Waylon! One Awesome Thing

Waylon has lots of ideas for making life more awesome through science, like teleportation, human gills, and attracting cupcakes by controlling gravity. But it's impossible for him to concentrate on his inventions when he's experiencing his own personal Big Bang.

Arlo Brody is dividing the fourth grade boys into two groups. Waylon would rather be friends with everyone. Well, everyone except the scary new kid, Baxter Boylen.

Waylon's older sister, Neon, is shooting away from the family. He wishes everything would go back to the way it was before she started wearing all black and saying "What's the point?" all the time

Just when it looks as though Waylon's universe is exploding, something happens to bring it all together again, and it is, without a doubt, One Awesome Thing.

Waylon! Even More Awesome

Waylon thinks most problems can be solved with science. But when it comes to having to share a dog with Baxter Boylen, science may not be very helpful. Baxter is the closest thing to a juvenile delinquent Waylon has ever met. He's always getting called to Principal Rice's office, and now he's even having meetings with the chief of police. At least the two boys can visit their dog, Dumpster Eddy, while they're at the station. Eddy is behind bars in the Stray Animals' Lock-up. When a new Animal Control officer takes over, it looks as though the dog's days are numbered. Waylon comes up with a science-y plan to save Eddy, but can he trust Baxter to help him carry it out?

Waylon! The Most Awesome of All

Waylon can't wait to participate in the Boston Science Expo on June 14. He's confident that his project will impress the crowd, and his idol, a famous astrophysicist, is sure to be in attendance. Maybe Waylon will finally get a chance to meet her! The Expo is on the same day of his sister's performance at the Beantown Repertory Theater. Neon has been preparing for weeks, ever since she won third prize in a New Voices in Boston Theater contest, and their dad has agreed to be the centerpiece of the show. June 14 is also the deadline Waylon's dad set for himself to sell his screenplay to Hollywood. Finally, Waylon's mom has a mysterious appointment that day that she won't talk about. It looks as though Waylon will be going to the Science Expo by himself. But at least there's that astrophysicist!

When Waylon's dad is summoned to Hollywood at the last minute, Neon is in dire need of a replacement. She trains her eyes on Waylon, and he has no choice but to be the stand-in, even though it means missing the Expo. It promises to be the most embarrassing night of his life . . . yet it could turn out to be the most awesome of all.But what is Mom up to, anyway?

• SLJ Review (starred review): "In Pennypacker’s skillful hands, Waylon is an appealing everykid whose passion for science just might spark readers’ curiosity as he contemplates ideas from angstroms to alien hand syndrome. VERDICT: A winning, welcome new series for chapter book readers." - Marybeth Kozikowski, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY


• Booklist (starred review): "Alternately laugh-aloud funny and melt-your-heart tender, this illustrated chapter book is a great read-aloud choice and a memorable find for independent readers. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Pennypacker’s Clementine series is a beloved mainstay, and this offshoot brings the same level of charm and insight.: — Carolyn Phelan


• Publishers Weekly - Pennypacker shifts attention from Clementine to one of the popular character’s fourth-grade classmates, science-loving Waylon Zakowski, in this first book in a spin-off series. Through Waylon’s rational perspective, Pennypacker offers smart insights into the frustration of realizing that life isn’t entirely in one’s control—with his classmates dividing themselves into “teams” and his older sister embracing a new Goth identity, Waylon feels like he’s living his own version of the Big Bang (“Everything in his universe was exploding away in different directions”). Waylon’s insecurities, bigheartedness, and awe of the world at large should easily endear him to readers.