Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana, so he puts his arguments in writing. He promises that she won't have to feed it or clean its cage or even see it if she doesn't want to. Of course Mom imagines life with a six-foot-long iguana eating them out of house and home. Alex's reassurances: It takes fifteen years for an iguana to get that big. I'll be married by then and probably living in my own house. and his mom's replies: How are you going to get a girl to marry you when you own a giant reptile? will have kids in hysterics as the negotiations go back and forth through notes. And the lively, imaginative illustrations show their polar opposite dreams of life with an iguana.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3–This funny story is told through an amusing exchange of notes, as Alex tries to convince his seemingly unshakable mother that he should be allowed to adopt a friend's baby iguana ("If I don't take it, he goes to Stinky and Stinky's dog, Lurch, will eat it. You don't want that to happen, do you?"). The boy pulls out all the stops in his arguments: iguanas are quiet (so are tarantulas, Mom counters); the reptile could be kept on the dresser (they grow to over six feet, Mom replies); the iguana could be the brother he's always wanted (you already have a brother, Mom reminds him). Featuring his signature cartoon characters, Catrow's illustrations provide a hilarious extension of the text. Alex, with his unruly red cowlicks and kewpie-doll shape, is totally disarming, as is the iguana, which makes imaginative appearances strumming a guitar on a bike, sporting tiny swim trunks, and reading in bed. The tale is perfect for reader's-theater presentations and could also be used effectively as a writing prompt for older children. It will make even the most serious youngsters giggle.–Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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More About the Author
Karen Kaufman Orloff has written four books for children: "I Wanna Iguana," (G.P. Putnam, 2004), "If Mom Had Three Arms," (Sterling, 2006), "I Wanna New Room," (G.P. Putnam, Dec., 2010) and "Talk Oscar, Please!" (Sterling, March 2011). She has two forthcoming children's books from Peter Pauper Press, writes two columns for "The Poughkeepsie Journal" and teaches writing classes in Millbrook, NY for adults interested in children's publishing. Visit her website: www.karenkaufmanorloff.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Karen Orloff and David Catrow have teamed up in this one to give us a very funny story of a little boy, Alex, who wants very, very much to have his own pet Iguana. The problem is...obviously, Mom! The entire book is consists of notes, or mini-letters, written between Alex and his mom. The little boy of course is pointing out the obvious advantages of having his own lizard in his room (in his eyes), and his mom counters each note with her own note pointing out the obvious disadvantages of having a reptile in the home..a reptile that can possibly grow to several feet long!. The unique exchange of letters is absolutely hilarious.
Each letter, both from Alex and from mom, is highlighted with some wonderful illustrations and pictures by David Catrow. They fit the text perfectly which makes this book quite easy to read to an individual child or to a group. Each letter allows the reader to open up discussion as to the arguments presented by both mom and Alex. It is fun to have the kids think of other reasons for both sides of the argument.
All in all, this is a fine little book and I do recommend you add it to your library. You certainly cannot go wrong with this one.
Each letter, both from Alex and from mom, is highlighted with some wonderful illustrations and pictures by David Catrow. They fit the text perfectly which makes this book quite easy to read to an individual child or to a group. Each letter allows the reader to open up discussion as to the arguments presented by both mom and Alex. It is fun to have the kids think of other reasons for both sides of the argument.
All in all, this is a fine little book and I do recommend you add it to your library. You certainly cannot go wrong with this one.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a marvellously ingenious book! Alex is just the right kind of precocious vocabulary-heavy kid to pull off the story, and his mom is a perfect foil for his scheme. My daughter loves this book, so naturally we read it a lot!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Debbie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Our family LOVES I Wanna Iguana. Karen Kaufman Orloff's inventive story shows a wonderful, loving and humor-filled parent-child relationship in such a fun way. We read it over and over again, which makes us very happy.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great for vocabulary
This story is great for teaching new, sophisticated vocabulary. It is also great to use as a model for friendly letters.
Published 1 month ago by Emily
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book
Cute book. A nice read aloud for young kids and adults, too. Great art work throughout and wonderful storyline. Enjoyed it!
Published 1 month ago by R. Searight
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great writing resource
I use this book as a starter resource for first graders in writing persuasive argument paragraphs. Great topic for kids.
Published 3 months ago by Roger Mayer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Its a HIT
This is my second copy...the first was so used, the pages were falling out. I use this in my second grade classroom every year. The art work is the bomb too!
Published 3 months ago by M. Wenger
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Wanna Iguana
This book is funny and original. What I particularly liked about it is that it doesn't simplify its vocabulary as so many children's books do. Read more
Published 4 months ago by JayTee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Friendly Letter Standards
I bought this book to use in 2nd grade while working on "Friendly Letters" with my students (a new common core standard). Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dawn R. Haney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great paired with I Wanna New Room by the same author...
Nice example of persuasive writing that students really enjoyed reading...both of Orloff's I Wanna books are checked out frequently in our library.
Published 4 months ago by Texas librarian
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for kids
Includes letter writing, persuasion, and trying to show responsibility for a pet. Very cute read-a-loud and enjoyable for all ages.
Published 5 months ago by Katie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Too cute!
Love love love this book... My son has giggled every time we read it. It is just a fun and attention grabbing book!
Published 16 months ago by Ccb
4.0 out of 5 stars
A cute book but not a keeper.
A cute book for a child trying to convince his mom to get him an iguana. The dialogue is in correspondence form. As noted above, a cute book, but not a keeper.
Published 18 months ago by A. Alexander
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