Jackalope [Hardcover]

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

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Never seen a jackalope? Not even sure what one is? Well, you've come to the right place. You'll get the whole wild story right here in this book.
You see, the jackalope didn't start out with horns. First he was a plain old hare. You know, a jackrabbit. The horns came later, along with a corny fairy godrabbit and a cranky coyote. And the trouble those horns brought--hoooo-wee!
With a gut-busting brew of sassy storytelling and outrageous art, Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel finally give the jackalope his due. After all, he's long been part of American legend--isn't it time to tell the real story?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 4-This story, a cross between a tall tale and a fractured fable, is narrated by a traveling armadillo, and abounds in laughs and lessons. Jackrabbit is unhappy about not being fierce. Wishing on a star gets him the attention of a vegetable-punning fairy godrabbit ("Now, lettuce see-") who grants him a pair of horns (hence the jackalope) with the caveat that he not tell lies. Lying, naturally, makes them grow. Coyote happens along, and as Jack dives for his old hiding place, his horns get stuck in the ground. Between them, Godrabbit and Jack foil Coyote and live reasonably happily ever after (punning all the way). The exuberant illustrations and large size make this book ideal for group read-alouds, and the puns will appeal to older audiences. This title is an excellent choice for further discussion of the origins of fractured tales, and the advisability of wishing you were someone other than who you are. A short afterword provides facts on animals that are not what their names imply: jackrabbit's really a hare, antelope a pronghorn, horned toad a lizard. All told, the nutty plot, sympathetic characters, and handsome illustrations make for a roaring good time.
Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. The American western legend of the "jackalope" reaches new heights of silliness in the hands of the Stevens sisters. The narrator, an armadillo in cowboy boots, opens the tale on the front endpaper. Using rhyme, he introduces some famous Jacks (Jack-in-the-box and Jack-of-all-trades) and famous rabbits (Mad Hatter, Easter Bunny) before the story bursts into prose after the title page. The jackrabbit of this tale wants to be scary, but his mirror assures him he isn't, what with his big teeth and supersize glasses. Wishing on a star brings his fairy godrabbit, resplendent in a vegetable-patterned getup, who puns unmercifully on veggies ("Now lettuce see"). Jackrabbit receives a pair of horns, which get him in deep with the fox. The horns are transferred to the fairy godrabbit, and much wackiness ensues, including a fake ending before the real one. Armadillo inserts rhymed commentary throughout, and Stevens' watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations, with bits of photograph and collage, become wilder and more exaggerated as the story heats up. Fun! GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152167366
• ISBN-13: 978-0152167363
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #544,343 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 Hilarious and original, March 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Jackalope (Hardcover)

I work in a small town library, and today when the UPS man came in the door with the Jackalope in a delivery box, it just made my day. No quiet was had at the front desk while reading this original and hilarious tale. Of course being a Texan didn't hurt understanding the story line--the jackalope is legendary here. The illulstrations are top rate, and as good as any of the previous efforts by the authors. The story is original and wonderfully retold.
I can't wait to share it with my grandson as well as the story time with the young readers at the library. My big two thumbs up!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This strange creature is sure to eventually turnip somewhere, May 6, 2004

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Jackalope (Hardcover)

I purchased this book because it had such an intersting title: JACKALOPE. Simple, yet mysterious. A jackalope is an imaginary (well, maybe not totally imaginary) creature that has the body of a jack rabbit and the horns of an antelope. This book is "the absolute truth" about what happened to the jackalope. The story is narrated by a crudgy old armadillo who sits in a lawn chair.

Basically, there once was a jack rabbit named Jack who wasn't happy being who he was. He wanted to be a fierce and frightening creature. One day he wished upon a star and his fairy godrabbit appeared and gave him the horns of an antelope. But there was a catch, but Jack was so excited, he didn't listen to what the catch was.

This is a hilarious story that mixes everything together from American tall tales to classic fairy tales. There's a little bit of Cinderella, Pinocchio, the big bad wolf (coyote) from Little Red Riding Hood involved. There's also a touch of Aesop's fables and a magic mirror that is probably a cousin to the one in Snow White. All of this and vegetable jokes and witty wordplay. Plus, some really clever illustrations. Tack on a false ending and some scientific facts about jackrabbits, antelope, and horned toads and you've got yourself one mighty fine story. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a great story, age doesn't matter.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Silly, corny--lots of fun!, November 5, 2003

By 

E. S. Will "a new leaf" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jackalope (Hardcover)

The sister duo who produced this book obviously had lots of fun--with word play, corny jokes, rhymes, and borrowed bits and pieces of classic tales-a fairy godrabbit and a magic mirror that admonishes, "I don't just reflect, I need your respect." They tack on a false ending plus an old-fashioned moral: "Like yourself as you are."

They set out to tell the TRUE story of that unique Western creature--the jackalope, a jack rabbit with antelope horns--and pull it off wonderfully with an irreverent attitude and silly illustrations.