Scott Magoon

The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot! Scott Magoon

Brief Description: Ben has so often tried to convince people he has seen Bigfoot that when a real yeti arrives and borrows his bicycle, no one comes to see if Ben is telling the truth. Review Quotes: "Entertaining and clever--and that's no lie."Review Quotes: Magoon retells "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" in a book whose suspenseful, funny pictures and surprise narrator trump its familiar plot. "This is the story of my friend Ben and how we first met," says an offstage speaker, referring to a brown-haired boy. Ben "liked to tell stories," and readers see him at a forest's edge, alleging Bigfoot sightings to his weary parents, unbelieving sister, and neighborhood friends. Ben's small dog acts as a barometer for Ben's fibs, its expression going from tetchy to angry and then jolted by the "crick!" of a twig in the woods. "I didn't normally talk to a Littlefoot," explains the now-visible narrator, a towering Sasquatch. Ben looks on in shock while his dog merrily joins the creature for a spin on Ben's bike. Magoon (Big Mean Mike) sets events some decades in the past, giving Ben an antique bike, vintage clothing, and old-fashioned camera and video equipment. While there's still an emphasis on the importance of being honest, it's clear that Magoon also sees value in Ben's perseverance and sense of showmanship. Review Quotes: Equally awesome is Bigfoot... True, his Bigfoot is hairy and irresistible. I also found his overall style to be strongly, appealingly Brooklyn-antiquarian--perhaps because the boy in the book rides a classic roadster bicycle that 20-somethings would love to be seen pedaling to their C. S. A. pickup. The pleasing optics, however, play second fiddle to the book's midpoint Shyamalan-esque twist: The story is actually told from the perspective of Bigfoot. At this revelation, a pleasing pop of delight emerged from my 4-year-old test audience. Again and again. I was O. K. with that. With the right book in your hands, rereading is a pleasure. Marc Notes: A Paula Wiseman Book.; Ben has so often tried to convince people he has seen Bigfoot that when a real yeti arrives and borrows his bicycle, no one comes to see if Ben is telling the truth.; Ages 4-8. Publisher Marketing: A classic tale with a timeless message gets a hugely hilarious twist. He's big. He's funny. He's not real. "Or IS he?" This clever twist on "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is told from the point of view of an unexpected narrator and, through snappy text and lighthearted illustrations, demonstrates the value of telling the truth, the importance of establishing trust, and (of course!) the possibility that a beast you created to get attention can become a real-life friend. Review Citations:

Publishers Weekly 12/24/2012 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

Kirkus Reviews 01/01/2013 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

Booklist 01/01/2013 pg. 118 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

New York Times Book Review 02/10/2013 pg. 16 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 04/01/2013 pg. 385 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 04/01/2013 pg. 138 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2013 (EAN 9781442412576, Hardcover)

School Library Journal 01/01/2015 pg. 46 (EAN 9781633791206, DVD-Video) - *Starred Review

School Library Journal 01/01/2015 pg. 51 (EAN 9781633791237, Compact Disc)

Contributor Bio:  Magoon, Scott While moonlighting as a designer at a major children's publishing house, Scott Magoon has illustrated many successful books including "Spoon" by Amy Krause Rosenthal, "Ugly Fish, " and "Rabbit and Squirrel". He lives in the Boston area with his wife and two sons.