Gator Gumbo : A Spicy Hot Tale by Candace Fleming

Most any student who had me as a classroom teacher can tell you right away that Gator Gumbo became my all-time favorite book to read aloud once I met Author/Illustrator Candace Fleming several years ago! When I start to read, why, honey child, the folks would be sittin' on the edge of their seats, just waitin' and watchin' to see what's going to happen next...

"Let me tll you about Monsieur Gator.
Monsieur Gator, he lives down in the boyou, oh yes he do.
He lives on the edge of the swamp, uh-huh.
He has big claws, big teeth, and a big appetite, for sure.
But Monsieur Gator, he has a big problem, too.
You see, Monsieur Gator, he's is getting old."

As a matter of fact, he is getting really slow in his old age. So slow, that he can't catch any of the animals to eat. So they tease Monsieur Gator all the time. Will Monsieur Gator come up with a way to get back at them?

This is a charming Cajun re-telling of The Little Red Hen, which replaces the motherly chicken with a sly old gator ... 'Monsieur Gator, he lives down in the bayou, oh yes he do', but he has a 'big problem, too.' This aging alligator moves too slowly to catch possum, otter or 'stripe-tailed skunk' and these critters take advantage and tease him mercilessly.

Poor Monsieur Gator is reduced to eating vegetables, pestered by his natural prey, 'Try, try, as hard as you can! you can't catch us, 'cause you're an old man!' Monsieur Gator steams and stews and decides to cook 'Gumbo!' Just like the little red hen, he asks for help and ends up doing all the work himself, adding 'white rice, sharp spices, tangy okra, and sweet crawdads'. The enticing aroma brings all the critters around the pot.

You can guess what's next, and Monsieur Gator ends up satiated by 'gumbo just like Maman used to make.' Though Gator Gumbo is great fun (The Little Red Hen spiced up with Brer Rabbit), quite a few lessons are also boiled up in Monsieur Gator's big pot - about assumptions and about bullying, as much as about helping.

Now, anybody ready to join me for a bite to eat? I fixed a big pot of Gator Gumbo! (just like maman used to make) Mmmm-mmm!

Shiver Me Letters : A Pirate ABC

The captain of this brave and bumbling pirate crew has ordered them to capture the entire alphabet--and they'll walk the plank if they're missing a single letter! Now these swashbuckling mateys are embarking on an alphabet adventure unlike any other, and they won't (ahem, can't) rest until they've found an A, a Z, and everything in between. June Sobel's hilarious text and Henry Cole's adventurous animal pirates (remember...he ALSO illustrated BIG Chickens!) harmonize in an irresistible book for alphabet-learning, pirate-loving kids everywhere.

Now young mates, you better get to reading this book before I have ye walkin' the plank yer'selves! Land ho!

BIG Chickens on the loose....Brrrawck!

Who IS making all that racket? Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Henry Cole is a rollicking story of four big chickens who see a wolf by their henhouse. When the door of their house slams shut with them outside, they run into the forest to hide. This starts the story of their worries as they walk along. First they are afraid to go home, then afraid to jump, afraid of cows, and on and on. They're just BIG "Chickens!" (pun intended!) The illustrations are bright, vibrant and filled with their own humor. The expressions on the chickens' faces are priceless at times. By the end of the book, the four big chickens have changed their tune and are heading home worry free and chests puffed out proudly.

This book's illustrator is featured on the Scholastic Book Fair preview video. After hearing and watching Henry Cole draw the sketches of the chickens, I can see why they had such silly expressions...Henry was drawing his OWN expressions! Can YOU draw your friends as chicken faces (or your own)?

This is a great story to read out loud. Just make sure that you give each chicken its own distinct voice to make the story come alive! You'll love the humor in this story! And that's no chicken feed! Brrawck!

Skippyjon Jones In the Doghouse by Judy Schachner

A Scholastic Book Fair featured book by Author/Illustrator Judy Schachner is Skippyjon Jones in the Doghouse. It's all about a Siamese kitty (boy) with a gigantico imagination ~ and he's returned for another loco adventure. In his room for a time-out, Skippyjon Jones lets his imagination take him to a shack where his Chihuahua friends are yipping and yapping and hiding out from the Bad Bobble-ito, who has taken over their doghouse. How El Skippito chills the Chihuahuas and banishes the Bobble-ito will make more amigos for this endearing and irresistible rascal who made his first appearance in Skippyjon Jones.

