Skippyjon Jones

I love kids' books. A lot of them can take little mundane things and make them seem like an adventure. Sure, there aren't always glowing metaphors or a page describing how windy it was, but a lot of times I think that's OK. And I'm a mom. I figure if I'm going to raise readers, I'm going to look for books I don't hate to read. They can hear my hatred in certain books.
That being said, I will repeat/amend that I love many kids' books. One that's big around our house is about a dear ol' kitty who thinks he's a doggy. Skippyjon Jones!

What I like

It's pretty fun to read. As the primary reader in the house, that's important. The books slip in a little Spanish now and then (usually words that are in my limited Spanish vocabulary). There are songs, instructions to clap, and it's filled with alliteration. (You remember alliteration, right? What? You're not familiar with words that are taught in junior high poetry lessons? Geez. Fine, I'll remind you... it's when the words start with the same sound. Like Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.)

This little kitty uses his imagination to create new worlds where he is a chihuahua. He gets in all kinds of trouble while he's in his own little land. It's fun to pretend.

The kids really like it.

It's pretty complex. My nephew's first grade class used the book as part of a lesson. I think there's still some details that were fuzzy for him. I'm pretty sure I would have fun using it in the junior high, too.

Did I mention that it's fun to read?

 So we read about Skippyjon fairly regularly. My favorite is Lost in Spice, although the original has undeniable charm. 

There are several more books in the series, I just haven't read them. I'm sure they're wonderful, though.

We have also listened to the audiobook read by none other than Judy Schachner herself. It's OK, but I find that this story, for my family, it was best to read it instead of listen to it. Schachner reads it pretty quickly (a lesson I wish the narrator from The Gingerbread Boy would learn). Since my kids are young, they had a hard time keeping up with the Spanish words and ideas. I guess older kids might like listening to it like that, but whatever.

After we read it, Rela usually runs around the house saying "Noodles are naked" (from Lost in Spice). It's funny. Me? I'm usually singing "Oh, my name is Skipito Friskito..."