Avalanche Annie: A Not-So-Tall Tale [Hardcover]

Lisa Wheeler (Author), Kurt Cyrus (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Way up in Michisota,
Annie's famous far and wide,
Because she roped an avalanche
and took it for a ride.

Told with read-aloud gusto by master rhymesmith Lisa Wheeler and illustrated--with tongue firmly in cheek--by Kurt Cyrus, Avalanche Annie is the wildest, woolliest, most awe-inspiring, and goofiest tall tale since Paul Bunyan hitched up Babe the Blue Ox.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-A new tall-tale heroine, Annie Halfpint, "just four foot three," saves the Yoohoos by roping an avalanche. The story line is the exaggerated sort typical of the genre, the setting is the nonexistent Michisota, and the text is sprinkled with nonsense words such as the month of Mace. The story is told in singsongy rhyme, and the cartoon illustrations show brightly clad characters and stylized rocks and surroundings. The text describes Annie as the offspring of an angel and a redwood tree, but also refers to her mukluks and snowshoes, and the illustrations give her a Native American appearance. Better tall-tale heroines are available in Anne Isaacs's Swamp Angel (Dutton, 1994) and Steven Kellogg's Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett (Morrow, 1995), although this is adequate where the author or illustrator has a following.
Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

KURT CYRUS is the illustrator of M. T. Anderson's Whales on Stilts, and The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen. He lives in Cottage Grove, Oregon.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1ST edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152167358
• ISBN-13: 978-0152167356
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,230,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > Collections

More About the Author

LISA WHEELER is the author of several award-winning picture books, including Sixteen Cows, One Dark Night, and Mammoths On the Move, which recently received a Parent's Choice Recommended Award. She lives near Detroit, Michigan. www.lisawheelerbooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun Read Aloud, November 8, 2011

By 

Nicola Manning (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Avalanche Annie: A Not-So-Tall Tale (Hardcover)

Reason for Reading: I like legends, myths, tall-tales, etc. and this sounded cute.

A short, cute picture book tall tale of a large little girl who lassos and rides an avalanche into town so it doesn't cause destruction. Told in ABCB rhyme, it would make a fun read aloud. The first half of the book has a Dr. Seuss feel to it with made up words but by the middle they have dropped off. This matches the story telling as the first half concentrates on the silliness and the second on the action of the story. All around over-the-top silliness throughout, then that is what tall-tales are all about. I thought it was a fun book and think that little kids will as well, especially combined with the bold, full-page, comic illustrations of Cyrus.

5.0 out of 5 stars *~*Yoohoo will love this book!*~*, November 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Avalanche Annie: A Not-So-Tall Tale (Hardcover)

Spunky Annie Halfpint is not your average hero, but she will capture your heart (and an avalanche!). The author's creative language in this book immediately drew me into Annie's story. "Her voice booms soft as thunder. Her hair grows thick as ink. Her skin feels smooth as gravel. Her mukluks hold their stink." The beautiful watercolor illustrations are the perfect compliment to this legendary adventure. A fun ride - not to be missed!