The Legend of Lightning Larry - Hardcover

Shepard, Aaron

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684194333 ISBN 13: 9780684194332

Publisher: Atheneum, 1993

Synopsis

"One of the books every boy should have on his bookshelf." -- San Francisco Examiner No outlaw could draw as fast as Lightning Larry. But what really terrified those bad men was that peculiar gun of his. It didn't shoot bullets. It shot light. And Larry always aimed for the heart.  Can Larry save the town of Brimstone from Evil-Eye McNeevil's outlaw gang? Find out in this rip-roaring original tale of a gunfighter with a huge smile and a hankering for lemonade. TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS -- A READER'S THEATER SCRIPT OF THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AARON'S BOOK "STORIES ON STAGE," OR FREE ON AARON'S WEB SITE. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Aaron Shepard is the award-winning author of "The Baker's Dozen," "The Sea King's Daughter," "The Monkey King," and many more children's books. His stories have appeared often in Cricket magazine, while his Web site is known internationally as a prime resource for folktales, storytelling, and reader's theater. Once a professional storyteller, Aaron specializes in lively retellings of folktales and other traditional literature, which have won him honors from the American Library Association, the New York Public Library, the Bank Street College of Education, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the American Folklore Society. Toni Goffe is the British illustrator of numerous well-loved children's books and is a winner of the 1993 Gold Medallion Book Award. He is also illustrator of Aaron's "The Legend of Slappy Hooper." ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "One of the books every boy should have on his bookshelf; girls will probably like the story too . . . The language is perfect, [with] the right dose of silliness to make both parents and children chuckle . . . The illustrations are ideal." -- Cindi Rose, San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 20, 2012 "A tall-tale superhero for our time. . . . A readaloud that could lighten up classes well up in the elementary grades." -- Kirkus Reviews, Mar. 1, 1993 "Pass out the bandanas and dig out the spittoon. Read this story in an old-timer's voice, and everyone will have a good time." -- Chris Sherman, American Library Association Booklist, Mar. 1, 1993 "Move over Wyatt Earp. Make room for a cowboy of a different caliber. A wide age range of listeners will request this one again and again." -- School Library Journal, Nov. 1993 "A rib-tickler. . . . Kids will enjoy acting this out as readers theatre." -- Jan Lieberman, TNT, Spring 1993 "Lovely. . . . Should reach the tickly bone of youngsters." -- Storyline, June 1993 "Perfect for telling or reading out loud." -- Katy Rydell, Stories, Spring 1993 "My class loved this story. Great to use when introducing tall tales." -- D. Peccianti, Reviews of All Resources (Monterey Peninsula United School District) "Introduces one amazing cowpoke. . . . Will have young listeners laughing out loud and asking you to 'read it again.'" -- Smithsonian, Nov. 1993 "Told in the spirited language of a true yarn-spinner, this is a rollicking picture book to warm the heart of just about everyone." -- Kids' Line, Summer 1993 "The old west is turned on its ear in this lighthearted tall tale. . . . Shepard's frontier vernacular manages to be both faithful to the genre and hilariously funny; the book reads aloud wonderfully. . . . Especially good for classroom use." -- Wendy E. Betts, The Web Online Review, Apr. 22, 1994 

About this title

From the Author:

"One of the books every boy should have on his bookshelf; girls will probably like the story too . . . The language is perfect, [with] the right dose of silliness to make both parents and children chuckle . . . The illustrations are ideal." -- Cindi Rose, San Francisco Examiner, Aug. 20, 2012 "A tall-tale superhero for our time. . . . A readaloud that could lighten up classes well up in the elementary grades." -- Kirkus Reviews, Mar. 1, 1993 "Pass out the bandanas and dig out the spittoon. Read this story in an old-timer's voice, and everyone will have a good time." -- Chris Sherman, American Library Association Booklist, Mar. 1, 1993 "Move over, Wyatt Earp. Make room for a cowboy of a different caliber. A wide age range of listeners will request this one again and again." -- School Library Journal, Nov. 1993 "A rib-tickler. . . . Kids will enjoy acting this out as readers theatre." -- Jan Lieberman, TNT, Spring 1993 "Lovely. . . . Should reach the tickly bone of youngsters." -- Storyline, June 1993 "Perfect for telling or reading out loud." -- Katy Rydell, Stories, Spring 1993 "My class loved this story. Great to use when introducing tall tales." -- D. Peccianti, Reviews of All Resources (Monterey Peninsula United School District) "Introduces one amazing cowpoke. . . . Will have young listeners laughing out loud and asking you to 'read it again.'" -- Smithsonian, Nov. 1993 "The book is entertaining and provides grist for discussions." -- Sparks: Mid-South Children's Book Review Journal, Spring 1994 "Told in the spirited language of a true yarn-spinner, this is a rollicking picture book to warm the heart of just about everyone." -- Kids' Line, Summer 1993 "The old west is turned on its ear in this lighthearted tall tale. . . . Shepard's frontier vernacular manages to be both faithful to the genre and hilariously funny; the book reads aloud wonderfully. . . . Especially good for classroom use." -- Wendy E. Betts, The Web Online Review, Apr. 22, 1994 "Rollicking. . . . Will surely find a place in your storytelling heart." -- The Story Bag, Special Review Issue ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE I'll never forget the day Larry rode into our little town of Brimstone and walked into the Cottonmouth Saloon. He strode up to the bar and smiled straight at the bartender. "Lemonade, please," he said. Every head in the place turned to look. Now, standing next to Larry at the bar was Crooked Curt. Curt was one of a band of rustlers and thieves that had been terrorizing our town, led by a ferocious outlaw named Evil-Eye McNeevil. Curt was wearing the usual outlaw scowl. Larry turned to him and smiled. "Mighty big frown you got there, mister," he said. "What's it to you?" growled Curt. "Well," said Larry, "maybe I could help remove it." "I'd like to see you try!" said Curt. The rest of us got out of the way, real fast. The bartender ducked behind the bar. Larry and Curt moved about ten paces from each other, hands at the ready. Larry was still smiling. Curt moved first. But he only just cleared his gun from its holster before Larry aimed and fired. Zing! There was no bang and no bullet. Just a little bolt of light that hit Curt right in the heart. Curt just stood there, his eyes wide with surprise. Then he dropped his gun, and a huge grin spread over his face. He rushed up to Larry and pumped his hand. "I'm mighty glad to know you, stranger!" he shouted. "The drinks are on me! Lemonade for everyone!" 

