Sweet Magnolia

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Join Denise as she visits her grandmother in the Louisiana bayou for a school vacation she'll never forget! Grandma, a wildlife rehabilitator, shares her knowledge with Denise as they explore the mysterious bayou. Together they meet myriad creatures from alligators to bullfrogs, and Denise makes friends with a fox, an owl, and a deer! After learning the valuable lesson that wild animals must be free, Denise returns to the city with a new-found wisdom and a very special treasure. Vibrant, realistic illustrations let readers experience the busy bayou and the joyful lifestyle of Cajun and Creole culture.

Reviews

Sweet Magnolia, by Virginia Kroll, is the delightful story of a little girl's visit with her grandmother, a wildlife rehabilitator, in Louisiana. Throughout the visit, the child learns about Cajun and Creole culture and gains an appreciative understanding of wild animals as she helps to rehabilitate an injured bird. Sweet Magnolia won the KIND (Kids In Nature Defense) Book Award, given by the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education.
Creative Classroom

Virginia Kroll's Sweet Magnolia introduces both the wildlife of the Louisiana bayous and the Cajun culture, as six-year-old Denise goes south to visit her grandmother, a wildlife rehabilitator. They explore the bayou, save a baby bird, let it go, and enjoy jambalaya and the zydeco music and dancing at a fais dodo. Denise goes back to her family with a "lagniappe" from her trip. An attractive introduction with the added interest of an African-American family. Laura Jacques's vignettes and full-page acrylic paintings are almost too detailed, too stuffed with the flora and fauna of the region. But they tell a visual story of family love and of respect for the environment that parallel the text in a convincing way.
Library Talk

Author Bio

Virginia Kroll has contributed more than 1500 items to juvenile magazines. She travels throughout the country speaking to children about writing multicultural books. She is the author of many children's books, including WOOD-HOOPOE WILLIE, A CARP FOR KIMIKO, SWEET MAGNOLIA, JAHA AND JAMIL WENT DOWN THE HILL, HATS OFF TO HAIR!, MASAI AND I (Four Winds Press), and BUTTERFLY BOY (Boyds Mill Press). Virginia lives in New York with her family.