Details
Synopsis
A huge mosquito keeps Zeke and Zelda awake, until Zelda finds a way to quiet the persistent pest., Zeke and Zelda are feeling warm and cozy in their old house until an unexpected visitor arrives at their door and says "Let me in! Let me in! I want to sip your sweet blood! Yum!" At first Zeke and Zelda try to keep the thing, whatever it is, from coming inside, but finally Zeke gives up and says "Let the bloodsucker in!" In comes the biggest, ugliest chizzywink they have ever seen. Poor Zeke and Zelda think they're doomed until they remember they have an alamagoozlum--which might just be able to defeat the horrible chizzywink once and for all. Color illustrations accompany the text.
| Size | | Height: | 11.8 in | | Width: | 8.8 in | | Thickness: | 0.5 in | | Weight: | 15.2 oz |
Industry Reviews
K-Gr 3 Country folks Zeke and Zelda are almost asleep when they hear the ominous voice of the dreaded chizzywink outside their door "Let me in! Let me in! I want to sip your sweet blood! Yum!" To keep harm at bay, they bring in a hound, a hog, and even an alligator to no avail. Finally, they feed sweet alamagoozlum to the creature, who then falls asleep. Readers learn that a chizzywink is a giant mosquito and that alamagoozlum is maple syrup. Bender uses animator's cell vinyl paint to create slightly fuzzy images. The double-page spreads, featuring rich hues of blue, brown, green, and purple, effectively yet playfully portray Zeke and Zelda's dilemma. Images of the giant mosquito with bulging eyes and hairy antenna are dramatic without being frightening. Unfortunately, the patterned story is not as successful as the illustrations. The emphasis on word play includes rhyming that is often stretched; e.g., "whisker" and "tusker." Slang terms stem from different regions of the country. Some young readers will find the word play fun. For others, the unusual terms may be confusing, marring their understanding and enjoyment of the story. Ultimately, this book will work best as a read-aloud. It will find an appreciative, albeit small, audience. Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
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