Rattlesnake
Jam
by Margot E. Finke
Illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier
Guardian
Angel Publishing - 12430 Tesson Ferry Road #186Saint
Louis, MO 63128 USA
e-Book ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-24-5
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-00-9
MAY 2008
Paperback, 28 pages, $10.95
Ages 4 & Up
Reviewed
by Mayra Calvani
Rattlesnake
Jam is a hilariously funny children’s picture book about an
old couple who share an irresistible affection for rattlesnakes.
There’s only one problem: While Pa would rather have the rattlesnakes
turned into fritters or pie, old Gran prefers them turned into jam…
disgustingly green, sweetened, gooey rattlesnake jam!
So no matter
how cold the weather is, there goes brave Pa hunting after the snakes.
And as he hunts them, he fantasizes about the various ways Gran
could cook them—hot on a plate, fried, sliced on white rice,
hmmm… But no way will his dreams ever become a reality, for
as readers will learn “…snake cooked for Pa was not in
Gran’s plan. She dreamed of them sweetened and made into jam.”
Though Gran swears her special jam can cure colds, gout and wheeze,
not to mention “troublesome knees”, everyone dislikes
the taste of her ghastly creation. Will Gran ever stop? And what
would happen to Pa, if she ever did?
Colliers’s
colorful, wacky illustrations complement Finke’s humorous rhyme
perfectly. Gran is grossly comical with her toothless grin, warts,
bell pepper nose, and tough exterior. The reader will feel sorry
for Pa, who seems completely under Gran’s control. The book
has 28 pages in all, and each story page has an illustration with
a short text at the bottom—a two or four line rhyme, like this
one:
Drop
in chunky slices, stir well with a spoon.
Add mysterious spices! Gran hummed a wild tune.
The way to Gran’s heart was through rattlers galore—
Making rattler jam bubble, ‘til it flowed on the floor.
The song-like
cadence will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Snakes are reptiles
that inspire both fear and fascination, especially in children,
and it was clever of the author to use them as victims instead of
villains in this book. This is a fine addition to Finke’s series
of rhyming books about animals. Whimsical and amusing, Rattlesnake
Jam is one of those books young children will beg their parents
to read to them again and again.
of Writing for Children