Genre: Non-fiction/Biography (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?)
Reading Level/Interest Level: 1.8/ K-3 per Titlewave. My recommendation : Grades 3-5
Similar Titles: Unknown
In
the true story of French performer, Joseph Pujol , a young boy learns he has
control enough over his intestinal muscles to move them on command, leading to
countless performances of the “Fartiste” for family and friends. As he grows
up, he marries and has 10 children. Money being tight as a baker, he begins to
perform again, this time in the street. His dream is to one day perform in
Paris, and perform he does.
Joseph
is so successful, as a matter of fact, with his flatulent impressions, animal noises,
music and sound effects that he not only performs to rave reviews at the Moulin
Rouge, but in front of kings and diplomats, spending the rest of his life
paling around with Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso and other painters and play
writers of note. Considered, ironically, a serious artist in the art of the
fart, Pujol becomes a sensation, eventually moving his family to a private
chalet and allowing scientists to study his dietary habits and muscle control
when he ceased performing, after World War I.
While
Titlewave recommends this title as an Easy Reader picture book, I can see why our
local library has it listed under juvenile, or “tween” materials in their
catalog. The first part of the book, the picture book part, is easy for younger children to read and
has glorious, classic French inspired illustrations. However, given the content
(it does actually take a certain level of maturity to read a book on an artist
whose medium is flatulence), the advanced vocabulary and short biography at the
back of the book, it is easy to see why it has been classified as a juvenile
title.
I
would recommend this book to younger, reluctant, tween readers (8-12 years old)
who don’t want to give up the picture book but also want an introduction into
the informative, but not so dull world of non-fiction. Besides, let’s face it,
no matter how old we get, there is still something distinctly funny about fart jokes. This
one, just happens to be true.
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