You are cordially invited... to The Trashy Hootenanny! Your children will get a really big HOOT out of this chapter book, which puts focus on dialect and dialogue! Just read this snippet, from character Krystal the Ant: "Duh! I can't stand anything that concerns news or history or current events or documentaries or..." "So basically, anything that you can learn something from?!?!" hollered Edward, interrupting Julian. "What on earf' be all 'dis racket 'round here? Y'all be shoutin' n' yellin' and wakin' up da' 'hood," called a loud, booming voice from inside a nearby mound of dirt. All of the bugs looked at each other, trying to decipher the dialect coming from the mouth of Krystal the Ant. Krystal was emerging from the nearby collection of anthills. "Whatchu' mean? You sayin' my Mama so ugly she be lookin' like she been done hit wit' da' ugly stick? Well, yo' mama such a troll 'dat she build her house on lava rock!" shouted Krystal, turning back to peek inside of her hill. And Krystal is just the beginning! There are 15 unique characters that will prepare children for a lifetime of reading complex stories. Here is a passage featuring Leah the Flea, from Tennessee and Maddie the Stink Bug: "Yeah, not many of us like Edward all that much... but he's been our leader throughout and hasn't steered us in the wrong direction. That's why we tolerate his behavior," piped in Genevieve. "Well, that millipede is so ugly, we'd have to tie a pork chop around his neck to get the dogs to play with him. And Julian... he is cute enough, but he wasn't blessed with a brain, God love 'em. But that ant... Krystal was her name? I declare, that girl is just sweeter'n Tupelo honey," smiled Leah. "Krystal? Sweet? I love sweets!" exclaimed Maddie, drawing laughter from the rest of the group. "I love chocolate and cake and whipped cream and icing and candy and pie and biscuits and pudding and Jell-O and bubblegum and cookies and pastries and cupcakes and..." Your children are sure to enjoy this first chapter book from authors Joe Kelley and Nick Rokicki
