LaRue Across America Children’s Book Review and Prize Pack Giveaway (2 Winners)! [CLOSED]

Ike’s plan for a peaceful cruise with Mrs. LaRue are thwarted when their neighbor, Mrs. Hibbins, falls suddenly ill. Mrs. LaRue suggests that she and Ike care for her cats while Mrs. Hibbins is in the hospital, inviting them along on the cruise. But cats aren’t allowed, and Mrs. LaRue decides to take them all on a week’s vacation of road-tripping. Ike is beside himself and quickly takes up his pen to tell us why!

Join award-winner Mark Teague on this romping road trip across America. Readers can follow along on the maps of the U.S. that span the endpapers. Teague drives us to the story’s satisfying conclusion, and we are left with one profound question: Can cats and dogs really be friends?

I am a big fan of Mark Teague’s books and illustrations.  He is the illustrator of the “How Dinosaurs…..” books and the author of the LaRue series.  I think that the LaRue books are hilarious.  I love having the books told from the point of view of the main character, Ike.  Ike is a dog so you can imagine how funny this is.  What is really great about these books is that they are not your normal storytelling books.  The stories are told by letters that Ike sends to different characters.  Most of the time it is to his owner, Mrs. LeRue.  I was very excited to receive, LeRue Across America: Postcards From The Vacation, Ike’s newest adventure.

What I love about these books are the language of the story.  I feel that sometimes children’s books make the language too simple.  I love that Mark Teague uses ‘big words’ and more adult language in his text.  It provides an opportunity for me to discuss new vocabulary with the kids in my class. 

My favorite part of LeRue Across America was the humor in the story.  Poor Ike has to get along with his neighbors who happen to be cats.  Reading about the interactions between Ike and the cats were hilarious.  Some of the humor went over my kindergarteners’ heads but I was laughing!

The one thing that my kids really liked were the illustrations.  Mark Teague is such a fantastic illustrator.  There are so many different things happening on each page and there is amazing detail.  Just looking at the pictures in this book was fun.

If you have not read the LaRue books by Mark Teague, you are missing out!  This newest book is a great addition to the series!  You can buy it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and in your local bookstore.

Scholastic is giving away a LeRue Prize Pack which includes a copy of the book LaRue Across America and a LaRue branded backpack to 2 of our readers!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry– Watch the LaRue Across America trailer (above) and tell us your favorite part.

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GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

You can enter this giveaway until April 6th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

**I received a copy of LeRue Across America for this review.