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The Great Fuzz Frenzy    by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel Amazon.com order for
Great Fuzz Frenzy
by Janet Stevens
Order:  USA  Can
Harcourt, 2005 (2005)
Hardcover

Read an Excerpt

* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch

It's an age old question: What happens when a dog drops a fuzzy green tennis ball down a hole into the living quarters of a group of prairie dogs? Plenty, as we find out in The Great Fuzz Frenzy, resulting in absolutely hilarious consequences.

The prairie dogs do not know what to make of this soft, fuzzy, green thing that has appeared before them like a UFO. Everyone soon wants a piece of the fuzz, and the prairie dogs scramble to be as creative as possible with their newfound discovery, including wearing fuzzy slippers, fuzzy ear muffs, fuzzy hula skirts, fuzzy bunny ears, and fuzzy flags. Inevitably, conflict erupts.

The unpopular, self-proclaimed leader of the pack, Big Bark, steals all the fuzz and is eventually swooped away by an eagle. Initially the crowd is happy to be rid of him, but then they realize that they should try to save him as he is 'one of us.' When he is saved, they lose all their fuzz, but they are happy to appoint Big Bark as their protector against eagles and other predators. The prairie dogs are content to live fuzzlessly ever after.

The language is quick, alliterative, and laugh-out-loud funny: 'They twisted it. Braided it. Danced, and paraded it. It was a fuzz frenzy. A fuzz fiesta. A fuzz fandangle. The whole prairie was abuzz about fuzz.' The illustrations are detailed, lifelike and just wonderful. The fuzz seems to glow a neon green as contrasted with the prairie dogs' dirt brown surroundings.

The Great Fuzz Frenzy is one of the funniest, original and unique children's picture books I have read in a long time. It is highly recommended.

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