Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud

by Johnette Downing

Overview

Give a crab a crawfish, and he won't eat for the day!

A long time ago, when Crab and Crawfish were still best friends, Crawfish was feeling particularly lazy--and particularly hungry-as he loafed around the muggy bayou. When Crab arrived with a fish, Crawfish took one listen to his empty belly and decided to trick his good-natured friend. After Crab realizes Crawfish has made a fool of him again, he isn't happy, and before he knows it, Crawfish gets exactly what he deserves. A charming tale cautioning children about the consequences of cheating your friends, this colorful picture book from the critically acclaimed Johnette Downing will delight readers of all ages with its timeless and gentle lesson about integrity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589806788
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	09/08/2009
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	1,102,809
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Johnette Downing is an award-winning and internationally recognized singer and songwriter. Her many accolades include eight Parents' Choice Awards, four iParenting Media Awards, and five National Parenting Publication Awards. She wrote and/or illustrated There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Bugs, Why the Crawfish Lives in the Mud, How to Dress a Po' Boy, Why the Oyster Has the Pearl, Why the Possum Has a Large Grin, Macarooned on a Dessert Island, The Fifolet, and other Pelican titles. Downing lives in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Editorial Reviews

PreS-Gr 2—An original pourquoistory from the Louisiana bayou that pits lazy Crawfish against his best friend. Crab has caught a beautiful fish for his dinner, but when he shows it to his hungry pal, Crawfish mocks it as "ti-tiny" and "itsy bitsy" and inveigles Crab into giving him his "insignificant" catch. Crab goes back to the lake to find the entirely imaginary huge fish that Crawfish says he saw there but returns empty-handed and angry. Confronted by Crab, Crawfish crawls backward and falls into a big pile of mud, where he can be found to this day, hiding from Crab. The story is illustrated with simple, brightly colored collages. A glossary of a few Cajun phrases and some facts about crawfish are included. A humorous choice for storytimes.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA

School Library Journal

In this original pourquoi tale, hungry Crawfish spies the fish that Crab has just caught for his dinner. Wily Crawfish convinces Crab that the fish is much too small for him, goading him into relinquishing his catch into Crawfish's clutches and scuttling further down the bayou in search of a bigger challenge. Contrary to Crawfish's story, Crab finds no big fish in the bayou. He threatens to throw Crawfish into the mud, and Crawfish protests so much that it seems this is heading straight into Br'er Rabbit territory. It turns out Crawfish's protests are genuine, though. As he tries to back away from Crab he accidentally digs a tunnel in the mud and falls into it, where he will live from now on. A serviceable trickster tale jazzed up with Cajun French phrases defined both in the text and in a glossary. The rudimentary collages that serve as illustrations are unappealing and occasionally confusing. Learn and perform this one if you must. Skip the pictures. (Crawfish Fun Facts) (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews