Liza Lou And The Yeller Belly Swamp

When Liza Lou's mother dispatches her to her Gramma's house with some sweet potatoes, she warns her to be careful, in crossing the Yeller Belly Swamp - home to good-for-nothing swamp haunts, a wicked swamp witch, the slithery gobblygook, and a soul-stealing swamp devil. But our intrepid young heroine has a trick or two up her sleeve, something those nasty swamp monsters discover, as she crisscrosses their territory in the course of her errands...

First published in 1976 (the year I was born), this delightful picture-book from the prolific Mercer Mayer - creator of the Little Critter books, as well as illustrator of many fairy-tale retellings - would have been available in my childhood, and I regret that I did not encounter it then! I show more would have loved it - I love it now! Liza Lou is a clever and resourceful heroine, and I think readers - young and old, boy and girl - will take her adventures to heart. Mayer's illustrations are adorable, both realistic and cute (I loved Liza Lou's little opossum companion!), and add to the sense of fun.

I was a little confused by the inclusion of this title in a folktale group-read, over in the Picture-Book Club to which I belong, but I guess that the inclusion of so many folkloric elements - outwitting the devil is always a classic theme, and the gobblygook under the bridge could be read as a troll - make it a sort of fractured fairy-tale. In any case: whatever the genre, the story and art are top-notch! Highly recommended to all! show less

Originally published in 1976. I read this book to my son when he was little "countless" times. I loved camping it up with the "yeller belly swamp" accent, and he loved listening to it. Mercer Meyer never talks down to kids. Liza Lou is smart as a whip and figures things out. A wonderful "read to me" book!

This was my favorite book as a child. I checked it out from the library and I still remember my mother reading it to me. I loved everything about this book. The illustrations are rich and beautiful. The story is engaging and entertaining. Liza Lou is smart as a whip! I wanted to be just like her, fearless! I bought this book recently to read with my son. He enjoyed Liza Lou's adventures and how she outsmarts the swamp creatures in the story.

This book was a little difficult to read. Although it was very adventurous and interesting, I think that it would be hard to follow along to. This book was about Liza Lou doing favors for her mother that require her to cross the Yeller Belly Swamp. Liza Lou was always open to do what her mother asked of her. She always outsmarted the scary creatures and they never bother anyone again. Liza Lou is very smart and always thought of things to best get out of each situation with the Yeller Belly Swamp.

Fantastic children's story about young girl's adventures crossing the dangerous Yeller Belly Swamp which is crawling with witches, devils, monsters, and ghosts. One by one she outwits them all and makes the swamp safe for everyone. Mayer's story is enhanced by marvelous illustrations.

Liza Lou is often given chores or tasks from her mother which requires her crossing the Yeller Belly Swamp. Before leaving the house Liza’s mother reminds her to be careful crossing the swamp because there is no avoiding the swamp haunt, the witch, and the swamp devil. But Liza Lou is too clever for these swamp creatures. She outsmarts each creature and they never bother anyone ever again. This book is appropriate for most elementary school age children. It can be used to discuss conquering fears and thinking creatively. http://www.littlecritter.com/ is a great website to search for fun games, movies, and coloring books.

In this fiction fantasy Liza Lou's mother asks her to bring several different things to different relatives. Each trip requires her to go through the Yeller Belly Swamp where each time she comes across a haunt, a witch, a gobblygook, and the swamp devil. Liza Lou manages to outwit all the monsters and they are never seen again in the Yeller Belly Swamp.