"I love this book! With the heart and spirit of John Muir and a dash of Dr. Seuss, C.E. Walz's clever and surprising words combined with Pam Wedel's beautiful illustrations create a classic full of critters. Prepare to hear 'One more time!' and 'again....puh-leeze!' from your kids when you pull out Alley Loo to read at bedtime!"

~ Hunter Bell, Tony Award nominee for [title of show] and Obie Award-winning writer and author of 137th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Bellobration!  [April 2009]

ALLEY LOO is..."a wonderful, delightfully suspense-filled swamp critter mystery, packed with understanding and respect for all of nature.  I rate it 100% SWAMPWISE!!"   

~OKEFENOKEE JOE

educator, musician, environmentalist

"What’s going on in the black water swamp? Bellowing bullfrogs, big-eyed owls, and even hungry bears echo the same warning: 'Better watch out for Alley Loo!'  But who--or what--is the mysterious Alley Loo?  Children will delight in this picture book’s rollicking rhymes and colorful wildlife illustrations...."  read more...

~ Lynn Coulter, author of Mustard Seeds and a magazine journalist whose work has appeared in Ranger Rick, Jack and Jill, and Pockets [April 2009]

"In the fun tradition of spooky tales for young children, Walz and Wedel lead a jaunt through a vibrant cypress swamp teeming with possums, polecats, and raccoons, but always wary of Alley Loo..."  read more...

~Linda Kern, Head Research Librarian, Brenau University [April 2009]

"Both the author and the illustrator are educators and obviously they know how to attract young picture book readers...."  read more...

~JoAn Martin for The Baytown Sun, Baytown, Texas  [May 2009]

“What a delightful story about the protective love of a mother. The rhythmic story telling, along with great illustrations, keeps the young reader anticipating the turning of each page.”

~ Ben Mikaelsen, author of Touching Spirit Bear [April 2009]

"I was excited to get the opportunity to illustrate Alley Loo. The wonderful story C.E. Walz created was so delightful and imaginative the characters practically painted themselves!"

~ Pamela Wedel, illustrator for Alley Loo: A Spooky Swamp Tale and the EPPIE 2008 Best Children's Book Grizzelda Gorilla [April 2009]

"Billed as a spooky swamp story and written in verse, Alley Loo takes readers on a suspenseful journey through a cypress swamp at night..."  read more...

~Niki Schoenfeldt, reviewer for Curled Up with a Good Kid's Book, 2009  

FIVE STARS

"Ever wonder what creatures lurk in the swamp? In Alley Loo: A Spooky Swamp Tale, there's danger all around. There are things in the swamp like you've never seen..."  read more...

~Lori Calabrese, author of The Bug That Plagued the Entire Third Grade and National Children's Books Examiner for http://www.facebook.com/l/;Examiner.com.