About the Book
Book: Tyrone the Terrible
Author: Jan Lis
Genre: Children’s Chapter Book
Release Date: March, 2020
Tyrone is the skinniest chameleon in the swamp. No one wants him on their team. After going on a fitness program, Tyrone gets carried away with his new self and terrorizes his friends in Gnarly Tree Bend until he meets Sly, the meanest gator in the bayou. Looks like Tyrone is gumbo.
The moral of this story? Someone is always bigger and badder than you, so you’d best make friends along the way.
TYRONE THE TERRIBLE is a bullying tale. The feisty chameleon picks on his bayou buddies before meeting his match. In the process, he learns the value of friends and family and how actions have consequences.
This delightful story is filled with swampy animal characters with a distinctly southern voice – not quite Brer Rabbit, but a good deep-south feel.
Click here to get your copy!
MY THOUGHTS.....
When your own mama tells you that you may not amount to anything, you know "this ain't going to be easy". Tyrone soon finds out that being a skinny chameleon knocks him out of a lot of fun so he decides to change things by working to become stronger. His body, however, isn't the only thing that changes because Tyrone's attitude becomes just a little too cocky! Instead of being bullied, Tyrone turns into a bully himself until a frightening encounter with Sly the crocodile teaches him a valuable lesson. "Someone is always bigger and badder than you, so you'd best make friends along the way."
Tyrone the Terrible is a story that is both fun and educational. Young people will enjoy this tale that is told in Southern dialect and, as a former librarian, I can imagine their laughter if it was being read to them with a Southern accent. I appreciate that there are discussion questions to help children and parents talk about the issue of bullying and author Jan Lis also shares a reference to Jonah and the Whale from the Old Testament. This is a book that I would recommend for both children and adults.
I received a copy of this book from the author via Celebrate Lit. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
About the Author
Jan Lis is south Florida writer and artist. Living in this multicultural area, Jan utilizes these diverse cultural influences in her stories. Jan fills her children’s books with spunky characters and rich imagery, bringing to her stories and illustrations the same vivid quality found in her fine art paintings.
Jan attended the Cleveland Institute of Art, has a degree from Ohio University’s School of Fine Art, and took post-graduate writing at Case-Western Reserve. She established her writing as a journalist contributing articles to publications such as the Miami Herald, and the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, and worked as Fine Arts Editor and Columnist for the Florida Arts Gazette.
Jan Lis is an established artist who has exhibited and won awards in many of the country’s top Annual Exhibitions including: The Butler Institute of American Art, the San Diego Watercolor Society, and the Piedmont Biennial at the Mint Museum. She is represented in corporate and private collections including: the State of Florida Art In Public Buildings Program, the Brevard County Florida Art in Public Places Program, and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC.
Jan is represented by agent Cyle Young, Hartline Literary Agency, and is member of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
More from Jan
How I first met Tyrone was an interesting adventure in itself. One day, a curious little chameleon climbed up on a stone, and watched me as I went for my afternoon swim. Day after day his little head popped up every time I entered the pool. Then he scrambled up onto his rock to watch me swim.
Over the course of the summer I saw this skinny fellow gradually mature into quite an impressive chameleon. Sometime during the summer he gained the name Tyrone, and the story was born. Much of the action in Tyrone The Terrible takes place around Gnarly Tree, located along the bayou. While the setting of the story is fiction, the tree is not. My Gnarly tree is a venerable old Banyan, located along the pathway near my home. These days I give it a nod whenever I pass by. I loved writing the Tyrone characters, and the southern feel of the dialogue. It’s a story you just have to read out loud, and have fun with.
Blog Stops
For Him and My Family, June 1
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 2
Vicky Sluiter, June 3 (Author Interview)
Older & Smarter?, June 4
Texas Book-aholic, June 6
Simple Harvest Reads, June 7 (Author Interview)
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, June 8
deb’s Book Review, June 9
Inklings and notions, June 10
My Devotional Thoughts, June 11 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, June 12
Splashes of Joy, June 13
Artistic Nobody, June 14 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jan is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and a signed copy of Tyrone The Terrible!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Good Morning! Your book sounds great and I'm glad I got to learn about it. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really great read.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Connie! This book sounds perfect for my neighbors' children.
ReplyDelete