Short and Tall

Cork & Fuzz #2

by Dori Chaconas, Lisa McCue (Illustrator)

Even though Cork is a short muskrat and Fuzz is a tall possum, they can still be best friends. Or can they? "I am older," Cork said. "I need to be taller. It is a rule." Can friendship break such rules? The gentle, humorous story in this second Cork & Fuzz title will captivate beginning readers, while the charming illustrations add just enough visual cues to help them along.

Genres: Picture Books, 1st Grade, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Friendship, 2nd Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2006

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 4 out of 5]

Cork is the oldest, but he's shorter than Fuzz; that seems to him like a rule that shouldn't be broken. So the two friends try a variety of escapades to either make Cork taller (stretching from a tree, eating more worms) or to make Fuzz shorter (a week-long diet intended to keep him from growing). Just when it seems like nothing will work and they can't be friends after all, they realize that it's okay to be different. Another cute story with winsome illustrations and an appealing message.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet little animal tale of Cork and Fuzz. Cork is a small, muskrat who is older than Fuzz and feels that he should be taller, too. He tries to help Fuzz grow smaller, but that doesn't work. Fuzz tries to help Cork grow taller and that, too, fails. Cork decides that they shouldn't be friends then if he can't be taller. Fuzz is quite sad and shows him that they don't need to change to be friends at all. So sweet!

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

11/14/17 Read with Naomi.
5/8/18 Read with Naomi & Julia.

[Aaliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cork and Fuzz: Short and Tall by Dori Chaconas is a great story for readers who are starting to read chapter books. The two main characters (Cork and Fuzz) are silly, cute, and crazy. Cork and Fuzz are two best friends who are opposite of one other because of their size. Cork is a small muskrat and his best friend Fuzz who is a tall possum. They decided to put their friendship on the line because of the difference in size. They try finding ways for each other to be the same size to save their friendship. Cork and Fuzz help each other through their life style to change their size and be one in the same. The story line of the book is full of innocence and creativity. This story would appeal to readers because of the short chapters are well-placed and the sentences are varied in length to help build the skills of a new reader. Also, Lisa McCue the illustrator addresses the emotion and playfulness of the story. I highly recommend reading this book for any beginners!

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two give me very "Frog and Toad" vibes. A possum and a muskrat are friends (but in this one they wonder if they are too different to stay friends!).

[Amber Lovett Dhamija · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Viking Easy-to-Read book, Level 3. Part of the Cork & Fuzz series. Cork the muskrat, realizes that his friend Fuzz the possum is taller than he is even though he is younger than Cork. Cork decides to try to make Fuzz shorter, and when that does not work, Fuzz tries to help Cork grow taller. When this fails, Cork decides that he and Fuzz cannot be friends because they are too different, until Fuzz points out that they can still be friends despite their differences. Full of innocence and charm, this timeless story of an unlikely friendship is well-developed and satisfying, and children will become attached to the endearing characters. Drawings of the natural setting by Lisa McCue also communicate well the emotion and humor of the story. Chapters are short and well-placed and sentences are of varied length to help build the skills of new readers who will want to read the entire series to keep up with Cork and Fuzz’s adventures. Highly recommended. Ages 6-9.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple book for beginning readers who are just starting to read chapter books. The two characters are silly and fun and their antics are usually crazy.

This story is one of my least favorites because I didn't like that Cork felt he couldn't be friends if they weren't the same. By the end of the story they have resolved the issue, but it still didn't sit right.

It's one of the Cork & Fuzz series by Dori Chaconas and Lisa McCue. We enjoyed reading this book together (despite my reservations) and our girls love these characters.

[Meg McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cork gets it into his head that he and Fuzz can't be friends any longer because he is short while Fuzz is tall.

They both try to change their appearances but realize that they can't.

Then, Fuzz, using nuts, is able to convince Cork that friends don't have to be the same in all things.

Witty story and wonderful illustrations add to the charm of this story.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though Cork is a short muskrat and Fuzz is a tall possum, they can still be best friends. Or can they? "I am older," Cork said. "I need to be taller. It is a rule." Can friendship break such rules?

The gentle, humorous story in this second Cork & Fuzz title will captivate beginning readers, while the charming illustrations add just enough visual cues to help them a ...more

[Amee · Rating 5 out of 5]

So cute!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully cuddly illustrations by Lisa McCue

[Susan]

friendships, culture, same and different
water color
easy reader

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

RL 370

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cork the muskrat is short, and Fuzz the possum is tall. Cork thinks that since he is older, he should be the taller of the two best friends. At first they try to make Fuzz shorter, and then they try to make Cork taller, but nothing seems to work. Thinking their friendship has to end because they are too different they say their final goodbyes. But then an observation is made that saves their friendship.