Four Little Old Men: A (Mostly) True Tale from a Small Cajun Town [Hardcover]

Burton P. Brodt (Author), Luc Melanson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005 | Age Level: 5 and up

Hey dere--looky here! An award-winning illustrator and a master storyteller team up to create a colorful picture book filled with that unique Cajun spirit and language. Children of all ages will sure be "passin' a good time" with this one-of-a-kind tale.

Come visit Louisiana, land of crawfish and zydeco, where four old men--Bubby, Dumbo, Hebert, and Rigger Moritz--search through the dreamy lowlands to find the perfect place to play their game of cards. The open air seems grand in the spring--when it "shore does look nice outside," but as the weather gets colder, the men start to shiver, so they begin building...and building...and building. Soon, they've constructed an elaborate house!
But when the cool air subsides and the sweet jasmine-scented breezes blow again, the men discover that what they really want is the simple life once more.

Peppered with colorful Cajun lingo, and brightly seasoned with Luc Melanson's whimsical art, this terrific tale treats kids to all the beauty and humor of Louisiana-style storytelling.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4–Four old friends play an endless card game of bouree down on the Mississippi River levee through wind, rain, and cold. As each season rolls around, they adjust, first building a shaky roof frame for a tarp to keep off the rain, then four walls and a real roof so the cold can't come in, until finally they are playing in a snug purple house with window boxes and electricity. But then it's spring again and they move outside for the fresh air, and the purple house is forgotten and finally hauled away. Told in the manner of a tall tale, the story conveys the flavor of Cajun life perfectly and the distinctive cartoon illustrations add to the effect. The old men in particular are wonderfully rendered, as are their surroundings. Nothing much really happens, and readers may question some of the logic, but it sure is fun to pass a good time with Bubby, Dumbo, Cap, and Rigger Moritz.–Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Author

Amusing true story of four old Cajun men who, feeling stifled playing cards indoors, take their daily bouree game outside under a tree near the Mississippi River levee. Later they build a rickety little shelter that slowly becomes a regular house, with windows and electricity. Finally they realize they’ve cut themselves off again from the breeze and the smell of Confederate jasmine. They abandon their house and move back under the tree again. A children’s book that has a lesson for everyone: be careful what you wish for.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402720068
• ISBN-13: 978-1402720062
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,783,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Story for Everyone!, March 15, 2006

By 

S. Wyndham - See all my reviews

This review is from: Four Little Old Men: A (Mostly) True Tale from a Small Cajun Town (Hardcover)

This is a great story for kids and adults of all ages. Beautifully illustrated and filled with interesting characters complete with colorful names and personalities.

The story is both entertaining and thought provoking, illustrating that we can all be happy with what we already have!!

I thoroughly recommend this book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny ways of saying things, May 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Four Little Old Men: A (Mostly) True Tale from a Small Cajun Town (Hardcover)

I'm four-and-a-half, so my mom reads this book to me (and types my review). I like this book a lot, especially the way the old men say things. 'I'm soaking to my skin, and dat's de truth!' and 'Has a possum got a tail?' are my favorites. My other favorite parts are the purple house, the generator, and grown-ups called Stinky. --Max Wessendorf, 4

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story set in Louisiana, March 15, 2006

By 

Gail E. Clark (Eastern Shore of Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Four Little Old Men: A (Mostly) True Tale from a Small Cajun Town (Hardcover)

Finally! A book with a nice message about really enjoying life (on the levees in Louisiana, by the way). Fantastic illustrations and a fun read. Wish I had had it when I was younger.