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In addition to living with his loyal guinea pig, Waffles, Tom Speicher is an award-winning writer and video producer at Pennsylvania College of Technology. He is the co-author of the 2021 young adult novel “Bucky Deacon’s Dilemma,” which chronicles the experiences of a young man and his eighth-grade football team in a small Pennsylvania town. Tom has written for publications and websites devoted to the Minnesota Vikings and has served as “The Man in the Crowd” for the Little League Baseball World Series Radio Network since 1998.
Fun Fact #1: Even though he can't cook, Tom was the executive producer and co-host of a national public television cooking series, "You're the Chef," for several years.
Fun Fact #2: Thanks to his role at Penn College and freelance work, in one calendar year Tom was able to attend and cover three iconic sporting events: the Kentucky Derby, the Little League World Series and Super Bowl Week.
Reviewed by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite
The story begins by showing children a weekly planner. Waffles, a female guinea pig, shows up and talks about Tom, who takes care of her. Waffles describes her daily activities, following the planning notes. Waffles is an appealing pet, talking about her room, how she accompanies Tom to the grocery store, when she exercises and how she performs many other activities. She also likes to read, especially books about animals. Every night Tom tells her a bedtime story. Waffles' weeks are full of friendship and joy. A Week with Waffles will inspire young readers to use their weekly organizer. Tom Speicher has created a lovely book that will motivate children to be methodical and take good care of their pets. Photos of the real Waffles are included at the end of the book.
The illustrations are charming, reinforcing the homespun tone of the story. All the images are cheerful, although they use many somber shades. Reading the book is enjoyable because Waffles is detailed in describing her days. A Week with Waffles will teach children the advantages of being better organized. It can even motivate readers to keep a pet, which is also helpful because pets make children feel responsible and valued. After reading A Week with Waffles, you can start a conversation about the care that pets require. Tom Speicher shares a story that develops creativity and curiosity and stimulates children’s learning.
