"I didn't normally talk to a Littlefoot. But there was something about
this Ben I liked. He was a determined fellow. I also liked his bike! I asked,
'Mind if I take it for a ride?'"
As we know, young kids soak up new words better than the leading brand of
paper towels. So watch your mouth!
No, what I really mean is that it is always great to see big, juicy words
in a fun picture book story.
There happens to be an old favorite word of mine in Scott Magoon's version
of THE BOY WHO CRIED BIGFOOT! (a takeoff, of course, on The Boy Who Cried
Wolf).
That word is "tenacious." It is a favorite of mine because that is what we
nicknamed my now-adult daughter Rosemary around the time she began
kindergarten. Many days it seemed as if she gave new meaning to that word.
A Google search for "te-na-cious" yields these meanings:
"Adjective
1. Not readily letting go of, giving up, or separated from an object that
one holds, a position, or a principle: 'a tenacious grip'.
2. Not easily dispelled or discouraged; persisting in existence or in a
course of action: 'a tenacious legend'.
Synonyms:
persistent - tough -stubborn - dogged - obstinate"
We find this juicy word used twice in this story because Ben, the boy who
cries “BIGFOOT!” goes to great lengths to have everyone believe his claims
-- both before and after he encounters Bigfoot. The great twist on this
version is that we soon figure out that the story is actually being narrated
by Bigfoot. He's a pretty loveable creature, or so we learn when he appears
in the wake of Ben's repeated lies, takes off with Ben's bike and dog
(leaving Ben in the dark fruitlessly calling for help), but then returns them
both unscathed.
"So Ben and his family went home and had a hot meal. I don't know what a
hot meal is, but I do know that Ben learned the importance of always telling
the truth. And he wanted everyone to know he really had seen me."
Fun; goofy; great illustrations; and one tenacious boy.
ISBN: 978-1-4424-1257-7 40 pages.
Recommended by: Richie Partington, MLIS, Librarian, California USA
See more of Richie's Picks at: https://richiespicks.com/