Ruddy's grandmother isn't much fun. She calls him Rudford, not Ruddy, and she doesn't like noise or games or television. When Ruddy's parents go on a cruise and leave him with Grandmother Silk, Ruddy knows it's going to be a loooongten days. Then one night a snowstorm comes howling through. Ruddy and his grandmother are left without light and heat and water-and they have no one to talk to but each other. Slowly, with the help of an old chessboard, the moon, and a gorilla suit, they reach out to each other in some surprising ways. Partly a survival story, this is mostly a tale of two people who think they aren't alike at all-until they have no choice but to look for the things they have in common. Carol Fenner's portrayal of eight-year-old Ruddy is childlike and real, and Amanda Harvey's full-color illustrations capture the warmth and humor of a story that is sure to leave readers smiling. Illustrated by Amanda Harvey.

Carol Fenner was the author of Yolonda's Genius, a Newbery Honor book, and many other award-winning books for children. She died in 2002, leaving us with this very special final book.