THE KIDS OF CATTYWAMPUS STREET

On winding, twisting Cattywampus Street, anything can happen, and magic is in the air.

The diverse children who live on and around the street are constantly getting in and out of scrapes. Rodney, a White-presenting child with two mothers, makes a pet out of a rock that just might return his affection. Jamal, who appears Black, saves his money to buy a magical ball with a star on it. Charlotta, a White girl, conjures a dollhouse big enough for her whole family to live in simply through the power of her wishes. A homeless, apparently orphaned boy named Bob finds a family when he turns into a frog (he is never depicted in human form), and a hungry White boy named Hans is tricked by an evil stranger posing as his mother who feeds him so many waffles that he turns into one. “A Very, Very, Very Sad Story” lives up to its title when Asian-presenting Evelyn’s entire family dies on the same day (fortunately, it is only temporary). In their strongest moments, these short stories are whimsical and surprising, with twist endings that are sometimes silly, sometimes spooky, and sometimes both. Throughout, the author addresses readers directly. At times, the intimacy of this voice makes the tales feel even more enjoyable. Unfortunately, more often, the asides break the flow of the stories, interrupting the magic of the well-rendered world.

An uneven story collection about kids with big imaginations.