Books with author Bill Wallis

The day of the Naming is an important one for young roadrunners. That's when roadrunner parents judge the speed, courage, and hunting skill of their offspring and choose fitting names for them. One proud fledgling dreams of being named Muscles, or Dash, or even Hunter. If only he hadn't pursued those three juicy grasshoppers for a final snack. If only he'd remembered his parents' lesson: "Always look before you leap." If only he'd paid more attention to the mouse family that had lost two children to a nearby snake. If only the rattler had given some warning before it struck.... Miraculously, the young roadrunner survives the attack, but not without damage. With their son's feet swollen to such an enormous size, his parents have no choice but to give him the humiliating name of Thunderfoot. It's enough to make a roadrunner wallow in self-pity and give up. But the only thing bigger than Thunderfoot's feet is his heart, and with some not always gentle goading from a wise old gopher tortoise named Berland, he finds the courage to go forward and seek his destiny -- and to become the stuff of legends.

There hadn't been a panther on Panther Peak in decades. But the year the Burkes move to their grandfather's ranch, something begins killing off the livestock. Tom shudders. Could his grandfather's tales about panthers be true? Then one winter morning, Tom sees a dark shape move silently through the fog, spooking the animals in the barn. Later that day, a blizzard hits and Tom's grandfather is injured in an accident. With the phone lines dead, Tom must take his horse and ride for help -- by himself -- through the panther's territory. Can he reach safety in time to save his grandfather before the panther strikes one more time?

The antics of two friends –Chuck, the cat, and Willy, the Rottweiler. No matter what is placed in their path, they are determined to overcome it. Whether it be the notion that cats and dogs are enemies or the fact that they are very different in size, the two are unrelenting in their quest to succeed. The story begins when they try to find something they can both enjoy together . Their attempt at tag fails when Willy’s weight and clumsiness cause him to careen toward Chuck, threatening to turn the cat into road kill. They then decide to explore the world outside of Willy’s yard. The problem is how to get Willy out of it. Willy cannot dig his way out because the Mama people will get mad at him. Chuck’s attempt to boost Willy over the fence results in another squishing. When the pair find a loose board in the gate and put Willy’s geometry skills to use, they eventually escape. Their first stop on the outside is Luigi’s, a restaurant that often hands out snacks to Chuck and his friends. Unfortunately for Willy, Luigi thinks that Willy is out to kill his buddy, Chuck, so he threatens to smack Willy with a skillet. Once this misunderstanding is cleared up, the friends enjoy a big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. Problems escalate once Willy has had a taste of freedom and wants to go out everyday. Willy’s desire to explore Farmer McVee’s field is thwarted by Chuck’s fear of the big monsters (with teeth growing out of their heads) that live there and scream, “Moo” all day. Willy then decides that he would like to visit the busy street. Imagine the astonishment of the passersby who see a cat standing on a dog’s head to push the walk button to cross the street! Encounters with a skunk and a dog catcher round out the excitement. This novel is an excellent way to teach children that friendship can come from unlikely sources if it is only given the chance to develop and grow.