The School Play From The Black Lagoon (20) (edition 2011)

This is a fantasy early chapter book. Any illustrations are done in pencil and pen. In this story, Hubie's teacher announces that there will be a school play. The students are to read the script and try out for a part. Hubie frets and frets, thinking of all of the worst things that could happen. He does not want a part in the school play, which is the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Hubie ends up being chosen for the part of the Headless Horseman, which in the end, he realizes isn't so bad. He might even want to be in next year's play!
This book is a good example of fantasy because the dog talks, and Hubie's teacher is an alligator.
The characterization of Hubie is greatly reinforced by the illustrations and captions/side notes. In order to fully understand his thinking, one definitely needs the illustrations and all of the other words on the page. Together with the text, the illustrations portray Hubie as a very simple-minded boy who likes typical boy things.
This book could be used in the introduction of formal drama in the classroom.
This book could be used for reader's theater or for independent reading. ( )

Summary: Hubie is a young boy with mixed feelings about the upcoming play his class is putting on-The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He is scared of having to speak in front of an audience, but on the other hand he thinks it'd be cool to be a famous actor. As it ends up, he gets the part of the Headless Horseman and has only one line, which is "boo!" He ends up throwing his pumpkin head into the audience and hitting the principal, but it all ends up okay and he realizes that maybe show business is alright, and thinks he'll even try out for the play next year.
Genre Critique: This is an example of realistic fiction because the events of the story could actually happen and the character is someone whose thoughts and emotions can easily be related to by the readers, however none of it actually took place in reality.
Setting: The story takes place in a nondescript school and home in a fairly current year, and this vagueness allows for readers to imagine it as taking place in their own town or really anywhere they want.
Media: Ink ( )