Robert Finds a Way

by Barbara Seuling

Published 24 March 2005
Third-grader Robert Dorfman is having a triple-rotten day, one that's terrible for him but will be terribly funny for readers. First his brother, Charlie, hogs the bathroom. When Robert gets to school, his best friend, Paul, is absent. And-oh no!-he forgot he has an afternoon appointment with the orthodontist. A new palate expander means Robert eats baby food for dinner, much to Charlie's delight. And if that isn't bad enough, Robert loses a wire and thinks his dog, Huckleberry, has swallowed it. After an emergency trip to the veterinarian's, where Huck has a dog X-ray, Robert searches for his missing wire by emptying the (ugh!) vacuum cleaner bag. He decides it would be cool to teach Huckleberry to be a "wonder dog," like the ones he saw in a video, but Huck has other ideas. Fortunately, Robert's resourcefulness solves all of his problems in a surprising plot twist that earns him the respect of his teacher, family, and friends.

Oh No, It's Robert

by Barbara Seuling

Published 1 January 1948
Robert's class is having an achievement contest, and Robert desperately wants to win. Anyone who gets A's on homework, reads books, or helps the teachers will earn points toward the prize. Robert pledges to do all those things, but it won't be easy. He's never read a whole book and his papers are usually marked with a pig stamp that says "could be neater." Robert becomes a teacher's helper, cleans up after art class, and serves as library monitor. But will his good intentions and steadfastness be enough? Lively drawings illustrate this hilarious story of a likable boy who is finally rewarded for his good nature and hard work.