Ole to the greatest poco perrito; he's as full of beans as in the first escapade. Mas, por favor. Now, tell me what YOU think about the book! Si?

Ready for an Adventure? Try a Will Hobbs novel!

WILL HOBBS is the author of seventeen novels for upper elementary, middle school and young adult readers, as well as two picture book stories. Seven of his novels, Bearstone, Downriver, The Big Wander, Beardance, Far North, The Maze, and Jason's Gold, were named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. ALA also named Far North and Downriver to their list of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of the Twentieth Centrury. Ghost Canoe received the Edgar Allan Poe Award in l998 for Best Young Adult Mystery.

In outdoor stories that appeal to both boys and girls, Hobbs has readers discovering wild places, sharing adventures with people from varied backgrounds, and exploring how to make important choices in their own lives. A former reading and language arts teacher, Will has been a full-time writer since l990. He lives in Durango, Colorado.

Will's books have won many other awards, including the California Young Reader Medal, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, the Mountains and Plains Booksellers Award, the Colorado Book Award, and nominations to state award lists in over thirty states.

NOVELS: Changes in Latitudes (1988), Bearstone (l989), Downriver (l991), The Big Wander (l992), Beardance (l993), Kokopelli's Flute (l995), Far North (l996), Ghost Canoe (l997), River Thunder (l997), The Maze (l998), Jason's Gold (l999), Down the Yukon (2001), Wild Man Island (2002), Jackie's Wild Seattle (2003), Leaving Protection (2004), Crossing the Wire (2006), Go Big or Go Home (2008)

PICTURE BOOKS: Beardream (l997), Howling Hill (l998)




(information taken from his website ~ www.willhobbsauthor.com)

Wild Man Island by Will Hobbs

Last night my 7th grade son was reading a book that suddenly caught my eye. It was by author Will Hobbs, who had just been at the 2008 WSRA Convention in Milwaukee. He was the one author I really wanted to hear speak but was unable to fit his session into my schedule. I heard great things about his presentation.

I "borrowed" my son's book and started reading, and couldn't put it down...until I finished it a few hours later! If you like adventure and suspense, nature and a bit of "wild" thrown in, then you'll love this book! Though its written about a 14-yr. old boy, younger kids AND girls will enjoy this award-winning book.

Here's a brief description from the author's website (see link below):
"On the last day of a sea kayaking trip in southeast Alaska, fourteen-year-old Andy Galloway paddles away from the group. His heart tells him he must visit the place where his archeologist father died trying to solve the mystery of the first Americans. A gale sweeps Andy far across the strait, where he swims onto Admiralty Island, an immense wilderness of forests, rain, and bears. A survival tale becomes much more as Andy encounters a dog running with wolves and then a man toting a stone-tipped spear. The wild man vanishes into the forest, but the dog reappears and leads Andy to the mouth of a cave, where secrets upon secrets begin to unfold. Running for his life, Andy retreats deep into the cave, where danger, suspense, and discovery await."

Check his official website to see photos and to learn where Will got his IDEAS for this story.

Okay you advanced chapter book readers...try finding YOUR way around on Wild Man Island by Will Hobbs. Now, let me know what you think when you finish!

Rock Chicka Boom... it's...John Archambault!

Another featured Author/Illustrator at the 2008 WSRA Convention was John Archambault. (If you can't remember anything he wrote, look at the title of this blog for a rockin' clue! Did you guess it?) He was an exciting speaker and performer. We SANG several of his books (using BIG books), which was a lot of fun! I was sitting too far away to get a very good picture of him, but you get the idea I think.

I've always liked Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, which he did with Bill Martin Jr. I remember the time (many years ago) when my neices acted out this book. Was it ever hilarious (funny)! John has now written a lot of other books and has recorded many of them with music!

What's your favorite John Archambault book or song? Ready to rock?

Patricia Polacco

It was exciting meeting Author/Illustrator Patricia Polacco at the Feb. 2008 WSRA Convention in Milwaukee! (Just ask Mrs. Bray how excited SHE was to meet her!) I loved hearing Patricia talk about the stories behind some of her books, especially The Keeping Quilt (which she brought along). However, I think my favorite is still Thundercake, which is in our 2nd grade reading books.

What is YOUR favorite Patricia Polacco book? Tell a little bit about why you like it.