Paul R. Hewlett

Lionel's Christmas Adventure by Paul R. Hewlett
This is a mid grade book about Lionel and how others pick on him but he has friends. He has a hard time talking to the girl as most boys do.
Some bigger boys pick on him but he's able to run away and they never catch him. He and his friend Skip head to The Hill to sled down all day long. Skip's parents want Lionel to join them for Christmas Eve day as they go help others in the community and learn what's it like to bring a smile to their faces and the real meaning of Christmas.
He only wants a turbo 500 sled but even putting food on the table is hard enough. Lionel was not looking forward to the day before Christmas but when it came he really enjoyed himself.
He does get a gift and it's most treasured, not really the one he wanted...… (més)

I received this book from the author for an unbiased review.

Lionel is adorable! Although he tries his very best to stay out of trouble he often finds himself in it! Lionel discovers a lucky charm in his closet that gives him the ability to make wishes.

This is a great moral story as Lionel discovers he can make things easier by using the lucky charm, or by doing the best he can on his own. He learns to use the lucky charm only when he really needs it.

I really liked that this story took place in the 60's, no cellphones and just simple baseball games to worry about.

Children: I think this would be best for boys around age 7-12 depending on their reading level.

Parents: I also believe that parents would enjoy this story to read on their own or to even read to their child.

This is truly a book for all ages!… (més)

I hate books where there’s a weedy sort of person being picked on my bullies. I always get so nervous for them when they dream of getting their own back, and I feel so bad for them when the bully gets them yet again. Consequently there were many times when I cringed for poor Lionel when the bully Tad ‘got’ him once again, and, even worse, when Lionel got his own back only to be seen to have done the wrong thing and got himself into worse trouble. In this adventure Lionel goes to Summer Camp, which brought back fond memories of my time as a camp counsellor in a lovely place in Wisconsin, with a lake, woods and everything. Lionel’s camp sounded a lot like that. I have no idea whether any of the kids at my camp had a little help from magic that didn’t always work as expected, but most of them had a good time. As does Lionel, once he realises he just has to be himself!

I’m sure that Lionel is very popular among kids his own age, as well as MG authors like me. It’s well written and good fun. Looking forward to reading the next one!
… (més)

Lionel is picked on incessantly by his mother and brother, making his life a misery, but he finds a lucky Three-Toed Pot-Bellied Wampaum's foot to create some magic to help him out. The trouble is, the magic never quite goes as he'd expected it.

This is the first in a thoroughly enjoyable series by Paul R Hewlett, and I managed to read them in the order 3,2,1. Unlike other series, it doesn't really matter, since Lionel's adventures with the foot causing mayhem in his life are unique each time.

It's a quick read for an adult, and I expect young people graduating to chapter books may struggle a little from time to time but will really enjoy the adventures too. Lionel is wholesome and lovable, his friends and adversaries are delightfully normal, and the whole series is a breath of fresh air.

I'll just add a baseball alert for those allergic to it.… (més)