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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Huck Runs Amuck!

I could not resist posting on today's book, Huck Runs Amuck!  It is a fun read --  with a lovable, a very distinctive main character, and lots of unpredictability.
Title: Huck Runs Amuck!
Author: Sean Taylor
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011
Fiction or non-Fiction: Fiction
Audience age: 5 to 8
Theme: Humor, Animals, Helping Others, Determination, Fun, Language Fun, Making Choices

Opening pages: 
"Here's a mountain goat by the name of HUCK. 
Do you like his trendy beard?"

Synopsis: From Amazon, "Meet Huck. He loves flowers. FLOWERS, FLOWERS, FLOWERS. And he'll do whatever it takes to get a mouthful: climb the highest mountain, walk a tightrope, even defy speeding trains! It's true, he can't resist! But when his mad dash up a church spire is mistaken for a heroic attempt to save Mrs. Spooner's flowery hat (rather than a determined effort to eat it), Huck has a crisis of conscience. Can anything deter this goat from his gastronomical bliss?"

Resources:
I could not find any activities on the web specific to this book.  However, one possible activity could be based around the idea of making choices.  Huck's choice of eating Mrs. Spooner's flowery hat v. saving it could be a discussion point, with teachers asking children to provide reasons in support of either option.  Rhyming activities and rhyming worksheets may also be included into a lesson plan based around this book.

Why I like this book:
This book is fun to read aloud -- it is fast-paced, unpredictable, and full of the three R's -- rhythm, rhyme, and repetition.  The character of Huck, insane as he is about flowers, is hilarious and lovable.  The illustrations are whimsical and depict crazy Huck perfectly.

For more Picture Perfect Books please visit author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog.

15 comments:

  1. The picture ogf Huck on the cover is great! Huck does look CRAZY for flowers! I hope he didn't eat the hat!!

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  2. I've never heard of this book and it looks excellent! Huck looks nutty on the cover, I think this would be a good one for my youngest son. Thank you!

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  3. When I saw the title of this book, I laughed. Then when I saw the cover photo, I just about died. THEN I saw it was illustrated by Peter Reynolds!!!

    This one might have to go on the purchase list...

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  4. Ooh I think this is my favorite of the day, as a capricorn I love a goat story.

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  5. Huck is soo cool! Awesome cover. This looks like a precious story. Great of you to add it to the list. I had never heard of it. :-)

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  6. The cover is so appealing. This sounds like just the kind of book I love. Thanks for the review.

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  7. Love anything Peter Reynolds illustrates -- and the cover is so clever and colorful Sounds like a story kids would have a lot of fun with.

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  8. Huck looks like a winner to me! Peter Reynolds is awesome. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  9. Peter H. Reynolds is one of my favorite author/illustrators. I have not seen this book before! Thanks for adding it to the list, I will go check it out!

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  10. I feel Huck's dilemma. I see this bag of jelly beans, opened, and should really stop eating them and save them for Easter but there they are!!

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  11. The title, the cover and the description all have me hooked. (Then, I saw a squirrel forgot to do the captcha and lost my comment). I'm putting this on hold for the library.

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  12. This is a very lovely book. Like Stacy I was hooked by the title, cover and description. Bright and crazy.... love it! Thank you.

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  13. I love rhyming books. They're very appealing, not to mention important for developing reading skills. Thanks!
    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful

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  14. Oh Margaret! A picture book illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds!! I've only read his other work, Someday written by Alison McGhee. I love his artworks. Huck Runs Amuck looks (and sounds) like a hilarious read. I enjoy reading about goofy-and-cute-looking animals in picture books. I can picture in my head right now Huck the Goat beside Russell the Sheep. =)

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