My seven-year-old son loves to read, but I admit that it’s hard for me to keep up on all of the children’s books out there. So, I’m always happy when a friend or family member mentions a series like Skippyjon Jones that turns out to be a hit with him.
Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat with very large ears who thinks he is a Chihuahua. He is very hyper and has an active imagination, which often gets him into many crazy adventures. He lives with his mother, sisters, and their human owner Mrs. Tinkley.
There are several different Skippyjon Jones books, but Lost in Spice is my son’s favorite. The space exploration theme is common among books for boys, which is why I think he likes the story so much. But, there are plenty of elements in this book to appeal to young girls, too.
In Lost in Spice, Skippyjon Jones is going to travel to Mars because it is red and red is his favorite color. When he gets to Mars in his imagination, he finds a twin version of himself. This little kitty is green and has only one eye. He explains that Mars is red because it’s covered in spicy hot peppers!
This book, like other titles in the Skippyjon Jones series, is a fun read for children who like rhyming and creative wordplay. There are many Spanish words in the text, although kids can figure out most of the meanings from the pictures.
If you don’t speak Spanish though, reading the book out loud to your child can be a bit frustrating. I found myself tripping over my words in several parts of the story. Thankfully, though, my son was so busy laughing at Skippyjon’s antics that he hardly noticed my mistakes.
Photo credit: Skippyjon Jones Official Website
