Lucy Goes to the Country (Alyson Wonderland) [Hardcover]

Joseph Kennedy (Author), John Canemaker (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Alyson Wonderland

Madcap adventures ensue when a gay couple and their cat spend the weekend in the country.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This picture book promotes tolerance for gay people by putting them into the background of a caper starring a saucy cat named Lucy. A somewhat garrulous narrator, Lucy lives in the city with her two "Big Guys" and travels with them to the country on the weekends. At a backyard barbecue, she takes an instant dislike to a little dog, Shmoofy ("He's a rat with bad hair and an attitude to match"), and chases him up a tree. In the process, the two knock down a hive of furious bees, sending guests diving for cover, and then need firemen to rescue them from their treetop perch. Except for a reference to two female party guests who arrive with "their daughter, Liza," it's up to readers to infer the human characters' relationships from Canemaker's cartoony illustrations (e.g., of two pairs of Big Guy feet sticking out from under the covers). Much of the art is overly busy and the palette seems a few notches too bright; Lucy, however, sports a wardrobe of imperious expressions and personality to burn. The best element here is a flip-book effect (made up of a series of thumbnail sketches in a bottom corner of each spread) of Lucy chasing a butterfly. But the book could do without a couple of arch jokes aimed at adults (one of the Big Guys makes eyes at a muscular fireman while his disgruntled partner looks on; a train station boasts the sign "Peckerwood"). Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555834280
• ISBN-13: 978-1555834289
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,377,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Bay Windows, San Francisco, June 11, 1998, January 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucy Goes to the Country (Alyson Wonderland) (Hardcover)

Reviewed by Harriet L. Schwartz Recent news has confirmed that the battle over gay-related children's books in public libraries continues. Most recently, a Baptist minister in Texas attempted to keep "Heather Has Two Mommies" and "Daddy's Roommate" out of circulation by checking out and then buying the books, according to the Associated Press. However, publicity in the town's newspapers magnified local interest in the books, forcing the libraries to obtain extra copies. Soon, anti-gay advocate will have another book to battle when Alyson Wonderland releases "Lucy Goes to the Country"...a vividly illustrated book that follows the story of Lucy as she travels to the country with her "two Big Guys." Children will follow Lucy's funny encounters with birds, guests, and a dog, while adults will catch a second level of humor.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!, October 28, 2000

By 

Susan McGee (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lucy Goes to the Country (Alyson Wonderland) (Hardcover)

This is an absolute must buy. The story is totally delightful -- cat lovers, take notice! Lucy the cat migrates from the City to the country every week with her two big guys, and this story is about her (mis)adventures at their weekend party.

The fact that her big people are two men obviously in love and partnered is incidental to the story, which makes it almost unique (Anna O'Day and the O Ring is the only other one I can think of, and that story is pretty blah). The gay subtext is most amusing when one of the men is enamored of the adorable fireman who comes to rescue Lucy from one of her misadventures (while the other glares).

The illustratations are terrific! This book is on my holiday list to give to all kids in this age range.

Susan McGee,
Northern California

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Lucy to love!, June 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucy Goes to the Country (Alyson Wonderland) (Hardcover)

I thought no book about cats could equal May Sarton's marvelous "The Fur Person"...but I was wrong! Lucy is a rambunctious amber and white cat who lives in a New York apartment, which she shares with her two "Big Guys". The authors, the two "Big Guys" who are Lucy's family, paint a loving portrait of their favorite feline's adventures as she, in her dreaded red bag, goes to the Guys' country house for the weekend. Hilarious, charming, and beautifully illustrated, this book is a childrens' book but it'll appeal to anyone who loves cats, and appreciates loving families of all kinds. My partner and I just lost our 20 year old calico, Calliope, so this book was especially meaningful and touching for us! More of Lucy's adventures, please, Guys!