Meet the Werewolfsons by Knife and Packer (Duncan McCoshan and Jem Pack)
Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742836713.
Reading Age: 7-9. Themes: Werewolves, Family Life, Pets. Meet the
Werewolfsons introduces an ordinary, everyday werewolf family to the
residents of Freak Street. Mum and Dad and their three children,
Wilf, Winny and Wally have thick shaggy hair, sharp teeth and are a
little bit frightening. They live in a log cabin next to the
Aliensons and run a pet pampering business. Mr. Werewolfson loves to
disco dance, embarrassing his children and demonstrates his moves at
their full moon party. Unfortunately Deathfang the largest werewolf
in town arrives and causes chaos sharing a bad case of fleas with
the guests. These fleas play a crucial role throughout the story and
the conclusion. The family is preparing for the annual City Pet Show and
unfortunately Mr. Werewolfson's lucky gold pampering comb has been
stolen. The twists and turns of the plot involve the dramas of the
pet show and the mysterious disappearance of Professor Twinkle at
the Observatory.
The solid background colours of each page are bold and bright. Knife
and Packer's familiar cartoon style bring humour to the
Werewolfson family and their frantic antics. Winny's pet lamb
Lambada, disco-dancing dad, the flea invasion and the grooming of
the pampered pets are just some of the quirky fun illustrations.
The Freak Street series are popular with readers from seven to nine
years of age. These stories are great as a class read-aloud and
students can use the characters to create new stories in creative
writing and cartooning activities.
Rhyllis Bignell