growing his tree. He learns to faces his fears with his tooth falling out. It shows us major life events julian went through growing up as a kid. We see his life is with his family, and his imaginative mind.
March 19, 2008
I read this aloud to my daughter today and was reminded of how fantastic it is. We both laughed out loud, the writing is concise and poetic on a level kids can appreciate, and the ending is just so satisfying. It always makes me want pudding like a night on the sea.
November 26, 2013
Delightful stories about truth-telling many beginning readers will relate to. I love that these are stories about boys and their father, a nice change of pace, and though they were written some time ago the stories are still relevant because they are so domestic and true to the lives of children.
March 2, 2018
My kids LOVE this book. And I love that they can see themselves in lit.
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May 14, 2012loved it
July 20, 2018
Sweet and funny. I thought the ages of the boys seemed a big off. Huey seemed like a preschooler to me, based on his naiveté (and on the pictures), so I was surprised later to find that he was six or seven. It's funny, because I'd almost call this "stories Julian's Father tells", since the first few chapters feature the dad making things up. I certainly see where Julian gets it! It was refreshing to see a book that so solidly centered boys and their father.
The cover has gotten an update, but the interior illustrations are still the same, and they're quite dated. The stories themselves had a mostly timeless quality to them (with the exception of the first chapter setting up the "funny reveal" by having the children in tears over the threat of being beaten).
The first chapter makes a lot of "humor" out of the fact that the father says its whipping and beating time, but he really means whipping cream and beating eggs. But the boys react as if they're going to really be beaten. Yet the entire rest of the book shows a loving, caring, affectionate father, so the idea that the boys are in tears with fear didn't ring true to me.
The cover has gotten an update, but the interior illustrations are still the same, and they're quite dated. The stories themselves had a mostly timeless quality to them (with the exception of the first chapter setting up the "funny reveal" by having the children in tears over the threat of being beaten).
The first chapter makes a lot of "humor" out of the fact that the father says its whipping and beating time, but he really means whipping cream and beating eggs. But the boys react as if they're going to really be beaten. Yet the entire rest of the book shows a loving, caring, affectionate father, so the idea that the boys are in tears with fear didn't ring true to me.
November 2, 2025
The Stories Julian Tells is influenced by the childhood of Julian De Wette a South African author. Similar to Elon Musk and other South Africans who have migrated here, he was in fact an African American. Also similar to many South Africans, I do not believe that Mr. De Wette would refer to himself as a Black South African.
You can find his writing about his childhood and other works on your preferred search engine, if you choose to look. His work is powerful and insightful.
If you sit Ann Cameron's Julian / Gloria / Huey books next to those of black American authors and see gaps that is because she wasn't writing for or about black American children. The artwork is misleading in its depictions and many teachers seem to have passed on that confusion to our children.
So sad.
You can find his writing about his childhood and other works on your preferred search engine, if you choose to look. His work is powerful and insightful.
If you sit Ann Cameron's Julian / Gloria / Huey books next to those of black American authors and see gaps that is because she wasn't writing for or about black American children. The artwork is misleading in its depictions and many teachers seem to have passed on that confusion to our children.
So sad.
November 19, 2025
I would say this book is for a child who is about 6-9. It's a bit short, so it might be good for an older child who doesn't enjoy reading. It is about a kid named Julian who has a younger brother named Huey, and it has several stories that happen to them. There's a thing called a catalog and when you buy it the cats jump out of the catalog and work on it for you. In the "catalog" there is also seeds for plants, and one of them is a seed that grows into a flower house and when it wilts you can eat them as beans. There's another plant that can grow to be taller than your house (it's corn). This book to doesn't fit neatly into any category, but it's a short, enjoyable read. Only four chapters (71 pages). I read it in 22 minutes.
June 29, 2020
I enjoyed these short stories about Julian and his family! He means well, but sometimes he gets himself (and his little brother) into trouble with his stories, or his actions--like eating just a few bites of his mom's pudding, or making up stories about "catalog cats." These stories would be great for new chapter book readers or as a family read-aloud when you don't have much time.
I will mention the family is African-American and the author is white, so the book is open to criticism on that front.
I will mention the family is African-American and the author is white, so the book is open to criticism on that front.
March 18, 2023
Contains chapters which flow from one scenario to the next in which Julian gets into mischief and has consequences for his actions; delivering a message to the reader to take ownership of their actions. The monoprint illustrations are enough to enhance the reader’s imagination. The final chapter captures the essence of developing friendship. Following the last chapter, the author has included some interesting activities for the readers engagement; good for memory recall, maths and identifying differences as well as the recipe for the lemon pudding!
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November 10, 2025Excerpts from publisher biographies
Ann's books about Julian Bates and his family found their beginning in stories told her by a South African friend, Julian DeWette. "I wanted to write stories that would include the emotions all children feel," Ann says. "Now that I've heard from children around the world who like my books, I'm delighted to find that I've really done it!"
The series is praised for its gentle, positive portrayal of a Black family and its themes of family, friendship, and growing up.
Ann's books about Julian Bates and his family found their beginning in stories told her by a South African friend, Julian DeWette. "I wanted to write stories that would include the emotions all children feel," Ann says. "Now that I've heard from children around the world who like my books, I'm delighted to find that I've really done it!"
The series is praised for its gentle, positive portrayal of a Black family and its themes of family, friendship, and growing up.
February 4, 2024
I liked this book when I read it as a kid. It was very charming and I especially liked the idea of the cat catalog. The two brothers, Julian and Huey, were great characters. They made me want to name my kids Julian or Huey. Why not? Julian has a great Roman pedigree and Huey is better than Hugh. Now, I just like seeing black kids in a story from the eighties that doesn’t depend on them being black.
October 5, 2017
Fantastic introduction to chapter books for my third grade students!
Ann Cameron paints a great picture of life in her words. Her characters are real and their ideas are realistic. She uses a wide variety of language and tone for the speakers. Students have al ot to learn from this book.
Ann Cameron paints a great picture of life in her words. Her characters are real and their ideas are realistic. She uses a wide variety of language and tone for the speakers. Students have al ot to learn from this book.
January 13, 2025
Delightful early chapter book from the 1980's and republished recently. Since it features a young Black boy and his family, it would have been in the multicultural section of school libraries. Joyous and highly enjoyable. I may read the rest of the books in the series. I'll definitely be recommending this.
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