Granny Gert and the Bunion Brothers [Hardcover]

Dotti Enderle (Author), Joe Kulka (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2006 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Buddy and Buck Bunion not only lack in the brains department, but they are worthless rascals as well. Granny Gert straightens them out by threatening to sic Mad Dog on them if they donít behave. But when the Bunion Brothers both fall for Grannyís granddaughter, Starla Scissors, the trouble really begins!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–3—A promising start becomes bogged down in stereotypes in this tall tale of simpletons from down South. Known as the "dumbest boys in Texas," the Bunion Brothers find work with Granny Gert-a cantankerous, diminutive woman who has a "Mad Dog" and a gorgeous granddaughter, Starla Scissors. Buck and Buddy are immediately smitten and can barely keep their minds on their chores. Soon they are snarling and fighting with one another for Starla's attention, with Granny whacking and threatening the men with "Mad Dog" to keep them away from her. When Starla's equally attractive twin appears, the brothers settle in for courting the willing young women. The art, featuring a droopy-chested Granny and a bodacious babe of a granddaughter (complete with slightly suggestive poses), misses the sensibilities of its young audience. The ending, revealing "Mad Dog" as a piglet, seems tacked on. Phyllis Root's Aunt Nancy and Cousin Lazybones (Candlewick, 1998) and Ellen Jackson's Scatterbrain Sam (Charlesbridge, 2001) mine some of the same territory much more successfully.—Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI
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From the Publisher

Praise for Dotti Enderle’s "The Cotton Candy Catastrophe at the Texas State Fair":

"This is a cute story, with enough subtletly and adult humor to make the repeated readings fun for parents, too." -The Reading Tub "Houston author and storyteller Dotti Enderle has penned a delightful tale..."-Abilene Reporter-News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (September 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589803736
• ISBN-13: 978-1589803732
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,511,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars SFC 5 star review, March 18, 2008

By 

Virginia S. Grenier "Children's Author & Stor... (Ivins, Utah USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Granny Gert and the Bunion Brothers (Hardcover)

This is one of the funniest and yet creative picture books I've read in a long time. Parents will enjoy reading the story about how the Bunion Brothers fall in love with Starla, the granddaughter of their new employer. The brothers shirk their duties to fight over Starla's hand and when Granny Gert finds them . . . she threatens to sick Mad Dog on the brothers.

The illustrations are lively and colorful. Children will smile and laugh at all the antics the Bunion Brothers pull to catch Starla's eye. And there is a twist ending to this gem of a picture book.

3.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Story of Two Brothers and a Fiesty Granny, April 19, 2007

By 

Melissa Markham (Huddleston, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Granny Gert and the Bunion Brothers (Hardcover)

This is a cute book about two brothers who go to work for a fiesty grandma and they fall in love with her lovely granddaughter, Starla Scissors. As I read the story, I couldn't help but fall into southern accent and different voices. My children laughed throughout the book and we enjoyed the sayings like "Buddy and Buck jumped at the offer like a couple of hound dogs on a ham". My daughter loved the identity of Mad Dog at the end of the story (she is 7).

The illustrations add to the story and are really right on the money. Some may not like the somewhat stereotypical portrayal of these southerners. We just took it as a fun story.

5.0 out of 5 stars open the door for further discussion, October 17, 2006

By 

Reader Views "Reviews, by readers, for readers" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Granny Gert and the Bunion Brothers (Hardcover)

Reviewed by Shannon Bailes for Reader Views (10/06)

This is a delightful book for children that really has no meaning, but is fun. The vernacular used throughout the book is whimsical and illustrates that style of language used by country folk. The illustrations will keep children amused throughout the story. The author uses words such as, "varmints," "walloped," and "flapjack," which are beautiful language words that children do not often have the privilege to read in text, or may not even know what they mean. This offers a great opportunity for learning. The two songs included in the text are quirky and cute--something children love to read.

The plot of the story is two brothers think they find love in the same person, only to find they do not have to fight over her, there is another girl much the same as the first. Most books have a moral, and this would be that you should put nothing before the "brotherly love" that you feel for a sibling, not even a pretty gal!

As a Director of a children's literacy program that promotes quality children's literature, I would recommend this to others to share with their children. It has a quality not found in the run of the mill books that line children's shelves today. It would also open the door for further discussion about caring for each other, and life in another part of the country.

Book received free of charge.