From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4–This Cajun adaptation of Alice in Wonderland never realizes its full potential. A young boy takes Alice's role as the daydreaming interloper who follows a blue crawfish down a hole and into a world populated by swamp-creature caricatures. Maurice meets a variety of odd personalities, has a few adventures, and falls into the clutches of the temperamental Toad Queen and her court. The story is a skeletal outline of Lewis Carroll's original, with the setting, characters, and props of the Louisiana bayou substituted for those of Victorian England. All of the salient points are here and the action moves quickly, but the writing lacks the flavor of the pralines and gumbo that Maurice eats to grow and shrink. For example, instead of the Mad Hatter and March Hare's tea party, there is "an old trapper and an alligator eating supper together" without so much as a fais-do-do or fish fry. The plot is condensed to fit the shorter picture-book format, and there is none of the fascinating detail that would bring the fantasy elements to life. Filled with whimsical humor, the ink-lined watercolor illustrations are much more effective than the text. Children might enjoy Maurice's journey, especially if it is presented as a vibrant read-aloud, but it offers no lagniappe.–Sean George, Memphis-Shelby County Public Library & Information Center, Memphis, TN
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
Join Maurice as he travels through an enchanted bayou land! While fishing with his brother one morning, Maurice sees a little blue crawfish examining his watch, yelling "I'm late! I'm late!" The crawfish then jumps into a large hole and Maurice, seeing that the watch was left behind, decides to follow him down the crawfish hole. Little does he know the fantastic adventure he is about to have or the unusual characters he will encounter. Maurice makes his way through the swampy bayou, meeting a timid armadillo, a wild old Cajun trapper, a crazy alligator, and a mysterious opossum. He finally makes his way to the little blue crawfish waiting for him with the mean and ruthless Toad Queen! The colourful illustrations provide an enchanted view of southern scenery, while the unique and creative tale encourages children to use their imaginations and enjoy references to Cajun culture. For those who are not familiar with Louisiana and the south, the scenes of Cajun lifestyle, food, and wildlife allow both children and adults to learn about the culture, in a story that is already familiar. Ages 5 to 8 years.
