Li'l Genius #8

When Ollie decides to help his father Henry paint the back porch, his well-intentioned antics lead to a series of mishaps that spiral hilariously out of control. Between a paint-splattered accident and a concerned neighbor's misunderstanding, what should've been a simple afternoon of "man's work" turns into a chaotic chain of events neither of them saw coming. This 1956 story shows why sometimes the best help is staying out of the way—or is it?

When Li'l Genius insists he can turn the family car into a boat, his father Henry Orwell challenges him to prove it—but first demands he build a proper boat from scratch using spare wood. The clever kid's ambitious shipbuilding plans clash hilariously with his father's practical expectations, and when a toy boat mysteriously enters the picture, both father and son discover they have very different ideas about what makes the perfect vessel.

When Li'l Genius and his family head to the grocery store, young Ollie's antics—complete with his signature helmet and wild imagination—turn an ordinary shopping trip into complete chaos. Henry Orwell's already-fragile patience is tested as his inventive son wreaks havoc through every aisle, from the meat counter to the produce section, leaving bewildered shoppers and staff in his wake. By the time the family finally leaves, it's clear that a trip to the zoo might be just what everyone needs.

A young Boy Scout named Pedro finds himself in over his head on a camping trip, where he makes a losing wager with fellow scout Gonzales over chin-ups and then struggles through one mishap after another—from chopping down the wrong tree to accidentally stealing watermelons from a local farmer. As Pedro bumbles through the requirements of scouting, from building a lean-to to cooking meals, he learns that being prepared is harder than it looks, especially when you'd rather rest than work.