Anyone who remembers being fooled, as a child, by someone pretending to remove a finger will smile at the central motif of Ken Roberts’s latest book for early readers. “The thumb in the box” is a trick played upon the citizens of New Auckland, a small fishing village near Prince Rupert, B.C., and fondly recalled by Leon, the story’s narrator. Leon is 11 years old when his villagers learn that they are going to be given a fire truck by the government. Since the village has no roads or firehall, the mayor’s son, Little Charlie, is summoned from Vancouver to do the construction work. Little Charlie, an enormous, bear-like man, carries a box for storing – and displaying – his “detachable” thumb, and the trick becomes emblematic of the quirky and resourceful spirit of the village.

Ken Roberts, an author, storyteller, and librarian now based near Brantford, Ontario, has written several books for beginning readers. His extensive experience shows in his prose style, which has touches of extravagance but is knit together by a strong sense of control. The vocabulary is well pitched to the level of seven- to nine-year-olds, with enough challenging words to add interest without frustrating new readers. The jaunty tone of the story, which arises partly from the fact that the narrator is an articulate adult looking back on childhood, gives the book appeal for both kids and adults. The six black-and-white illustrations, by Montreal-based Leanne Franson, capture the moods of the story nicely. The scenes combine elements of whimsy and nostalgia, and the people have highly expressive faces suited to this humorous, character-driven tale.