Freddie Ramos Stomps the Snow

By David O'Connell and Miguel Benítez

When a freak spring blizzard buries Starwood Park, Freddie works with Mr. Vaslov to clear the sidewalks using a new invention—Zapato Power snowshoes! But not even the snow can stop a thief from causing trouble in the neighborhood. Can Freddie solve the case, even if it means helping Erika, the Starwood Park bully?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Release date: Mar 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780807594957

David O'Connell

David O’Connell is a writer and illustrator living in London, UK. His favourite things to draw are monsters, naughty children (another type of monster), batty old ladies and evil cats!

Book preview

1. Too Slippery for Zapato Power?

Sparkly white flakes swirled down from the clouds.

It’s sticking! Geraldo hollered.

Even though it was March, this was the first time we’d seen snow all year. Geraldo, Maria, Jason, and all the kids at recess were jumping for joy. I was too.

HOORAY! Jason screamed.

Usually I saved my super-powered sneakers for hero stuff. But I was too excited about the snow. I pressed the button on my Zapato Power wristband. Smoke whooshed out of my shoes, covering me in a cloud.

Where’d Freddie go? Maria asked.

Maria couldn’t see me bouncing higher than the basketball hoop and sailing over the swing set.

Freddie! Maria called for me.

Mrs. Blake says recess is over.

I landed at Maria’s feet and turned off my Zapato Power. It was time to turn back into a regular kid, even if it was snowing.

Let’s go! I said to Maria. When we got into the classroom,

Mrs. Blake asked us to open our math books and study for our Friday test.

But everyone’s eyes, even Mrs. Blake’s, kept drifting to the window, where fat snowflakes were falling. First the grass turned white, then the road.

How much snow do we need to cancel school? Jason asked.

In Wisconsin, where I grew up, Mrs. Blake said, we needed two feet of snow. But around here, it just needs to be slippery outside.

Slippery? Was that good for my super speed? I chewed my pencil.

Something was squealing outside. We dashed out of our seats to watch by the window.

That blue car is stuck, Mrs.