Rating: 
Summary: Lizard Music is awesome!
Review: This is the second book I read by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. I loved it! It's a great story, and one that kids will definetely like.. It's just got the exact mix of realistic adventure and silliness that makes a good read. Plus, it's got the Chicken Man, a character from several of Pinkwater's books, it features large lizards, and a healthy dose of Walter Cronkite. I don't think it gets much better.
Rating: 
Summary: Play that funky music, Lizard-Boy!!
Review: Victor's parents leave him and his sister alone for a week or two while they go off to get their heads and their relationship together. However, things really begin to get interesting when Victor's sister ALSO up and leaves to go with her friends on some sort of hippie camping trip! (yeah, the book is a bit dated...) Victor, then, is left alone to fend for himself for the next two weeks.He's a bright kid, and perfectly happy NOT to have his crazy older sister or his doting parents around. He takes care of himself just fine, and one night over a TV dinner, he sees something verrrrry strange on the tube: a band of lizards playing music! What sort of program is THIS? he wonders-- it's not in the TV guide. Giant lizards having an unreported jam session on late nite TV is just the beginning of the high weirdness, though. Soon he runs into a gentleman known as the Chicken Man because of his dancing chicken that lives under his hat (apparently he gives one-man/one-chicken shows on public busses and dispenses wisdom-- By Appointment Only-- from the depot). This Chicken Man character appears in the strangest of places and goes by some impossibly funny names and hints at Victor that he knows something about these lizards. For a short time, the book turns into a sort of weird detective novel as Victor sets out to find out WHO the Chicken Man is, and WHAT are all these lizards doing?? Are they real?? How come no one else (including the manager of the TV station) knows anything about them?? Just what IS going on here?? Daniel Pinkwater is the author of a dozen books or so, many from the 1970's, of which almost all are still in print today ("The Hoboken Chicken Emergency", "Fat Men from Space", "The Big Orange Splot" and this title to name a few). Staying in print for more than 20 years is no mean feat in a world where children's authors come and go and "one hit wonders" in books are as common as popular music. I fancy the reason Mr. P. is still enjoying a good run and attracting new readers is because his books are genuinely funny and engaging. There's lots of simple humor and ridiculous situations to draw in the early/beginning reader, and his writing has a sharp wit and play-on-words that older readers will enjoy as well. Of the works he's written, "Lizard Music" is one of his best. Readers should note, however, that like some of his other works, the plot of "Lizard Music" picks up and goes into high gear about halfway through the book. Yes, we find out a great deal more about these strange, instrument-playing lizards, but when we do, it feels like we're sprinting through the story. Some situations, while funny, seem TOO absurd, like the plot has suddenly twisted off into left field for a few paragraphs before getting back on track. It almost feels like Mr. Pinkwater was in a rush to finish and forgot to reread for clarity. Still, this is a book geared to young readers who may not be as concerned about absurdities as older/adult readers. Indeed, they may enjoy the book all the MORE because of the strange, unexpected twists. If you are a Pinkwater fan, this is one of his better works and comes recommended. If you are new to Mr. P's works, this is an excellent choice for the intermediate reader. If you have a BEGINNING reader, I would highly recommend Mr. P's picture book, "The Big Orange Splot". Thank you, Mr. Pinkwater! Keep up the good work!!
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