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List Price: $9.99 | | Publisher: Aladdin
Salesrank: 115306
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| Our Price: $3.85 |
| Used Price: $5.61 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
From time to time I dream that I'm a manatee,
Undulating underneath the sea.
A little boy dreams of becoming a manatee, and what a dream it is! With his new gigan-atee manatee proportions, he sets off on an underwater adventure with his manatee friends.
Description of I'm a Manatee: (Book & CD):
Not blessed with the adorable good looks of a koala, the mythic mystery of a dinosaur, or even the useful familiarity of a dog, the manatee is an infrequent hero in the world of children's literature. It doesn't help matters that the poor thing has a name that's so difficult to rhyme. But the unnamed hero of John Lithgow and Ard Hoyt's I'm a Manatee (really, a boy dreaming he is a manatee) sees plenty of upside to the life of the animal that's been indelicately nicknamed the "cow of the sea." And when rhymes are unavailable to state his case, he simply makes some up: "Encumbered by my lumbering gigan-atee,/ I'm thought to be an ocean-going brute!/ The least appealing creature on the planet-ee,/ But to a manatee, I'm cute!" The words in the book are the same as the lyrics in the song version of I'm a Manatee, which is included on an enclosed CD featuring a singing Lithgow as well as in musical notation in the back of the book. The verses sound more natural in their original musical form than they do read aloud in the pages of the book where they can clunk a bit. Still, there's much to like about in this aquatic flight of fancy, including the kind of wordplay moms and dads will enjoy (very few kids' books contain the phrase "immune from human folly and inanity") and Hoyt's illustrations of the title animal, which manages to be simultaneously homely and adorable. (Ages 4 to 8) --John Moe
I'm a Manatee: (Book & CD) Reviews:
Mr. Lithgow has done it again!! 
2008-09-30 - I purchased this book and CD for my class of students. Never have they enjoyed a story and song as much as "I'm a Manatee!" The tune is so catchy, the words and rhyme so clever... Thank you, Mr. Lithgow!
Best Children's Book Ever Written
2007-11-17 - I love the story and the lyrical way that it is written. I love the language and the more complex vocabulary used is great for Children's lauguage building skills. The illustrations are wonderful. The CD is also a bonus that is really fun for a sing along. Our original copy was from a Cheerios Box, but we wore it out. This is the absolute favorite book in our library. My two year old has the entire book memorized, big words and all.
John Lithgow Fan!
2007-09-29 - My daughter LOVES this book! We got a paper version from a cereal box when she was just an infant. She had me read the book so much it just fell apart... Of course, I had to buy her another one and we're just about to need another one... she loves it sooooooooo much!
Lithgow uses alliteration to its fullest which just makes the kids giggle!
great song for waltzing with your baby
2007-07-05 - i heard John Lithgow read one of his other books on the radio and bacame an instant fan. i love him as an actor anyway, but as a writer of children's books, he's top knotch, too! i bought that other book and then saw this one - it's great! i bought 2 more as gifts. i'm not sure if my 10 week old "loves" the books/songs yet, but i know i do and she seems to like dancing with me around the house.
John Lithgow is great! 
2007-02-11 - This book is so much fun, especially when listening to the CD. We love it!
