Kat Kong written and directed by Dav Pilkey

If you've ever seen the movie King Kong, your enjoyment of this hilarious "movie", Kat Kong written and directed by Dav Pilkey, will be doubled, or tripled, or whatever! Dav (pronounced Dave) Pilkey has put together another laugh-filled book with this spoof of King Kong.

The “actors” in Kat Kong (Starring Flash, Rabies, and Dwayne and Introducing Blueberry As the Monster) are all Dav's pets--3 mice and a cat. He assures us, as all moviemakers do nowadays, that, "No harm came to them in the making of this book." He also informs us that, "This book has been rated TS : TERRIBLY SILLY. Some material may be too silly for grown-ups."

Yes! My kind of book! The eight-year-old in me loves stuff like this! As you may know, Dav Pilkey is also the author of the infamous Captain Underpants series which are short novels called chapter books, for kids who are just a bit older than the youngest of the Kat Kong audience. But, Dav Pilkey is great at any age. He's a funny man.

I wonder, do you think he and Jon Scieszka are buddies?

To tell the story of Kat Kong, Dav Pilkey used photographs of his pets in what's called, "manipulated photographic collage, heavily retouched with acrylic paint." (I love it when they explain stuff like this on the copyright page.) It’s, in effect, the reverse of what was done in Stuart Little, or Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

It's a great story to read to your own child, or a group of kids. The artwork covers most of each page. The colors are vivid with just enough detail for a child to easily grasp what's going on in the scene before it's time to turn the page. But the very best thing about Kat Kong is that it makes you and your child laugh throughout the book. That's becoming Pilkey's trademark. How wonderful. We all need laughter.

Closing notes

Did you know that, "...some studies show that laughter may also trigger physiological changes such as stimulating circulation, improving respiration, boosting the production of pain-reducing endorphins, and possibly even increase immune system activity and response...."?! Even Harvard Medical School's Consumer Health Information web site is willing to accept this possibility. Check out their additional comments, if you'd like, at:

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/24602/24635/212082.html?d=dmtContent

Seriously though, some doctors, and clinics, are encouraging folks with chronic diseases, or pain, to add a lot of laughter to their lives as therapy. Dav Pilkey's books, even if you're a grownup, make taking that kind of medicine easy. So sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Final notes

Dav Pilkey's Kat Kong (Starring Flash, Rabies, and Dwayne and Introducing Blueberry As the Monster) is available as:

* a paperback (Dimensions [in inches]: 0.15 x 10.04 x 8.10), published by Harcourt Brace in September 1993, ISBN: 0152420371, picture book for ages 4-10, list price $7.00 US

Paperbacks are great to take along on a trip. You can order them in advance, or grab them at the last minute. If you're lucky enough to live in the sunny South, they're great at the beach, too! And, with the gift-giving season fast approaching...

* a hardback (Dimensions [in inches]: 0.39 x 10.27 x 8.25), published by Harcourt Brace in September 1993, ISBN: 0152420363 (School & Library Binding), picture book for ages 4-10, list price $12.00 US

By the way, when your children outgrow this book, you can recycle it at your local library.

Did you know that most libraries accept used books in good condition to:
* add a new book title to their shelves
* replace their worn-out copy of that title, or
* sell to raise money, and
the IRS accepts your book gifts to libraries as charitable donations?
How about that? I know donated books make a big difference at my small library!




Recommended: Yes