Jimmy's Boa and the Bungee Jump Slam Dunk - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 2-Jimmy's pet reptile's latest high jinks involve a flamboyant, determined dance-school instructor; a waltzing poodle; the cheerful basketball coach for "The Scream Team"; exuberant rabbits; and, of course, the oversized, playfully helpful boa himself. The day's events are related by Jimmy's classmate Meggie to her amazed and horrified mother. When Miss Peachtree and her poodle Peaches, in matching powder-blue-and-yellow outfits, take over the gym and try to teach the students the tango-or, "tangle"-the snake becomes the star of the court/dance floor. Kids will love the b-ball terminology in this outrageous melange of sport and dance, and will take delight in the coach's selection of players-both animal and human-for his new team. Kellogg is at his finest here: the humorous, detailed art, done in ink and pencil line, watercolor washes, and acrylic paints, depicts a wide range of emotions, and one can believe that a dappled-orange boa with hurt feelings will cry. A highly entertaining treat to share with young (and old) children.
Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

K-Gr. 3. Jimmy and his pet boa, whose three previous adventures earned critical praise and raves from kids, return in another antic escapade. This time the farcical action centers on the school gym, which Miss Peachtree has appropriated for her dance class. Of course, Jimmy refuses to dance with anyone but his boa, whose tail is so long that all the other kids get caught in it--which turns the tango into a tangle! Then basketball coach Mr. Carney, fascinated by all the fancy footwork, waltzes out of his office just as a bunch of rabbits show up to make things even more frantic. But that's really no surprise when Jimmy and his boa are around. Once again Kellogg puts the "show" in author Noble's "tell" in ways that add humor and near manic energy to an already zesty text. The result is a slam-dunk of a tale that will leave most children asking for an overtime encore. Michael Cart
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