The Laziest Boy in the World by Wendy Orr

The title is a bit misleading as you will find out. Simon Brown is quite the reverse in fact. I found this little novel a little on the boring side to be quite honest, despite the quirky illustrations and all the strange and somewhat ridiculous inventions that Simon makes. The plot jumps around a lot and it's hard to really get to know any of the characters, except for maybe the manic dog, Tam, who terrorizes the Tupperware party. I pushed my way through the book to its painful conclusion. Read it and see what you think.

The Blossoms Meet the Vulture Lady by Betsy Byars

When we first meet the protagonist of this novel, Junior, he is trying to fly with his home-made wings. After recovering from two broken legs he is trying to make the best coyote trap ever. But, a dangerous coyote is surely no match for Junior Blossom. He sets out to with his trap to try and win the big reward that's on offer! However, Junior’s inventions aren’t exactly known for their success. A malfunction sets off a series of events that leaves Junior trapped far from home in a place no one would think to look for him. Will the rest of the Blossom family be able to rescue him?