Synopses & Reviews
This time it's the truthwe swear! Joe Hayes is back with another unbelievable, astounding, and totally true tall tale, straight from his own childhood in the Arizona desert.
After saving a rattlesnake's life out in the desert one day, Joe discovers the snake has followed him back to his home. Of course there isn't much to do but keep the dangerous reptile as a pet! His dad is annoyed, the neighbors are terrified, but soon the friendly snake slithers his way into their hearts. A tall tale of cold-blooded love, this is no ordinary pet rattler. The snake cuddles at the foot of Joe's bed, plays in the yard, he even scares away a burglar and alarms the police. What a charmer!
Joe Hayes is one of America's premier storytellers, a nationally recognized teller of tales from the Hispanic, Native American, and Anglo cultures. He is the author of over twenty books for children and young adults. The New Mexico Library Association named Joe the Centennial Storyteller in 2010, a storyteller so good he only comes around once every one hundred years!
Antonio Castro L. was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and has lived in the Juarez-El Paso area for most of his life. He has illustrated dozens of children's books including Barry, the Bravest Saint Bernard (Random House), Pajaro Verde, The Treasure on Gold Street, and The Gum-Chewing Rattler (Cinco Puntos Press). His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Texas, Mexico City, Spain, and Italy.
Review
"The creators of The Gum Chewing Rattler (2006) concoct another outlandish episode with a twist in its tale
A shaggy snake story certain to elicit hoots and hollers aplenty from young audiences."Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
How can a kid have a pet rattlesnake? Well, it can only happen to Joe Hayes. Surely, Joe wouldnt fib!
Synopsis
This time it's the truth—we swear! Joe's tall tales are always true. Ha!
Synopsis
Joe Hayes is back with another unbelievable, astounding, and totally true tall tale, straight from his own childhood in the Arizona desert.
One day little Joe is out in the desert, walking around, and he sees a rattlesnake in trouble. Joe saves the snake's life! That's when things get weird. The rattler follows Joe home. My gosh! It's only a rattlesnake, nothing new for a desert boy like Joe, so he keeps him for a pet. His dad is annoyed, the neighbors are terrified, but soon the friendly snake slithers his way into their hearts. The snake cuddles at the foot of Joe's bed, plays in the yard, he even scares away a burglar and alarms the police. What a charmer! Is there really such a thing as cold-blooded love?
Joe Hayes, a children's book writer and one of America's premier storytellers, loves telling tall tales from growing up in Arizona. Whether it's writing stories or telling stories from the tri-cultural American Southwest, Joe is always at home celebrating the imagination of childhood. The New Mexico Library Association named Joe the Centennial Storyteller in 2010, a storyteller so good he only comes around once every one hundred years!
Antonio Castro L. was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and has lived in the Juarez–El Paso area for most of his life. The illustrator of dozens of children's books, this is his fourth collaboration with Joe. He and his son book designer Antonio H. work on his books as a team.
About the Author
Joe Hayes is the author of over twenty books for children and young adults. His writing style is storytelling-tested and has its roots in the oral traditions of the American Southwest. Each summer, he delights children and adults alike with his summertime storytelling performances at Santa Fes Wheelwright Museum. The rest of the year finds him speaking to thousands of readers around the United States at schools, libraries, and conferences. His book
Ghost Fever/Mal de Fantasma won the Texas Bluebonnet Award in 2007.
Dance, Nana, Dance / Baila, Nana, Baila, his collection of folktales from Cuba, won the Aesop Prize in 2009. The New Mexico Library Association named Joe the Centennial Storyteller in 2010, a storyteller so good he only comes around once every 100 years!
Antonio Castro Lopez (L.) was born in Zacatecas, Mexico and has lived in the Juarez-El Paso area for most of his life. He has illustrated dozens of childrens books including Barry, the Bravest Saint Bernard (Random House), Pajaro Verde, The Treasure on Gold Street, The Day It Snowed Tortillas and The Gum-Chewing Rattler (Cinco Puntos Press). In 2005, the government of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, commissioned Antonio to paint a mural for the government palace. The mural commemorates the anniversary of the Battle of Tomochic. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in Texas, Mexico City, Spain and Italy.