Dust Devil

by Anne Isaacs

Hardcover, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

398.2

Genres

Children's Books

Collection

Your library

Publication

Schwartz & Wade (2010), Edition: 1St Edition, Hardcover, 48 pages

Description

Having moved to Montana from Tennessee in the 1830s, fearless Angelica Longrider--also known as Swamp Angel--changes the state's landscape, tames a wild horse, and captures some desperadoes.

User reviews

LibraryThing member CarolyneBegin

This is the second in the Swamp Angel series and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. It is an inspiring story for young girls and continues to encourage girls to do what they believe is right even though the task may be stereotypically for men.
In this story Swamp angel finds a horse her size

and helps capture a group of bandits that are terrorizing the country on their giant mosquitoes. The story is fun and fast with a good vocabulary for older kids. I also enjoy the little "history" lessons that are incorporated in both the stories. Although not completely accurate they are fun and memorable.
As usual the art by Paul O. Zelinsky is amazing and beautiful. He captures the scenery of Montana perfectly.

Show Less

5 more

LibraryThing member karenamorg

Isaacs, A., & Zelinsky, P. O. (2010). Dust devil. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.

In this long-awaited sequel to Isaacs/Zelinsky’s Swamp Angel, the reader once again gets an eyeful and earful of tall tales—this time set in the West. The same protagonist, Angelica Longrider, takes us on a

romp—this time leaving Tennessee (which the large gal outgrew) for Montana. Right off the bat she invents buttes—by lifting up mountains and placing them on the flat landscape to create shade. She admires her handiwork by referring to them as “beauts.” Along the way she creates the Grand Canyon and geysers. Dust Devil provides students with an excellent example of the tall tale genre. There are also very amusing explanations of how the Sawtooth Mountains and the gold discovered in California came to be. The text, written using western jargon, is hard to read in anything but a “howdy pardner” cadence. The rich, colorful illustrations evoke American primitive style, and Zelinsky brings out the pioneer quality of the story and main character by using a wood grain background throughout the story—including the endpapers. An amusing read aloud most effective for ages 7-9. No awards found.

Show Less

LibraryThing member Sullywriter

I'd give 4 1/2 stars to this tall tale if I could. Swamp Angel is one of my all-time favortie picture books, so I have lofty expectations for any sequel. This is a wonderfully entertaining tall tale with gorgeous illustrations by Zelinsky, but it's not got the magic of Swamp Angel.

LibraryThing member RosieBillings

Summary: Angelica Longrider (Swamp Angel) moves to Montana and sets out to tame the a giant dust storm that turns out to be a really big horse she names Dust Devil. The altercation between the two create the Grand Canyon. They then chase Backward Bart and his Flying Desperadoes across Montana and

create the Sawtooth Range.

Personal Reaction: The story line was very original and creative. The author was about to create a story as to how natural landmark were made. The author also created a theme in the story that demonstrates good versus bad and how good wins out. Angelica Longrider is also a character that shows girls that they can be strong and independent.

Classroom Extension:

1) Assign students to create a story about how a natural landmark was created. Have the students pick a landmark by pulling one from a jar.

2) Have students draw a famous natural landmark.

Show Less

LibraryThing member matthewbloome

As tall tales go, this one was exceptional. I really liked the story. It was entertaining and over the top just as any good tall should be. Very nicely written and impressively told.

LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV

I don't blame the creators for capitalizing on Swamp Angel, but this one just didn't have the spark of originality that one did, imo.

Fewer