OUR STORE IS CLOSED ON ANZAC DAY: THURSDAY 25 APRIL
Karen Kaufman Orloff is the author of many books for children including I Wanna Iguana, I Wanna New Room, and I Wanna Go Home, all inspired by her son's pet iguana who quickly grew to be over four feet long and take over his room. She also writes a humorous column on family life every other week for The Poughkeepsie Journal. David Catrow is the illustrator of many picture books including Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon and its sequel Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon, written by Patty Lovell; I Wanna Iguana and its two companion books I Wanna New Room and I Wanna Go Home, written by Karen Kaufman Orloff; Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel; The Middle Child Blues by Kristyn Crow; and We the Kids: the Preamble to the Constitution. He lives in Ohio with his wife, Deborah.
In epistolary dialogue with his mom, a lad yearning for an iguana tries various approaches, from logic and sweet talk to emotional blackmail. His mother puts up a valiant defense- Dear Mom: Did you know that iguanas are really quiet and they're cute too. I think they are much cuter than hamsters. Love, your adorable son, Alex. Dear Alex: Tarantulas are quiet too -before ultimately capitulating. Catrow's scribbly, lurid, purple-and-green illustrations bring the diverse visions of parent and child to hilarious life, as a lizard of decidedly indeterminate ancestry grows in stages to the size of a horse, all the while exhibiting a doglike affection toward its balloon-headed prospective keeper-who is last seen posed by a new terrarium, pumping a fist in victory. A familiar domestic interchange, played out with broad comedy-and mutual respect, too. (Picture book. 7-9) (Kirkus Reviews)
