Episode 52 — Animal Perspectives

Book Chat

Expert Chat

 

Book Chat

LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation
Author: Mark Teague
Publisher: Blue Sky Press, 2011

 

 

 

Another point for the dogs! Mrs. LaRue’s dog, Ike, is back with his letter-writing prowess. In this book Ike is trapped on a cross-country trip with his neighbor Mrs. Hibbins’s two cats. Unfortunately, the cruise that Mrs. LaRue and Ike were scheduled to be on doesn’t allow cats. So, off onto the open road they go. If it hadn’t been for the two cats, Ike would have been enjoying himself on a luxury cruise! Through Ike’s letters, readers learn of the adventures and misadventures of the wordy Ike and the two mischievous cats. In the end, the animals get their cruise and surprisingly become friends…for now!

If you like Ike in this book, check out some of his other adventures:

Letters From the Campaign Trail: LaRue for Mayor (Blue Sky Press, 2008)

Detective LaRue: Letters From the Investigation (Scholastic Press, 2004)

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters From Obedience School (Scholastic Press, 2002)

 

 

Listen to My Trumpet! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
Author: Mo Willems
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, 2012

 

 

Listen to My Trumpet! is the 16th book in this hilarious series about friends Gerald the Elephant and Piggie. In this book Piggie has a new trumpet and wants to show it off to his friend Gerald. Gerald is ready to listen, but will he like what he hears? And will Piggie be ready for some constructive criticism? Kids will love the back-and-forth between these two loving and loveable friends!

 

 

Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories
Author: Jeff Mack
Publisher: Philomel Books, 2012

 

 

It’s a law of nature that frogs like to eat flies. So don’t be surprised when every chapter except for one (in the final chapter, Frog gets his comeuppance) ends with clever Frog eating his fly friend…slurp! Told in graphic novel style but perfectly laid out for young readers, this book will be a laugh-out-loud hit!

 

 

 

Oh No, George!
Author: Chris Haughton
Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2012

 

 

George’s owner has left him all alone, and George has promised that he will be good. But temptation is around every corner: cake, cat, and lovely dirt. What will George do? Kids will cheer George on and relate to poor George’s dilemma of “easier said than done.” George is a dog who means well and wants to do well, but when push comes to shove, his impulses sometimes overcome his sensible thinking.

 

 

Memoirs of a Goldfish
Author: Devin Scillian
Illustrated: Tim Bowers
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press, 2010

Imagine that you are a goldfish. Now imagine that your nice quiet bowl became invaded by bubble guys, crabby crabs, multiplying guppies, and a slime-eating snail. All of a sudden things would start to feel very cramped. And you might wish that you had your bowl all to yourself again. In this memoir told from the perspective of a goldfish, experience the highs, lows, and laughs of living in a fishbowl!

 

 

Expert Chat

Listen in as Emily chats with author Devin Scillian, the author of Memoirs of a Goldfish. Find out how he got his idea for this book, which aquarium creature he would be, and tips for writing your own story from another animal’s perspective.