The Great Fuzz Frenzy [Hardcover]

Susan Stevens Crummel (Author), Janet Stevens (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Deep, deep down in their underground town, the prairie dogs live in harmony--until a mysterious, fluorescent, very fuzzy thing (otherwise known as a tennis ball) rolls down their hole. When the prairie dogs discover that they can pluck and pull the fuzz into fabulous fashions, their fear quickly turns to curiosity, then delight, then pure greed.

The frenzy that erupts threatens to tear apart the prairie-dog town forever. But when mean ol' Big Bark is kidnapped after taking all the fuzz for himself, the prairie dogs come to the rescue and remember the true meaning of community.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2–It all begins innocently enough, when Violet the dog drops a fuzzy green tennis ball down a prairie-dog hole on the title page. When it finally lands deep in the underground tunnels, dozens of little dogs are gazing at it with trepidation. The biggest prairie dog of all, the bully Big Bark, comes to take a look, but before he can get close enough, Pip Squeak runs up to the ball and exclaims, ‘It's fuzzy!' ‘Oooooooh!' gasped the other dogs. Soon, they all begin adorning themselves with pieces of lime-green fuzz, ignoring Big Bark's commands that they stop this foolishness. Prairie dogs come from all over to help themselves until the ball is plucked bare. War breaks out, leaving Pip Squeak feeling rather guilty for starting it all. While the embattled dogs collapse in exhaustion, Big Bark steals all of the fuzz, proclaiming himself king of the fuzz, which makes him an easy target for an eagle, who swoops down and grabs him. Pip Squeak rallies the others to come to Big Bark's aid. The marvelously rendered mixed-media illustrations, with vivid blues, earthy browns, and that luminescent green, capture the true fuzzy nature and greenish glow of the ball. As in the author's popular Tops and Bottoms (Harcourt, 1995), this book employs both horizontal and vertical spreads, effectively taking readers deep into the underground realm. A wonderful addition for storyhours, this title will be requested again and again.–Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. Only the Stevens sisters could create such an over-the-top tale about fuzz. A big, red dog drops a green tennis ball down a prairie dog burrow, and a "fuzz reaction" erupts there. Everyone--except Big Bark--wants to twirl and swirl the stuff all over themselves, from head to toe. When the ball is plucked fuzzless, a fighting frenzy breaks out. After the feuding stops, the dogs discover Big Bark has snatched the goods and proclaimed himself "King of the Fuzz," a title short-lived when a hungry eagle plucks him up for lunch. Never fear, however: Big Bark lives on to bark another day. The mixed-media illustrations are classic Stevens, with the book's oversize format providing wide-angle close-ups and a good platform for both horizontal and vertical foldouts. Big Bark's bottle-cap hat and the dogs' farcical expressions play up the humor in the text, but it's the textured, chartreuse fuzz that steals the show. This fun-filled story demands to be read aloud. Julie Cummins
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; FIRST EDITIION edition (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152046267
• ISBN-13: 978-0152046262
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 11.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #322,232 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My second and third grade students loved this book!, February 19, 2006

By 

columbiauni (lafayette, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Great Fuzz Frenzy (Hardcover)

Picture books must be truly intelligent, creative and entertaining to amuse my second and third grade class. This one was the biggest winner of the year with my students! They laughed UPROARIOUSLY at every detailed picture and continued to talk about it well after the story was over. It's great for Read Aloud because it gives parents/teachers the opportunity to "ham up" the voices of the prairie dogs. The content is appropriate for younger students, but the humor keeps elementary school kids riveted! Fun for adults, too!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRULY A FUN READ. THE KIDS LOVE IT!, December 8, 2007

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Great Fuzz Frenzy (Hardcover)

One day a dog drops a green, fuzzy tennis ball down a hole which is the home of a group of prairie dogs. The fun then begins. This strange object, with the strage and wonderful fuzzy stuff absolutely fascinates each member of the prairie dog city. The little critters come up with some rather unique uses for the green stuff. The illustrations are wonderful as is the story. It is actually funny and a joy to read.

I read this one to the younger classes at school and the kids love it. I get quite a number of requests for rereads, which is a pretty good endorsement for any children's book. There are several fold out pages which show various parts of the prairie dog city which makes it ideal for reading to a group. The text is great and holds the interest of the children. The art is colorful, funny and well executed.

This one really should be in your reading library. I use it for kindergarten through third grade, although I suspect that even the ones that are a bit older even enjoy it. I know I do.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun "What if?" based on a real experience, December 19, 2005

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Great Fuzz Frenzy (Hardcover)

A pet dog drops a tennis ball into a prairie dog hole. What must the colony inhabitants think of it? What, if anything, would they do with it? In this case, the incident stirs up "The Great Fuzz Frenzy." When a bit of the ball's green fuzz adorns one prairie dog's head, all of the other animals grow envious and must have some fuzz for themselves. The excitement almost spells doom for the loudest resident, Big Bark; for in his preoccupation with green, he forgets to do his job and look out for danger. Tragedy is averted and the fuzz turns out to accidentally save him, and a lesson is learned. No one needs fuzz anymore. Or do they?

This amusing anecdote is accompanied by thoroughly enjoyable illustrations. Every page of this book -- including the end papers and the title and dedication pages -- carries a drawing that is part of the story. Several pages open up to reveal even more details of the prairie dog tunnel system. "The Great Fuzz Frenzy" is told and drawn by sisters who are obviously familiar with the aging process of the typical tennis ball. The only thing missing is the inevitable drenching of doggie slobber that usually coats a well-used canine toy. Great fun for readers of all ages!