A contemporary fantasy perfect for new readers of middle grade. The text layout is easy to read and appealing illustrations appear frequently. The story is also a plus with two appealing characters in Alex and Lily. It’s not a dog story like I first thought, but there are plenty of talking animals.
The setting is Underland where Alex lives with Aunt Zinnia. His parents died in an unfortunate accident and a coder like Alex not only misses them dearly but also misses not having the internet readily available.
The next character entering the plot is a stray cat that Lily has befriended. His name is Fuzzypants or as he liked to be called, Professor Fuzzypants PhD. He was originally recruited for a top secret government project, Project WOOFF (Weaponized Optimization of Flora/Fauna), that developed intelligent, speaking animals.
The project supposedly ended many years ago but now it seems it hasn’t as someone is continuing to experiment. This leads Alex and Lily to investigate and there’s more than a few surprises along the way as they uncover secrets his parents never told him.
The 23 chapters are fast paced and fun to read. There’s a hint there may be a sequel at the end of this story and readers will be more than ready for one. PROJECT WOOFF is a great addition to the beginning middle grade readers’ shelf.
BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 13, 2026 PAGES:192
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’ve been working as an author and an illustrator or over thirty years, but I’ve been drawing and making up stories for as long as I can remember.
I grew up outside of Albany, New York and I live not far from there today. I went to college at Alfred University, then graduate school at the University of Buffalo. I have a studio in my home which I share with my wife, Christy, and a bunch of pets.
When I’m not working on illustration and children’s books, I teach as a professor at Russell Sage College in Albany, NY. (WEBSITE)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
