Jean Laffite and the Big Ol' Whale

This is a tall tale about a precocious young lad named Jean Laffite, who lives his life on the Mississippi River, and lends a hand when a whale gets stuck between the banks, making it run dry. Jean becomes friends with the whale, who he helps to free with the help of some cayenne pepper, and proceeds to dig Lake Pontchartrain so that the whale will have a place to stay when he comes to visit. While Laffite was a real person, this tall tale is entirely fiction. The illustrations, done is pastel acrylics, are delicate and feathery, as though they are seen in soft focus. Some pages feature a 4-panel layout reminiscent of a comic strip, while full spreads showcase the immensity of the whale. A good example of a tall tale, suitable for show more children ages 5-8. show less

this tall tale is about an axtual historical figure, but the facts arent accurate. it is about jean lafitie, his time in neworleans, how he loved the mississippi and save a whale and the river from destruction and formed lake pontchartrain in the process. it has historical things from louisiana like jean lafitte, new orleans, the mississippi, etc. this bok can be used to entertain younger children or it can be used in a lesson about louisiana. some of the facts may not be accurate but it can be used to introduce some louisiana history or one of the components in the book. this book was very adorable and the illustrations are beautiful.

Media: pastels and colored pencils