Date: Fri 10-Nov-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Steven-Kellogg-books

Full Text:

w/photos: Steven Kellogg's New Books

B Y A MY D'O RIO

Before she was even one, she raced her brothers up tall mountains and swam

underwater with the otters and fish.

As she got older, her feats became grander.

She saved her husband, Davy Crockett, from pesky eagles and wrestled dozens of

alligators to protect her home and children.

In a bear skin cloak and a bee hive bonnet, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind

Crockett's presence in tall tale literature is highlighted and strengthened by

a new book by Steven Kellogg.

Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett has just been released, as has

another book, Snuffles and Snouts , a book of pig poems compiled by Laura Robb

and illustrated by Mr Kellogg.

Mr Kellogg, a Newtown resident, will be signing these books at the Cyrenius

Booth Library from 1 to 3 pm Saturday, November 18. The books can be purchased

at the library the day of the signing.

Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett is the latest book in a series

resurrecting tall tales. Mr Kellogg, who has also written a series of books

about a great dane, Pinkerton, said he is fond of tall tales because they

represent a distinct American genre.

Mr Kellogg has already written and illustrated books about Johnny Appleseed,

Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill and Mike Fink.

"I am picking ones that appeal to me and lend themselves to a picture book,"

he said.

Sally Ann made the cut.

"The rugged heroines that are introduced in these tales prove that they are

just as capable of dealing with the hardships and dangers of frontier life as

the menfolk. They stand their ground when they are challenged by adversity,

and in the skirmishes that follow their resourcefulness and spunk usually

allow them to come out on top," he writes on the book's back cover.

Sally Ann is not a prominent character in tall tale literature. As Davy

Crockett's wife, she is featured in only eight of the Crockett almanac

stories.

With limited information, Mr Kellogg relied on his own sense of the heroine to

fill out the character and story. Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett ,

which is most appropriate for elementary school children, is filled with

adventure and pluck and will be particularly inspiring to little girls.

Mr Kellogg also recently illustrated Snuffles and Snouts , a book of poems

compiled by famed educator Laura Robb. All the poems have one thing in common.

They are all about pigs.

Mr Kellogg said illustrating this book was challenge because he wanted to

capture the individual characteristics of each poem while still keeping a

unified look to the book.

Ms Robb has been a leader in the "whole language" movement in elementary

schools. She is the author of Whole Language, Whole Learners: Creating a

Literature Centered Classroom .

According to the book's back cover, Ms Robb became inspired to write the story

after she tagged along with a kindergarten class to a pig farm.

The book contains around 25 poems. All are accompanied by full-color art done

in Mr Kellogg's signature style of pen, ink and watercolor washes.

The book includes poems by Lewis Carroll, Jane Yolen, J. Patrick Lewis and

James Reeves.