Customer Reviews

Coomacka Island: Lenox Lizard and the Kukumacka Duppy

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The wildly popular, children's Coomacka Island series returns with the third installment, entitled Lenox Lizard and the Kukumacka Duppy. Building on the success of the previous books, the creative team of Don Hooper and Darnel Degand continue to craft culturally diverse tales that are truly pleasure to read.

The story opens with Lenox, the confident captain of the Fighting Peenywallies making his way to the stadium for some much needed extra practice. Enroute, he runs into his friends, Jamila and Amani on their way to Macka Street to buy some mangos. Even though Lenox loves mangos, he continues on to the stadium, determined to lead his team to their first victory in over a hundred years. Arriving at the stadium Lenox is shocked to see the Stoney Hill Scorpions on the field. Sulubu the Scorpions leader tries to intimidate and then to frighten the smaller lizard, by telling him the legend of the Kukumacka Duppy. Lenox has to make a choice, give into his fear and let his team down or confront his fears and do his best to lead the team to victory.

Combine Afro-Caribbean folklore, Haitian Creole and Swahili, blend it to lyrical perfection, then add the unique island flavor that is Coomacka and the result is an educationially sound, morally uplifting, down right fun children's book that is a delightful read. Filled with emotion and eye-catching color, the detailed illustrations are visually stimulating and wholly engrossing. With each new installment the stories grow in depth, length and dimension leaving children and parents alike anxiously anticipating the next island adventure.

Don Hooper and Darnel Degand have delivered a fun book, exposing children to various cultures and laced with positive moral messeges. With the fun facts, definitions and questions included at the end, these little books pack powerful lessons. I highly recommend the Coomacka Series to anyone that has young children.

Happy Reading!
RJ

Lenox Lizard may be small in stature, but he is big in heart. The captain of his football team, the Fighting Peenywallies, he is determined to lead his squad to victory in the upcoming championship match against the Stoney Hill Scorpions. The Scorpions haven't lost a championship match in over 100 years, but that doesn't deter Lenox from declaring victory for the Peenywallies.

That is, until he visits the practice field one day and runs into Sulubu Scorpion, leader of the Stoney Hill gang. When Lenox assures Sulubu of his intentions to lead the Peenywallies to victory, Sulubu promptly informs him of the legend of the Kukumacka Duppy, a menacing phantom that has ensured victory for the Scorpions every year since their last loss to the Peenywallies over 100 years ago. Given the fact that duppies are the only things in the world that frighten Lenox, he becomes a nervous wreck, even refusing to play in the big game, despite the protests of his teammates.

Lenox soon realizes, though, that his friends' need for his leadership outweighs his own personal fears, so he faces the looming spectre of the duppy for once and for all, quickly discovering the well-planned ruse behind it all before bravely leading his teammates into battle.

Hooper's tale is entertaining and refreshing. His storytelling is simple yet moving, and the illustrations by his partner, Darnel Degand, add rich color to his story and give the book a great overall vivacity. With its underlying message of bravery in the face of unforeseen adversity, Hooper's narrative will surely boost the self-esteem of children of all ages. Highly recommended as an addition to home and school library bookshelves everywhere.

Lenox Lizard is back and he plans to take his football to the championship. However, the Stoney Hill Scorpions intend to psychic Lenox Lizard and the Fighting Peenywallies out of the game. Lenox Lizard has to prove that he is not afraid of the legend of Kukumacka Duppy.

Hooper succeeds in offering a children's tale from a Caribbean point of view. The illustrations are vividly bright and eye-catching. This tale introduces new words along with an educational message. The lesson is enhanced by the explanation of newly introduced words, fun facts and questions. Not much is better than sharing a story with your child and learning about a different culture? Two thumbs up to Lenox Lizard!

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

The book, Lenox Lizard and the Kukumacka Duppy is obviously written to appeal to a multicultural audience. Written to capture the attention of the young reader, this book also serves as a educational tool for the adult.
Because the characters in the book play the parts of "real' people, the adult parent or teacher can use
them as examples to relate to children of varying ages. The adults will not only enjoy the stoy with its
Caribbean setting but also motivate young children to read.

The author uses his creativity to inspire people of all ages. He uses words that may be new to the young ones but also provides a useful glossary at the end of the book. This book certainly targets an audience with
imaginative minds and rewards them with an interesting moral at the end of the story.
Parents and teachers who read this story will be satisfied with the message and the end, while children
will enjoy the trip to an imaginative world.