Cork & Fuzz

Cork & Fuzz #1

by Dori Chaconas

Cork & Fuzz (Easy to Read, Level 3)

Genres: Animals, Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Friendship, 2nd Grade

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Dori Chaconas learned story pacing from an early age while entertaining her younger siblings. The author of such picture books as On a Wintry Morning, One Little Mouse, and Momma, Will You?, she lives in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Reviews

[Julie]

Cork, a muskrat, and Fuzz, an opossum, learn about each other and become friends despite their differences, finding out about what they eat, how they play, and some of their other animal behaviors. A cute story that will teach children about how friendships can develop even when those involved are seemingly very different. I liked the illustrations, which conveyed a sense of fun and whimsy yet still seemed realistic with respect to the animals.

[Janet]

Read several of these, but only writing one review. These are very well done easy readers and the underlying theme is that of friendship between Cork, the muskrat and Fuzz, the possum. While possums and muskrats are not nature's cutest, cuddly animals, these two characters are adorable for their interactive friendship.

[Drew]

I like this book because I never knew how they met. I really like Cork & Fuzz. I think it's cool that they are collectors.

[Anthony]

Cork is a muskrat that only eats veggie stuff, and Fuzz is a possum that eats beetles and worms. These two totally different types find a common bond, and become fast friends.

[Alexander Mendez]

Cute illustrations and story line. Easy text for early readers and good facts in the story line. Cork & Fuzz meet and try to find something they both enjoy together.

[Kelly Chester]

Super cute book

[Melanie Berthiaume]

Cork and Fuzz
By Dori Chaconas
Illustrated by Lisa McCue

Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this resource: Easy

Estimate of age level of interest: 4-8

Estimate of reading level: Grades K-2 – Guided Reading Level L

Brief description: The first book in a series about 2 unlikely friends, a muskrat and a possum.

Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre(s) and subgenre and discuss how they appear:
Early and struggling readers will enjoy the story and not even realize how easy the words are. The story flows easily and the illustrations are adorable and humorous. This is a familiar story of how new friends meet, realize their differences and embrace their similarities. There is a clear beginning, middle and end.

In what ways and how well does this resource as a whole serve its intended audience?
Cork and Fuzz serve their intended audience strongly as a pair of loveable characters who build a friendship with many adventures and help kids learn to read along the way.

Awards if any:
Starred Review from Kirkus
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2005
Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award – 2008-2009

Links to published reviews from professional sources e.g. ALA, Booklist, Kirkus, SLJ, etc. if any:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

[Dolly]

This is a fun little book about friendships, compromises and toleration. It stars a muskrat and a possum and the cute illustrations and simple narrative combine well for an entertaining storytime read.

This is the first book in the Cork & Fuzz series by Dori Chaconas and Lisa McCue. We enjoyed reading this story together and we will certainly look for more of the books in this series at our local library.

[Lbrown107]

Cork and Fuzz are reluctant to be fiends until the realize they do have something in common after all! This is a really cute book and I would recommend this to students for independent reading. I think it could also be recommended to students who think that they cannot be friends with others unless they are alike in some way. This book could introduce a discussion on how differences are fun and is what makes people unique. Life would be boring if people were all the same.

[Christine Severt]

Cork is a muskrat who is lonely and looking for a friend. While talking to his echo in a log, he stumbles upon a possum named Fuzz. Their a bit of unlikely friends, and neither understands the others games, but they have fun just the same.

It is a good story, with cute detailed illustrations. The book has simple repeating small sentences for lower level readers.

[Renee]

Summary: A possum (Fuzz) and a muskrat (Cork) become friends despite their differences.

Level 3: Ages 6-9, Grades 1-3, Reading Alone

For those who like Frog and Toad.

ATH has a couple in this series.

[Tricia]

easy reader with four short chapters. muskrat and possum. about their friendship.

[Shannon]

What a sweet book!

[Debrarian]

Cork is a muskrat. Fuzz is a possum. Cork only eats veggie stuff. Fuzz eats beetles and worms. Can they be friends? Yes!

[Kelly]

Not a great easy reader. It said it would show similarities and differences between these animals/friends, but it only showed one similarity at the end of the book and lots of differences.

[Melanie Hetrick]

Cork and Fuzz, muskrat and opossum, find they can be friends even though they have many differences.

[Rebecca Dean]

This is a great book to teach about friendship. The two in this story are completley different but do have one thing in common. Good illustrations.

[Diana Pettis]

My son Xander enjoyed this book. Simple message about friendship that children can pick out easily.

[Amanda_DJ n' Zac]

adorable! we will def be looking for the other Cork and Fuzz stories

[Angela]

My six year old enjoyed reading this to me - he really liked the illustrations. I think we will continue with the series.

[Linnae]

My two preschoolers loved this book! The humour was spot-on for their age level. I intend to purchase a copy, to have around as they learn to read on their own.

[Edward Creter]

In this intro, Cork and Fuzz (one's a possum, the other a woodchuck) become friends and learn about each other. A nice book about friendship, which is how friendship books should be.

[Karen]

The story of how Cork and Fuzz met and became best friends - this may be our favorite Cork and Fuzz!

[Mary]

This whole series is darling for early readers. My preschooler enjoyed me reading them to him as well.

[Judy]

3.6

a muskrat and an opossum -- Good! (not the usual animals)

humor

making friends

play

collections (in this case, stones) -- It's important for kids to have collections!

great art!

[Hillvan]

330L