Cork & Fuzz

Cork & Fuzz #1

by Dori Chaconas, Lisa McCue (Illustrator)

Cork is a muskrat. Fuzz is a possum. From their first meeting in a hollow log to playing pin-the-tail-on-the-turtle, from collecting rocks to dodging falling pinecones, Cork and Fuzz are always up to something unusual. The gentle humor and simple story will entertain beginning readers, while warm, expressive illustrations add just the right amount of visual cues to help them along.

Genres: Animals, Picture Books, Fiction, Childrens, 1st Grade, Juvenile, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book

[Melanie Berthiaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Rebecca Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Amanda_DJ n' Zac · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Linnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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