Gonzalo Grabs the Good Life

Summary: After Gonzalo wins the lottery, he decides it's time to leave the farm and go out to find the good life. He tries everything, from golf to boating to solos in the church choir — but no matter where he goes or what new adventure he embarks on, Gonzalo still does not find what he’s looking for. / What will make this sassy rooster happy? / This rollicking story, with its bright, colorful illustrations, will remind readers that sometimes contentment is right in your own backyard. Quotes:AWARDS and RECOGNITIONSChildren's Book Council, Children's Choice Book Award Finalist (2010)International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Joint Committee, Children's Choices (2010)Canadian Children's Book Centre, Best Books for Kids & Teens (2010)School Library Journal"The vibrant colors and strong lines pulse with Gonzalo's strong personality and oddball situations. Kids will enjoy the rooster's adventures, and the story could open up a conversation about suddenly striking it rich and about the value of home. Spanish words pepper the text and are defined in a tiny glossary at the story's end." Booklist"Acrylic illustrations on gessoed paper animate the humor with fine-feather cleverness, adding wry details like the yacht's name, La Chicka Loca. A vocabulary list defines the six Spanish words sprinkled throughout. This is beak-in-cheek fun with an underlying message." Kirkus Reviews"Slavin mixes humans and animals indiscriminately in his thickly textured illustrations and, along with tucking in visual jokes, endows the irritable, scraggly-looking Gonzalo with plenty of personality. The few Spanish words and phrases add just a hint of cultural gusto."Author Bio: Janice Levy is the author of I RememberAbuelito, Alley Oops, and RunawayRadish. She is a three-time winner of the Writer'sDigest Contest for Best Literary Short Story and teacheswriting at Hofstra University. She lives in New York.Bill Slavin has been writing and drawing since he was sevenyears old and has illustrated many books for children,including Gonzalo Grabs the Good Life andSomething to Tell the Grandcows (both Eerdmans).He has received numerous awards, including the Blue SpruceAward and the CLC Amelia Frances Howard-GibbonIllustrator's medal, both for his book Stanley'sParty. Bill lives in Ontario and chronicles his latestwork on his blog, Elephants Never Forget. "