Synopsis
In the Cajun country of Louisiana, Alligator is king of the swamps king to everyone that is, except sassy old Dog. Storyteller J.J. Reneaux's musical rendering of this old folktale explains how the feud between Alligator and Dog got started in the first place. When Alligator finally corners Dog in his swamphole, he falls for the oldest trick in the book. Next time, he promises, he'll get that Dog for sure. But will he?
Reviews
PreSchool-Grade 2?All creatures fear M'su Cocodrie, king of the swamp, except for Dog, who taunts the alligator daily from the safety of the cabin he shares with Man. When Alligator finally gets his chance to make mincemeat out of Dog, he is outsmarted by his quick-thinking victim and subsequently spends his days in the swamp with just his eyes above water, waiting to get revenge. The text of this simple Cajun folktale reads aloud well, and the accompanying pictures are richly conceived, depicting the swamp in myriad shades of greens and browns. Most of the illustrations are spread over two pages, which is effective. Unfortunately, several single-page illustrations are confusing and run into one another. Nevertheless, it is refreshing to see folktales from the Cajun Louisiana tradition?they definitely make for good storytelling.?Judith Constantinides, East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ages 6^-8. "Back in the olden days, M'su Cocodrie was king of the swamps and bayous. . . . Everybody was scared of Alligator's sharp teeth and big tail. Everybody, that is, except for that sassy old Dog." Teased unmercifully by Dog, the alligator is determined to exact his revenge. Sure enough, he gets his chance, and it's only quick thinking that saves Dog from becoming alligator dinner. Green's paintings represent the text effectively, the deep greens and earth tones evoking an appropriately dark environment for the scheming M'su Cocodrie, and Reneaux's version of a pourquoi tale has good pacing, style, and wit. The large single-and double-page spreads make the book ideal for large group read-alouds, and storytellers as well as new readers will welcome the accessible retelling to American folktale collections. Reneaux, a noted Cajun storyteller, includes source information as well as a note on Cajun dialect. Janice Del Negro
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