First published 2006
Tom spends his days fooling around instead of learning useful skills. His disapproving Aunt Fidget Wonkham-Strong grows tired of his silly behavior and calls in Captain Najork to teach him a lesson. The stern captain arrives with his hired sportsmen, challenging Tom to compete in four absurd games: womble, muck, sneedball, and hardhit. Tom has never heard of these games, let alone played them. But his years of fooling around have prepared him in unexpected ways. As each bizarre contest unfolds, Tom discovers that all his seemingly pointless activities have given him exactly the skills he needs. The captain and his team grow increasingly frustrated as Tom outmaneuvers them at every turn. When Tom emerges victorious, he wins more than just the games. The story celebrates the value of play and imagination over rigid instruction.
Genres: classic-literature, adventure, comedy
Vibes: thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, underdog
32 pages · Paperback · David R. Godine