Skippyjon Jones

by Judy Schachner, Judy Schachner (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Perhaps of the same litter as Puss-N-Boots, Skyppyjohn Jones is one prolific kitten. He is one efficient paw of justice as he seeks out the various banditos and baddies that need stopping. This series is so much fun!

Holy guacamole! Meet the #1 New York Times bestselling Skippyjon Jones!

Skippyjon Jones is no ordinary kitten. Oh, no. . . .He's actually El Skippito, a great sword-fighter ready to battle banditos the world over! With a little imagination and a whole lot of fun, this frisky cat dons a mask and cape and takes on a bad bumble-beeto to save the day. And along the way, he'll be sure to steal young reader's hearts, yes indeed-o!

My name is Skippito Friskito. 
I fear not a single bandito. 
My manners are mellow, 
I'm sweet like the Jell-O, 
I get the job done, yes indeed-o. 


*"Both feline hero and story are full of beans (more Mexican-jumping than pinto) but ay caramba, mucho fun."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Buoyant and colorful cartoon illustrations match the exuberant text perfectly."—School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142404034
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	04/07/2005
Series:	Skippyjon Jones Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	26,135
Product dimensions:	10.50(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.13(d)
Lexile:	AD740L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Judith Byron Schachner (www.judithbyronschachner.com) has been illustrating and writing children's books since 1992 and has given numerous presentations in schools and libraries. Her workshops are designed to be warm and personal with a special regard for the less than stellar student. In 1995, Judith wrote and illustrated her first picture book, Willy and May, and has turned out a number of projects since then.

Editorial Reviews

The Siamese hero of this caper sleeps in a nest-with the birds-and is convinced that he's really a Chihuahua in disguise, and saves his pals from a giant Bumblebeeto Bandito. Ages 4-up. (Apr.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 3-This is a wildly wonderful book about a hyperactive kitten, Skippyjon Jones, whose head and ears are too big for his body, and whose imagination is too intense for his mama. According to her, he needs to do some serious thinking about what it means to be a Siamese cat instead of a bird (Skippyjon always wakes up and eats worms with his feathered friends). She sends him to his room, where he imagines he is a Chihuahua ("My name is Skippito Friskito./I fear not a single bandito"). Chock-full of rhyming chants and Spanish expressions, the feline's adventure as a doggy Zorro ends in chaos. His frazzled mother gives him a hug anyway and says, "Say good night, Skippyjon Jones." "Buenas noches, mis amigos," says the kitten, as he bounces on his bed all ready for another adventure. The buoyant and colorful cartoon illustrations match the exuberant text perfectly. Spanish-speaking children will be especially delighted by the words and humor; others may be a little bewildered by all of the foreign phrases and will need some explanation, but the story definitely has the potential of a fun read-aloud. A good multicultural offering.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

Skippyjon Jones insists he's not a Siamese cat despite ears too big for his head and a head too big for his body. This rambunctious kitty with an overactive imagination prefers to be El Skippito, a Zorro-like sword fighter. Walking through his closet, he meets a mysterioso band of Chichuahuas called Los Chimichangos. The masked Skippyjon joins them, pretending to be a dog and claiming he loves "mice and beans." The Chimichangos are convinced he will bid adios to the bad bandito Bumblebeeto who steals their frijoles. And yippito, he does. Returning home where Mama Junebug Jones and the girls are waiting-his closet explodes with a birthday pi-ata of goodies. This pun-filled spoof is over-the-top comedy littered with Spanish words and "Spanglish" accents (bees-ness). Mama's pet names for Skippyjon-Mr. Kitten Britches, Fluffernutter-add affectionate touches. Colorful, lively illustrations exaggerate the hilarity. No ethnic aspersions intended, just laugh-out-loud humor. Both feline hero and story are full of beans (more Mexican-jumping than pinto) but ay caramba, mucho fun. (Picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews

*"Both feline hero and story are full of beans (more Mexican-jumping than pinto) but ay caramba, mucho fun."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Buoyant and colorful cartoon illustrations match the exuberant text perfectly."—School Library Journal

"The illustrations are as humorous as the story and kids will enjoy them."—Children's Literature

From the Publisher

Brimming with hilarity and exuberance, this is the perfect read-aloud. Poor Skippyjon, the Siamese cat, can’t quite decide what he is, and, after being sent off to his room to think about it, he gets to jumping on the bed. After one really enormous bounce he catches sight of himself in the mirror on the way down and decides he’s a chihuahua. Now he’s off on a sword-wielding adventure, leading a mysterious band of chihuahuas on a bandito-fighting, bean-rescuing face-off with the evil Bumblebeeto. Robert Ramirez superbly captures the spunk and merriment of this gem--to say nothing of getting deftly around the tongue-twisting Spanish-influenced rhymes. The same text is on Side B with page-turn signals, which make it perfect to accompany the book, also highly recommended for its charming and comic illustrations. D.G. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

DEC 04/JAN 05 - AudioFile