This first book in the Wednesday and Woof series was fun to read aloud. The plot moved along at a great pace with fun illustrations to add to the story. There were a few things to note that this author did well. The author wrote the story with a main character who persevered as she faced the daily struggles that come with Juvenile Arthritis (JA). This story included short bits of information of how JA affected the main character, Walia, and she weaved in a few answers to a questions the reader might ask. At the end of each chapter there was a fun summary of how many words were read up to that point, and that is an easy way to build confidence in a young reader.
I enjoyed this story because it was interesting, fun, and well written. This book will be a good one to open up conversations with children about differently-abled peers and how they can be helpful in a respectful way. I would recommend this book for home library use as well as a classroom library. The story was engaging and a lot of fun.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Walia Nadir (aka Detective Wednesday) is a budding detective using her observation skills to help a neighbor find her missing cat. Walia, who has juvenile arthritis and a service dog, has to balance solving the mystery and taking care to not get too worn out. She learns not to jump to conclusions after mistakenly accusing some older boys in the neighborhood and learns to accept help when it is needed.

This book is a good bridge for those just starting to get into chapter books. At the end of many chapters, there is a sign letting the reader know how many words they have read so far and encouraging them to keep going.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an ARC of Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books.

Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe is a beginning chapter book by Sherri Winston. Walia "Wednesday" Nadir and her dog Woof are amateur detectives. Wednesday and Woof encounter their first case when the neighbor's cat goes missing. They begin the search and learn along the way not to jump to conclusions without the proper evidence. This book contains not only cute illustrations, but also some of Wednesday's notebook pages with observations, maps, questions, etc. I appreciate the way that the duo utilized problem-solving skills to solve their first case.

I love that this book features a female detective! Besides being a girl, Wednesday faces additional challenges that are rarely addressed in children's books. Walia happens to have juvenile arthritis, but refuses to allow it to define her. She does have some struggles with it throughout the story and shares how she sometimes has to take a rest. Woof is actually her service dog and keeps tabs on how Wednesday is doing in addition to helping her solve cases.

This is a book that I would recommend to young readers that are ready for beginning chapter books. The chapters are manageable and the illustrations are engaging and contribute to the storyline. I look forward to seeing other books in the Wednesday and Woof series in the future!

#NetGalley #WednesdayandWoof1Catastrophe

This is a fun quick early chapter book with great vocabulary words and cute illustrations. I like that a few times throughout the book they congratulated the reader on how many words they read so far. Encouraging newly independent readers is critical to keep them reading when they feel discouraged. The main character, Walia, has juvenile arthritis. This is something I haven't seen in any children's book before and it's great to see this kind of representation. At the end of the book, the author gives the reader some tips on how to be a detective. This is a great start to a new early chapter book series.

I loved this book. The author’s voice is so lively and fun. The pictures align perfectly with the story and made me eager to turn the page. I love the encouragement given at the end of each chapter and the sweet little lists throughout. Who doesn’t love a child detective and her dog? Totally recommend.

Wednesday and Woof are two of my favorite people right now. This book is a great introduction for kids you may be ready for a longer story or their first chapter book. Wednesday was so relatable and I love her strength, tenacity and can-do attitude. Not only is the story encouraging the book itself is too! I can't wait to hear more from Wednesday and Woof!

Thank you for this advanced copy of Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe. This is an early to mid chapter book that introduces the sweetest characters who solve mysteries in their neighborhood. I felt like this story had wonderful representation of physical disabilities as well as POC characters. It would fit really well into a mystery reading or writing unit. Great for a read aloud and love that it's the first in a series-I can see kids wanting to pick up the next books after this one!

Thanks to Harper Collins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for my honest review.
Wednesday and Woof is the first book in the series by author Sherri Winston with illustrations by Gladys Jose, and is really a great book for beginning readers to get used to chapters, more involved plots and Ms Winston has a really nifty way of congratulating these readers. At the end of almost all of these short and extremely readable chapters she gives encouragement to the reader for how much they have read and even breaks it down as to how many words they have read to a certain point in the book.
As for the story, it is similar to many "backyard" detective stories for children and in that regard it is totally predictable, but despite that Ms. Winston has added something that does set it apart. Her detective is a young girl who has Juvenile Arthritis and her companion is a trusty service dog who carries many of her supplies in his vest pockets. This is super and while there is a mystery, there are also parts that inform us of this disease and issues that arise from the juvenile arthritis. This is a book that teaches us something and is accompanied by cute illustrations. I liked this book a lot and look forward to being given the opportunity to review more of these books since this is clearly marked as Book #1 in the series. A great birthday or holiday present, a real top notch effort and one that also educated this reader/reviewer regarding the issue of Juvenile Arthritis

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc to review.

I love Wednesday and Woof! Walia Nadir, aka Wednesday, is a detective with her dog Woof. Walia also happens to have juvenile arthritis - but she doesn't let that stop her from meeting her goals!

I really enjoyed Walia's positive attitude and how she admitted when she was wrong. I'm so excited to see her Dad taking a central role in caring for her (mom is also present, but dad gets the spotlight, at least in this installment!). I love the diverse characters. The illustrations are cute and not over the top. Overall highly recommend for young readers! I'll be buying for my library.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley

Very sweet lovable book. I love books that look and act like real people. This is the perfect addition to my library.

This is a fun start to a new early chapter book series. It will appeal to fans of Ada Lace or Zooey and Sassafrass. I appreciate the representation of a young disabled girl and her service dog. That's not something that is seen a lot in children's fiction. I'm looking forward to getting this one in at my library.

