Module 3/SLIS 5420/June 22-28

SKIPPYJON JONES

by

Judy Schachner

Bibliography

Schachner, Judy. Skippyjon Jones. Dutton Children's Books, 2003. ISBN: 978-0-525-47134-9

Summary

Skippyjon Jones is sent to his room to think about what it "means to be a cat, a Siamese Cat, not a bird, not a mouse, not a rat ... ", but Skippyjon's "thoughts" take him down a road of daydreaming and adventure imagining himself a Zorro-like chihuahua whose mission is to save a friendly band of fellow chihuahuas from bean-eating "el Blimpo Bumblebeeto Bandito". At the conclusion the reader finds Mama Jones discovering the ruckus from Skippyjon's room caused by Skippyjon, an explosion of candy from his birthday pinata (a bumblebee) surrounding him.

A Page from My Book

My favorite pet as a child was a Siamese cat. Tai Shan was truly a member of our family for 18 years. Siamese have a reputation for their attitude and disposition and this stereotype of the species is perfectly depicted through the high-spirited behavior and mischief of Skippyjon. This book INSPIRES laughter! To fully appreciate and enjoy Skippyjon Jones one must simply read it aloud! The rhyme and clever text are written to be shared! You can't read it just once! The color illustrations are a delight and the variety of text font adds interest on each page. "Ay, caramba!" Skippyjon is a winner!

Reviews/Awards

* "The buoyant and and colorful cartoon illustrations match the exuberant text perfectly. Spanish-speaking children will be especially delighted by the words and humor ... the story definitely as the potential of a fun read-aloud. A good multicultural offering." Judith Constantinides, School Library Journal, January 2004

* This pun-filled spoof is over-the-top comedy littered with Spanish words and "Splanglish" accents. Colorful, lively illustrations exaggerate the hilarity. No ethnic aspersions intended, just laugh-out-loud humor. Both feline hero and story are full of beans, but ay caramba, mucho fun. Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2003

* Armadillo Reader's Choice Award, 2005

* E.B. White Read Aloud Book Award, 2004

Suggested Activities

Using a Venn diagram lead the students in completing a chart noting the similarities and differences between Chihuahuas and Siamese cats.

Assist the students in writing a short paragraph or two about a funny incident involving their pet. Allow them to include a drawing. Use the completed products for a bulletin board display for all to enjoy.

Using the various examples of figurative language from the text as inspiration, students could write about a place their imagination has transported them. This activity could emphasize the contributions of such language. The language focus and it's extent would vary depending on audience or student age.