Taking a shrinking potion, spending time with a caterpillar, and traveling to exotic new lands rekindles images from Alice in Wonderland. These scenarios also happen to young Archie in the short tale LITTLE ARCHIE. Archie’s life at home is so ordinary his parents make little deal of his birthday. His father gives him a race car minus batteries while his mother gives him paper and ink, suggesting he write her a thank-you note! After giving him these ordinary presents, they go on their ho-hum ways. Fortunately, there is eccentric Uncle Bernie who loves looking at stars and reflecting on travels.

Uncle Bernie gives Archie a unique birthday present: magical Chinese shrinking powder. During the night, the powder glows. Intrigued, Archie tastes it despite Uncle Bernie’s warning not to. Like Alice, Archie thinks it tastes a lot like sherbet. Then the adventures of a lifetime begin -- swooshing the ordinary boy out a window and landing him in exotic America then Japan (by air and boat). Archie becomes adventurous and not so ordinary. In short, he becomes more like Uncle Bernie!

With hilarious, scratchy drawings by award-winning illustrator Neal Layton, Archie’s disturbing yet ultimately-rewarding journey is depicted as kookily as Miles Gibson’s plot. LITTLE ARCHIE is medicine for all bored souls and a fun read for those who dare.