Poor Wodney Wat has a problem-he cannot pronounce the letter “r” and he is the recipient of the teasing and jokes of rodents at his school.  He is so embarrassed that he tries to disappear by burying his head in his jacket.  But, he becomes a hero to his classmates when he saves them from the big mean bully.

This is a story for every child who has felt like an outsider or different.  It is also another good book for giggles, as you cheer the hero on!

Houghton Mifflin Co.  

About the Illustrator - Lynn Munsinger

Lesson Plan Ideas

1. Read the book and discuss with the students if they have ever known anyone who has trouble saying some sounds when they talk. Was it hard to understand them? How do you think they felt because people kept telling them to repeat themselves or laughed at them because they "talked funny"?

2. Using Cobb Virtual Library, look up information on capybaras. Where do they live, what do they eat? Make a class poster about the animal and it's habitat.

3. Write an alternative ending to the story. Where does Camilla go when she goes west??

4. Make "no" bullying posters.

5. Words/phrases to go over with your students: rodent, mumbled, winked, miserably, gnawed, scurried, scooted, elbowed, scrunched, jiggled, trembling, whapping, stomped, hero, to make matters worse, day in and day out, accidentally-on-purpose, fur prickled in fear, wild scurry, trampled the others in her path, wildly flinging them hither and yon, clear up to her teeth in dirt, busied themselves, so strong he had to hold his own ears, collapsed in a happy heap.

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