I'm a Manatee: (Book and CD) [Hardcover]

John Lithgow (Author), Ard Hoyt (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

From time to time

I dream that

I'm a manatee,

Undulating

underneath

the sea

A little boy dreams of becoming a manatee, and what a dream it is! With his new gigan-atee manatee proportions, he sets off on an underwater adventure with his manatee friends.

Join John Lithgow and Ard Hoyt on this silly aquatic escapade, then sing along with John, who performs "I'm a Manatee" on the enclosed CD.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Not blessed with the adorable good looks of a koala, the mythic mystery of a dinosaur, or even the useful familiarity of a dog, the manatee is an infrequent hero in the world of children's literature. It doesn't help matters that the poor thing has a name that's so difficult to rhyme. But the unnamed hero of John Lithgow and Ard Hoyt's I'm a Manatee (really, a boy dreaming he is a manatee) sees plenty of upside to the life of the animal that's been indelicately nicknamed the "cow of the sea." And when rhymes are unavailable to state his case, he simply makes some up: "Encumbered by my lumbering gigan-atee,/ I'm thought to be an ocean-going brute!/ The least appealing creature on the planet-ee,/ But to a manatee, I'm cute!" The words in the book are the same as the lyrics in the song version of I'm a Manatee, which is included on an enclosed CD featuring a singing Lithgow as well as in musical notation in the back of the book. The verses sound more natural in their original musical form than they do read aloud in the pages of the book where they can clunk a bit. Still, there's much to like about in this aquatic flight of fancy, including the kind of wordplay moms and dads will enjoy (very few kids' books contain the phrase "immune from human folly and inanity") and Hoyt's illustrations of the title animal, which manages to be simultaneously homely and adorable. (Ages 4 to 8) --John Moe

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4-Lithgow applies his facility with music and language to create a witty, whimsical underwater fantasy. Based on the premise of a boy who dreams that he is a manatee, this song has sophisticated vocabulary and a dignified cadence and rhyme. Many elementary school children will not understand words like "inanity," "urbanity," "idle vanity," and "encumbered," so adults may need to translate the verses. Also, reading aloud requires practice in order to master the rhythm. However, music is the universal language understood by all, so just pop in the accompanying CD and stride along with the humorous lyrics and steady beat. Done in colored pencils, pen, and ink, the full- and double-page illustrations are fun and engaging. Hoyt's smirking manatees are positively endearing. An amusing accompaniment to units on this popular species.
Be Astengo, Alachua County Library, Gainesville, FL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers; Rei/Com edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689854277
• ISBN-13: 978-0689854279
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Books on Cassette > Children's Books

More About the Author

Writing a children's book was not something that I pursued. It pursued me. It started when I was asked to write a narration for a symphony for kids. I realized that it had the text for a book. From that text "The Remarkable Farkle McBride" was born. And once the first book was successful, others followed.

My sixth (!) children's book, "Marsupial Sue Presents the Runaway Pancake," was just published this fall. This is a sequel to "Marsupial Sue," one of my most popular storybook characters.This story was inspired in part by two different things: The "Runaway Pancake" song is a guaranteed show stopper whenever I sing it in one of my Paloozicals Concert for Kids , and my performing on Broadway this year in "Dirty Rotton Scoundrels" made me think that Sue might like to put on a show of her own with all of her animal friends.

I credit my parents for fostering my love of literature and books. I have fond memories of my father reading chapters aloud from great thick books like "The Jungle Book" and "A Teller of Tales".

I have carried on my father's tradition by reading aloud to my own kids when they were little. I have also started a few traditions of my own, like singing to them and playing really mediocre guitar, building castles with them out of refrigerator boxes and treasure hunts across museums. Once I even created a very elaborate paper chase across the entire campus of UCLA for my daughter Phoebe's 16th Birthday. Some of these games were inspiration for all of the Lithgow Palooza books and books with kits that have been published by both Simon and Schuster and Running Press.

Although writing is an arduous process for me, there is nothing better than seeing a child falling in love with one of my stories.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lithgow pens another hit!, September 9, 2003

By 

"musicotb" (Youngstown, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm a Manatee: (Book and CD) (Hardcover)

I saw this book and could not resist it. Being a lover of "Marsuial Sue," and a manatee fanatic, I had to get it. The book is so witty. John Lithgow is a remarkable linguist. The music is also very cute, and the illustrations are adorable. I highly recommend this book, as well as other Lithgow titles. I promise you'll enjoy them =)

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How does he do that!?!?!?!, December 15, 2003

By 

Carol J. Marotti (Glendale, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm a Manatee: (Book and CD) (Hardcover)

How does John Lithgow manage to teach such an important concept in such a fun way. My daughter was introduced to Mantees for the first time in this book and she ended up adoring them. The book has a couple pages of illustration that subtly introduce the plight of the Manatee and why they are endangered. I chose to take that opportunity to educate my daughter on why Manatees are endangered.

We are planning a trip to Sea World so she can see Mantees and she is thrilled. Thank you John Lithgow for your excellent educational, extremely fun books. Keep them coming.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Manatee Lovers Unite!, January 3, 2005

By 

Julie Jordan Scott "Writer, Life Coach - Owne... (Bakersfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm a Manatee: (Book and CD) (Hardcover)

I am a long time manatee enthusiast - so much so that I collect them. I remember the first time I set eyes on a manatee I said, "This is so ugly it's adorable!"

Fast forward 10+ years to John Lithgow's amazing poetic and musical love song to both the manatee and life itself and yes, here is a surefire way to share my admiration of manatees with my three year old son.

This beautifully illustrated, cleverly worded and musically accompanied book combines humor and education to give children a memorable excursion into the life (and challenges and delights) of being a manatee.

Take it one step further and inquire with your children.... " Do you ever dream of being a (fill in the blank of their favored animal.)?"

"What would that be like?"

Lithgow stretches the imagination of each reader and participant in this tremendous book - and you can expand it even wider. This is one I will never tire of reading... no make that experiencing. It would be a treasure on every child's bookshelf.