Down the Crawfish Hole [Hardcover]

Wes Thomas (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 29, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

A Cajun version of Alice in Wonderland with Louisiana lifestyle, food, and wildlife. Maurice is fishing when he sees a little blue crawfish and decides to follow it down a hole. Thrown into a magical world where animals talk and anything can happen, Maurice faces excitement and danger as he travels through the swampy bayou.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4–This Cajun adaptation of Alice in Wonderland never realizes its full potential. A young boy takes Alice's role as the daydreaming interloper who follows a blue crawfish down a hole and into a world populated by swamp-creature caricatures. Maurice meets a variety of odd personalities, has a few adventures, and falls into the clutches of the temperamental Toad Queen and her court. The story is a skeletal outline of Lewis Carroll's original, with the setting, characters, and props of the Louisiana bayou substituted for those of Victorian England. All of the salient points are here and the action moves quickly, but the writing lacks the flavor of the pralines and gumbo that Maurice eats to grow and shrink. For example, instead of the Mad Hatter and March Hare's tea party, there is "an old trapper and an alligator eating supper together" without so much as a fais-do-do or fish fry. The plot is condensed to fit the shorter picture-book format, and there is none of the fascinating detail that would bring the fantasy elements to life. Filled with whimsical humor, the ink-lined watercolor illustrations are much more effective than the text. Children might enjoy Maurice's journey, especially if it is presented as a vibrant read-aloud, but it offers no lagniappe.–Sean George, Memphis-Shelby County Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, TN
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From the Inside Flap

Maurice has a thrilling adventure as he travels through an enchanted and mysterious bayou land. In this Cajun version of the classic Alice in Wonderland tale, Maurice stops fishing with his brother to return an abandoned watch to a little blue crawfish. After following the crawfish into its hole, Maurice finds himself in a world where animals talk and magic is a regular occurrence. When he finally encounters the little blue crawfish again, he is waiting with the mean and ruthless Toad Queen, who wants to boil Maurice in her pot! Everyone will enjoy the references to Cajun culture throughout this colorful and imaginative story. Maurice eats pralines to increase in size and a bowl of gumbo to become small enough to fit through a tiny door. He encounters many swamp creatures, including a timid armadillo, a wild old Cajun trapper, a crazy alligator, and a mysterious opossum, as he makes his way through the swamp. This work will also be enjoyed by those not familiar with Cajun culture, as they learn about the lifestyle, food, and wildlife of the area through a story that is already familiar. The illustrations that accompany this tale provide a magical view of Southern scenery, while accurately portraying the feelings of the characters. Children will easily identify with Maurice as he is thrown into this exciting yet dangerous adventure, and they will appreciate the characters, both loveable and frightening, he meets along the way. Wes Thomas is a native of New Orleans. He received his bachelor's degree in visual arts from Southeastern Louisiana University and is currently a graduate student in Madison, Wisconsin. As an artist, Thomas enjoys drawing and etching, and he has spent much of his time in the silk-screening industry. Through his first book, Down the Crawfish Hole, he continues to explore his Louisiana background and his love for Cajun culture.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (February 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589801636
• ISBN-13: 978-1589801639
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,742,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Down the Crawfish Hole, March 10, 2004

By 

Judy Balkin (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down the Crawfish Hole (Hardcover)

Down the Crawfish Hole is well written for children. A wonderful variation of Alice in Wonderland with a little boy fishing as the major character. It is whimsical and magical and children should be enchanted.

The artistry of the illustrations is just fabulous. The drawings are detailed and fun, and perfectly fit the story.

Looking forward to more children's books from Wes Thomas.