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Big Bill and Buddies By Melissa J Wantuck  |
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 Greg Watkins, both a writer and illustrator of children’s books, has had the two books in his Big Bill and Buddies series republished by Pelican Publishing Company during the past two years. The first book in the series, A Big Beaked, Big Bellied Bird Named Bill, introduces the series and its main characters. The second book, Brendon Mouse’s Big Idea to Save the Bad Bird Bunch, continues the group’s adventures.
 In A Big Beaked, Big Bellied Bird Named Bill, the main characters make up a group of animal friends who are all different and unique individuals. There are four different kinds of birds, a cat, a dog, a mouse, and a worm. Bill is the main character of A Big Beaked, Big Bellied Bird Named Bill. He has just moved to Bluff and has no friends. The first group of birds he meets make fun of him because he looks different than them. Then Bill meets another group who befriend him. This new group is made up of different animals and like Bill for who he is, not what he is or looks like. The group shares an adventure and becomes closer friends. At the end of the book, a sequel is announced as the adventure continues.
 In Brendon Mouse’s Big Idea to Save the Bad Bird Bunch, Bill and his friends must decide whether to come to the aid of the group of birds, the Bad Bird Bunch, who made fun of Bill and tried to hurt him during the first book in the series. Brendon Mouse suggests they ask a friend of his to help so the group makes a new acquaintance on their continuing adventure.
Both books tackle moral lessons about accepting others for who they are, the value of friendship, and the harm bullying causes. They’re also full of moral clichés that adults will cringe at for their obvious emphasis written beyond a child’s full understanding.
The continuation of the series will be over the head of young children, and new independent readers may lose interest before book three makes its appearance. Adults could avoid unanswerable questions from their children by skipping the last page that mentions the next book, but that might only work for younger children who may not notice the skipped page. The second book’s plot is dependent on the first book so the two accompany each other. The preview for a third book suggests it will be more independent of the first two.
The premise of Watkin’s two stories is kid-friendly and colorfully written. The illustrations are vibrant and the animals are whimsically drawn. They have a cartoon-character feel to them that will endear them to their young audience.
Watkin’s stories are easily relatable as he uses personal experiences to infuse his stories with real-life situations children experience in school and around their homes. Adults will recognize the events in Watkins stories either from their own childhood experiences or stories from others who have gone through them.
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