In this collection of six tales about a boy and his grandfather, Ray Halfmoon goes to live with his Grampa Halfmoon in Chicago after Ray's parents were killed in a tornado. They used to live in Oklahoma, and still visit Uncle Leonard and Aunt Wilhelmina once in a while, but Ray can tell that Grampa Halfmoon is very homesick and would like to go to Oklahoma more often. In the title story of these six tales, their beat-up old pickup truck has finally broken down --- there's no way it will take them to Oklahoma. Ray can't do anything about the truck and he can't afford to buy a bus ticket, so Ray is trying to figure out some way to help ease Grampa's homesickness. Would a new pair of Seminole moccasins help? Does Ray have enough money to buy them?

These short stories are written for younger readers who like rhythms and repetition in what they read. The book is divided into episodes about the lives of Ray and his Grampa Halfmoon. It shows their love for each other, and how they try to do things to help each other. Ray learns the lesson of sticking with things that he starts. And both he and Grampa have to figure out how to help the animals they're taking care of during the Christmas holidays when the electricity goes out. Eventually, Ray learns what the biggest thing in life is --- even bigger than the biggest bass in the lake.

   --- Reviewed by Tamara Penny