Big Words Small Stories: The Traveling Dustball

Written by Judith Henderson & Illustrated by T. L. McBeth

Published April 2, 2019


Kids Can Press
ISBN: 9781771387897
56 Pages, Ages 5-8

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The second collection in the Big Words Small Stories series follows the adventures of Davey and his dog, Abigail. When Davey tries to sweep an enormous dustball out the front door, the wind lifts the dustball into the air --- and Davey and Abigail with it! Their flying dustball takes them on adventures to places around the world, including Italy, China and Switzerland, which makes for some great stories (five, to be exact)! As with the first book in the series, the mischievous Sprinkle Fairy and her helpers have slipped a Big Word into each story. The stories include Big Words like lollygagging, irksome and phenomenon! What kid could resist trying those out?!

Told through Judith Henderson's hilarious dialogue and T.L. McBeth's fun illustrations, these stories are highly accessible and simple to read. Add that to the stories' mix of deadpan and slapstick humor, and you've got a pitch-perfect book for emerging readers that's both entertaining and enriching. The Big Words included --- with a kid-friendly pronunciation and definition for each --- help young readers to build their vocabularies. For a bonus at the end of the book, a Small Play on Big Words uses all the Big Words together.

Extras & Goodies:

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A dustball of fun for fairly fluent readers.
— Kirkus

Praise for The Traveling Dustball

  • Kirkus Review - "A dustball of fun for fairly fluent readers."

  • Featured in Publishers Weekly - Noteworthy Picture Book Sequels: April 2019

  • CM Magazine - “Highly Recommended” - “The Traveling Dustball will appeal to young readers learning new words and making the transition to chapter books.”

  • ☆ COLOSSAL NEWS! Big Words, Small Stories is now a TV show!
    Watch it now in Australia and Canada on ABC Australia, Knowledge Kids, SRC, TFO and TVOkids!

  • ☆ Big Words, Small Stories mini books are now in McDonald's Canada Happy Meals! From March 30, 2021 to Feb 28, 2022 you can get one of 5 BWSS mini books as a part of McDonald's Happy Meal books initiative! More info here!

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