Walia Nadir (aka Wednesday) has a recent diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis, but that doesn't keep her and her support dog, Woof, from investigating the mystery of her neighbor's missing cat. Really cute illustrations and a fun story make this a great addition to any elementary school library or classroom. I'd call this level M/N so it could be a good companion book for kids who like Zoey and Sassafrass, Ivy & Bean, Little Shaq, Princess in Black, etc.

Wednesday and Woof is a great children's book! The first in a series for early readers that will delight any curious child! Wednesday is an incredible character. She is a detective who works with her partner and support dog, Woof. We loved the story, the illustrations were frequent and detailed enough to hold my 6-year-olds attention.

Wednesday has Juvenile Arthritis and I love the way she navigates taking care of her health and paying attention to her body in a realistic way. We are hoping that this will be the first of MANY Wednesday books in this series!

The publisher made a copy of this book available for review via Netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

Super cute detective story! Would be perfect for grade 2 or 3..the students would love it. Can’t wait to see where this series goes!

Wednesday and Woof #1: Catastrophe is the first book in a new early readers series about detective, Walia Nadir, her service dog/co-detective, Woof, and the adventures they get up to in their neighborhood. In this story, they must search for a missing kittten, Autumn, who belongs to Walia's opera-singing, diamond-wearing neighbor, Mrs. Winter. Throughout the story, readers will learn about how to observe their surroundings, find clues, take notes, and follow a trail to solve a mystery. And along the way, they'll get to know a colorful cast of characters in Walia's community, including Mrs. Winter, Walia's dad, who loves to garden, her best friend, Belinda Bunty, who wears bunny ears and hops around the neighborhood like a rabbit, the town baker, a golf cart-riding security guard, and a crew of skateboarding middle schoolers. This story, and any following books in the series, are sure to become beloved among readers who enjoy other investigative series, such as Nate the Great, the Secret Explorers, and Zoey and Sassafras.

Walia, who seems to be around 9 or 10 years old, was recently diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (JA), and peppered throughout the story are anecdotes about her diagnoses, accommodations she needs to decrease her joint pain while on the trail, several conversations about her disability with the adults in her community, and notes about Walia's feelings when everyone seems concerned about her. If you have a child with a disability or autoimmune disorder in your home, or if your child is friends with someone with disabilities, or if you'd just like to normalize service dogs & disability access in your home, this is a great book to add to your home library!

I'd recommend this book to readers between ages 7 and 10, due to some interactions with a school bully that might be a bit much for younger readers to handle, and might necessitate side conversations about how to treat classmates and other community members with kindness, even when they're not being particularly kind to you.

This is an impressive book with a female lead (of color) with a different ability. Walia's dream to become a detective despite her health condition  teaches us that our dreams can be achieved - even when there are obstacles in our way.
This light reading chapter book has a small,  non- complicated story line, and it is ideal for readers between ages of  8-12.

Wednesday (aka Walia Nadir) and her dog Woof are daring detectives. They are also partners; making sure that Wednesday is careful about her health. Juvenile arthritis can be serious, so Woof is her support animal.

This book shines beyond the plethora of other children's detective stories for me because we get to experience Wednesday's feelings as they occur. A zing of tingling skin, or the zooming movement of her eyes as she searches for clues. And the understood thoughts between detective and dog. They make the story come alive with sweetness and humor--not just antics and deduction! Occasional illustrations add depth and character to the story. And because this is an early reader chapter book, each chapter finished is celebrated!

Wednesday's physical limitations are mentioned, but not belabored. They are just part of her life, and she tries to do what her parents have taught her, to minimize the symptoms.

This delightful book is perfect for any young reader; a read-aloud or self-read book. In a classroom, at home, or on vacation.

5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this free ebook preview!

#WednesdayandWoof1Catastrophe #NetGalley

A girl with juvenile arthritis and her service dog solving neighborhood mysteries...it's as cute as it sounds!
My 8 year old daughter and I loved this book!
What we liked:
-The relationship between Walia and her dog Woof. Not only does he help keep her safe but he also helps her solve the mysteries and it's really sweet.
-The small town
-The mystery of finding a missing cat. It was perfect for an 8 year old
-clean and cute with a good story. Just what I'm looking for in books for my kids.
What we didn't like:
When I asked my daughter if there was anything she didn't look she looked at me confused and said "I LIKED ALL OF IT!!"
We can't wait for book 2!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Wednesday and Woof: Catastrophe" is by Sherri Winston with illustrations by Gladys Jose. It is the first in an early reader series about an irrepressible young detective named Walia Nadir, known by the name Wednesday. Wednesday attempts to solve neighborhood mysteries alongside her trusty service dog Woof. Woof is there to help her when she experiences juvenile arthritis symptoms. Set in a small town in Michigan, the supporting characters include a best friend, Belinda Bundy and a rival classmate, Anita B. Although Wednesday and Woof's bond centers the plot, Winston also introduces us to Wednesday's human support system: her somewhat overprotective parents and her encouraging grandpa. This book and indeeed series would be a great addition to a classroom or school library looking to include early readers with strong multi-dimensional heroines.

This is such a cute story that is memorable for a number of reasons. It features a young girl with Juvenile Arthritis whose service dog supports her health and her amateur sleuthing. I love how it has the potential to teach young kids about students with different inabilities, tools of observation, and the power of perseverance, friendship, passion, and ambition. In addition, it is a fun mystery for young kids and I love the illustrations.