"I spilled juice all over Willa, banging
my seat and making Oni yowl.
Mom snapped, "Smudge, can't you
be good?"
"Absolutely I will NOT." I snapped
back as the car wound up and around
dizzy roads like a spool ...
until we stopped."
It's a chaotic start to their day at Smudge's house. Mom is calling out from the upstairs bedroom for everyone to settle down, while Grandpa reads the paper, Willa hollers from her high chair about spilled cereal, Smudge lays waste to his bed and bedroom, and even the pets cannot get along. Thank goodness there is a plan for an outing to Sunshine Park. Or is that a good thing?
On the way, the chaos continues. Smudge has no intention of trying to make things better. Once they arrive, Grandpa corrals the dog, while Mom gets Willa from her car seat and hauls out the picnic baskets. Smudge is off to climb the nearest tree. Along the trail, Smudge has a tug-of-war with a stick and his dog while everyone else makes their way to Sunshine Peak Lookout.
Trying to get a photo, Mom asks for help with smiles. Not going to happen. Smudge does everything possible to be disagreeable.
""Stick with your pack ...
Seriously, Smudge!
Do NOT get lost!" Mom yelled."
Smudge runs on ahead of the family. A lone adventure leads to too much quiet, and a fear of the many surrounding forest sounds. Finally found when the rest catch up, it is now Mom who is not sure where they are. Smudge worries about the result his misbehavior. Being together is a good thing, especially if you are lost together, his mom assures. It turns out that Smudge has been paying attention to Grandpa's observations all along, and he comes to the rescue of a family in need of being found.
This is a loving family that might just remind readers of their own. Using watercolor and colored pencil, Ms. Pray offers a clear look at the beauty of nature and the relationships that are family.
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