Willa and Wade Are Definitely Not Spies

Everyone’s favorite flightless bird friends learn a thing or two about suspicious behavior in this clever addition to the fun graphic novel series! When best friends Willa and Wade discover that there may be spies among them, they decide to see if they can spot any in their neighborhood. Of course, they don’t want to be noticed. So they disguise themselves in belted trenchcoats, tipped fedoras and sunglasses. They make sure to act calm and casual as they nonchalantly survey the scene. And they are stealthy when interrogating suspicious-looking characters. Even so, their investigation turns up no spies. However, the rest of the neighborhood now seems to be whispering about them … Judith Henderson delivers another amusing story about two lovable bird friends who are always trying new things and learning together. This whimsical graphic novel series for early readers promotes being curious and staying optimistic, no matter what happens. Key to their appeal is the friendship between the two birds, who always listen to and support the other’s ideas, and who thoroughly enjoy investigating the world together. Children will love being in on how obvious the pair are while trying to go undercover, and simple illustrations by Sara Sarhangpour provide visual cues that complement the story. This title is excellent for teaching critical-thinking skills and for character-education lessons on perseverance, adaptability and teamwork.