From the Inside Flap:

PICTURE BOOKS AND EASY READERS BY AARON SHEPARD THE BAKER'S DOZEN: A Saint Nicholas Tale. Illustrated by Wendy Edelson. Van Amsterdam, the baker, is as honest as he can be -- but he may have something left to learn. Ages 4-13. THE SEA KING'S DAUGHTER: A Russian Legend. Illustrated by Gennady Spirin. A poor musician is invited to play in the Sea King's palace, where he's offered more than riches. An A.L.A. Notable and N.Y. Times Best Illustrated. Ages 7 and up. THE ADVENTURES OF MOUSE DEER: Tales of Indonesia and Malaysia. Illustrated by Kim Gamble. Mouse Deer is small, and many animals want to eat him -- but first they have to catch him! Ages 4-9. THE LEGEND OF LIGHTNING LARRY. Illustrated by Toni Goffe. A cowboy with a huge smile, a gun that shoots bolts of light, and a hankering for lemonade takes on Evil-Eye McNeevil's outlaw gang. Ages 4-12. THE LEGEND OF SLAPPY HOOPER: An American Tall Tale. Illustrated by Toni Goffe. Slappy is the world's biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter, but he's TOO GOOD -- his pictures keep coming to life. Ages 5-12. ONE-EYE! TWO-EYES! THREE-EYES!: A Very Grimm Fairy Tale. Illustrated by Gary Clement. Two-Eyes is different from her sisters and others, because she has just two eyes. A New York Public Library selection for "Children's Books 2007: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing." Ages 7-12. KING O' THE CATS. Illustrated by Kristin Sorra. Peter is notorious for telling wild stories -- so who will believe him now, with his crazy claims about cats? A Junior Library Guild Selection. Ages 4-12. THE PRINCESS MOUSE: A Tale of Finland. Illustrated by Leonid Gore. When a young man seeks a wife by way of family tradition, he finds himself engaged to a mouse. A New York Public Library selection for "Children's Books 2003: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing." Ages 4-12. THE MAGIC BROCADE: A Tale of China. Illustrated by Xiaojun Li. To save his mother's life, a young man must retrieve her weaving from the fairies of Sun Palace. Ages 4 and up. LADY WHITE SNAKE: A Tale from Chinese Opera. Illustrated by Song Nan Zhang. When a thousand-year-old snake takes human form and marries for love, she must fight for both her marriage and her freedom. Ages 7 and up. SAVITRI: A Tale of Ancient India. Illustrated by Vera Rosenberry. The princess Savitri must use all her wit and will to save her husband from the god of death. A California Collection selection. Ages 7 and up. THE MAIDEN OF NORTHLAND: A Hero Tale of Finland, from the Kalevala. illustrated by Carol Schwartz. Two epic heroes vie with magic for the hand of a sorceress's daughter. An Aesop Accolade winner. Ages 9 and up. MASTER MAID: A Tale of Norway. Illustrated by Pauline Ellison. When Leif goes to work for the troll, only the advice of a remarkable young woman can save him from his foolishness -- if only he'll listen! Ages 4 and up. MASTER MAN: A Tall Tale of Nigeria. Illustrated by David Wisniewski. Shadusa thinks he's the strongest man in the world -- till he meets the real Master Man. Caldecott Award-winning illustrator! Ages 5 and up. THE GIFTS OF WALI DAD: A Tale of India and Pakistan. Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. Wali Dad, a humble grass-cutter, never asked for wealth -- so why can't he give it away? An Aesop Accolade winner. Ages 4 and up. THE CRYSTAL HEART: A Vietnamese Legend. Illustrated by Joseph Daniel Fiedler. The mandarin's daughter did not really see the boatman who sang from the river, but she's sure he's her destined love. A Bank Street College Best Children's Book. Ages 7 and up. FORTY FORTUNES: A Tale of Iran. Illustrated by Alisher Dianov. When a young man's wife makes him pose as a fortuneteller, his success is unpredictable. Ages 7 and up. THE ENCHANTED STORKS: A Tale of Bagdad. Illustrated by Alisher Dianov. The Calif and his Vizier try a spell that changes them into storks, then find they can't change back. Ages 7 and up. 

About this edition

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0684194333
• ISBN 13: 9780684194332
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Goffe Toni