I Wanna Iguana

Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana, so he puts his arguments in writing. He promises that she won't have to feed it or clean its cage or even see it if she doesn't want to. Of course Mom imagines life with a six-foot-long iguana eating them out of house and home. Alex's reassurances: It takes fifteen years for an iguana to get that big. I'll be married by then and probably living in my own house. and his mom's replies: How are you going to get a girl to marry you when you own a giant reptile? will have kids in hysterics as the negotiations go back and forth through notes. And the lively, imaginative illustrations show their polar opposite dreams of life with an iguana.

Author: Karen Kaufman Orloff
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Published: 09/09/2004
Pages: 32
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.91lbs
Size: 8.74h x 10.76w x 0.44d
ISBN: 9780399237171
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.7
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 80398 / I Wanna Iguana


Award: Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award - Nominee
Award: Young Hoosier Book Award - Nominee
Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Florida Children's Book Award - Honor Book
Award: Black-Eyed Susan Award - Nominee
Award: Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award - Honor Book
Award: Colorado Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Grand Canyon Reader Award - Nominee
Award: California Young Reader Medal - Nominee
Award: Golden Sower Award - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 08/15/2004 pg. 811
School Library Journal 10/01/2004 pg. 126
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2005 pg. 47 - Recommended, Satisfactory

About the Author
Karen Kaufman Orloff is the author of many books for children including I Wanna Iguana, I Wanna New Room, and I Wanna Go Home, all inspired by her son's pet iguana who quickly grew to be over four feet long and take over his room. She also writes a humorous column on family life every other week for The Poughkeepsie Journal.

David Catrow is the illustrator of many picture books including Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon and its sequel Have Fun, Molly Lou Melon, written by Patty Lovell; I Wanna Iguana and its two companion books I Wanna New Room and I Wanna Go Home, written by Karen Kaufman Orloff; Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel; The Middle Child Blues by Kristyn Crow; and We the Kids: the Preamble to the Constitution. He lives in Ohio with his wife, Deborah.