Thirty-five years later, the Wheedle lives on.
Former Bothell resident and author Stephen Cosgrove, whose “Wheedle on the Needle” hit the book racks in 1974 and has sold about 3 ½ million copies worldwide, will return to the Seattle area to launch the anniversary edition next week. He will visit local classrooms and make appearances at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Lynnwood Barnes & Noble and at 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Woodinville Barnes & Noble. Illustrator Robin James will join Cosgrove on the trip through the past — and present.
“It’s been almost kind of like a fairytale. It’s amazing it has survived 35 years,” Cosgrove said. “I took the neat energy about Seattle and put it in a story and left it there.”
After “Wheedle on the Needle” was first published by Cosgrove’s Serendipity Press and later a company that became Penguin Press, the friendly, furry Wheedle soon became an icon of Seattle, serving as the mascot of the Seattle SuperSonics basketball team and the mascot of the Space Needle for many years.
After a battle with Penguin, the Wheedle is now back in Seattle and being published by the local Sasquatch Books.
“He (the Wheedle) took off, he left and the Sonics left — to everyone’s horror,” Cosgrove said, noting that the Wheedle has returned with hope in his furry coat.
In 1974, Cosgrove said the Seattle economy was bleak and the Wheedle possessed positive thoughts for hard times. Today, the author added about the tough economic atmosphere, “It’s time for a bright light — or a red blinking nose,” which the Wheedle sports.
And it’s a hit with readers, as evidenced by two Amazon.com customers, who wrote: “The book brings back such lovely memories” and “If you grew up in Seattle or live there now, you must get this book.”
Cosgrove has authored more than 300 children’s books and 25 young adult fantasy novels. He lives in Austin, Texas, where he continues his writing career.
James has illustrated more than 75 books and lives with her husband, Randy, in Snohomish.
The 32-page hardcover book is available for $16.95 at major bookstores.
For more information, visit www.sasquatchbooks.com.
The Woodinville Barnes & Noble is at 18025 Garden Way N.E. and the Lynnwood location is at 19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway.
