Lu and the Swamp Ghost [Hardcover]

James Carville (Author), Patricia C. McKissack (Author), David Catrow (Illustrator)

Book Description

"When I was a little boy, my favorite stories where the ones Mama told about the adventures she had growing up....Now that I have two little girls of my own, I want to share one of my mama's stories with them, and with you. And so, approche.... " -- James Carville

Mama always said, "You're never poor if you have a loving family and one good friend." Well, Lu has a family but no friend -- so maybe she is just a little poor. How all changes one day down on the Louisiana bayou -- when Lu comes face-to-face with a for-real, live swamp ghost -- is at the heart of this flavorful, funny...and compassionate story.

Meet a girl with lots of pluck and plenty of courage in this Depression-era tale that's based on an episode in the childhood of James Carville's mother.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Carville is the best-known and most-loved political consultant in American history. He is also a speaker, talk-show host, actor, and author with six New York Times bestsellers to his credit. Part of a large Southern family, he grew up without a television and loved to listen to the stories his mama told. Mr. Carville lives with his wife, Mary Matalin, and their two daughters in New Orleans.

Patricia C. McKissack is the author of many highly acclaimed books for children, including Goin' Someplace Special, a Coretta Scott King Award

winner; The Honest-to-Goodness Truth; Let My People Go, written with her

husband, Fredrick, and recipient of the NAACP Image Award; The Dark-Thirty, a Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award winner; and Mirandy and Brother Wind, recipient of the Caldecott Medal and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

David Catrow is the illustrator of numerous notable books for children, including the other Silly Dilly books, as well as Kathryn Lasky's She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. Mr. Catrow is also a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist whose work appears in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Sun-Times, as well as in nine hundred other newspapers. He lives in Springfield, Ohio.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum/Anne Schwartz Books; Book and CD-ROM edition (August 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689865600
• ISBN-13: 978-0689865602
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #360,195 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Children's Books > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths > United States

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You are very rich if you have one good friend., September 9, 2004

By 

Avalon "always reading in San Diego" (San Diego,CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lu and the Swamp Ghost (Hardcover)

I enjoyed Patricia Mckissack & James Carville's lovely story set in the Lousiana Depression-era about a little girl hearing lots of talk about hardtimes with people out of work, no jobs and about her adventures in the swamp meeting up with a real swamp ghost, or so it seems at first. Little Lu shows her big caring heart when she be friends the ghost only to find out he's a little orphan boy. It is here we see her joy in finding one good friend and feeling mighty rich from it. David Catrow has out done himself again with his fabulously fun illustrations. This book also comes with a CD read by James Carville giving the listener a good flavor of that Lousiana drawl. A great story about family and friends.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, September 9, 2004

By 

Patty "pmd" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lu and the Swamp Ghost (Hardcover)

I read the book to my son and he loved it. I think Paula should read the book before she reviews it. Unfortunately Paula hasn't taught her child the old saying "don't judge a book by its cover". Maybe Paula should see if the FOX News Channel will let her fill in for Bill O'Reilly when he reviews a book. There is one book I think her child will love its called "My Pet Goat".

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CLASSIC BOOK IN THE MAKING, January 19, 2005

By 

Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lu and the Swamp Ghost (Hardcover)

My son is only 2 1/2 but sits still for this story aimed at 4 -6 year olds. He just likes the story and the art. And wonderfully imaginative art it is by David Catrow. It's written by James Carville...yes THAT James Carville. KNown most for being a former advisor to President Clinton, Carville grew up in the swamplands of Louisiana and writes a captivating children's tale of the mysterious bayou country.

Lu is a poor little girl who has no friends her age. One day she encounters the legendary swamp ghost of whom tales have become legend in her neck of the woods. But all is not what it seems with this "ghost" and soon Lu finds a true friend as Carville teaches a well thought out lesson about impressions we have about people. Nicely done and the fact that it's about a "ghost" really intrigued my little one.

Lu and the Swamp Ghost is a wonderful book that should be read to kids of almost any age and a sure to be classic.