I Wanna Iguana [Hardcover]

Karen Kaufman Orloff (Author), David Catrow (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

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.

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
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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam (September 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399237178
• ISBN-13: 978-0399237171
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Reptiles & Amphibians
  • #4 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pets
  • #28 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > Parents

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 is very involved in the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and is co-coordinator of her local branch's annual conference. She 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

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT ART, FUNNY STORY LINE, GOOD TEACHING TOOL. GREAT BOOK!, December 8, 2007

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: I Wanna Iguana [Modern Gem] (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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully silly, February 17, 2005

By 

John Wetterholt (Woodstock, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Wanna Iguana (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:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Wanna Iguana Is Wonderful!, September 21, 2004

By 

Debbie (Walnut Creek, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Wanna Iguana (Hardcover)

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.