When his best friend, Gloria, receives a new bicycle, seven-year-old Julian spends the summer avoiding her because of his fear of bikes.

When Julian finds out that his dad has always wanted snakes for a birthday present, he realizes he'll need more than good intentions--he'll need courage.

Beautiful family dynamics create opportunities for humor throughout Julia's stories. Lighthearted and delightful, the characters, scenarios, and laughs will be relatable for young readers and leave them wanting even more of Julian's tales.

It isn't easy being Julian's younger brother. When Huey wants to study animal tracks with Julian and his friend Gloria, Julian tells him he's too young. But he's not a little kid. He's six years old and he's an adventurer, a chef, a tracker, a scout--and much more!

Now in "Knopf Paperback--"six genial, affectionate evocations of family interaction and childhood mischief. There's a glow here that's hard to resist."-- "Booklist