I Wanna Iguana - by Karen Kaufman Orloff (Hardcover)

About the Book

In this Junior Library Guild Selection, a young boy tries to convince his mother to let him have an iguana for a pet. With lively, imaginative illustrations, Orloff and Catrow show their polar-opposite dreams of life with the reptile. Full color.

Book Synopsis

Hilarious notes between a son and his mom show how kid logic can be very persuasive.

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 reassures her: It takes fifteen years for an iguana to get that big. I'll be married by then and probably living in my own house

His mom's reply: How are you going to get a girl to marry you when you own a giant reptile?

Kis will be in hysterics as the negotiations go back and forth through notes, and the lively, imaginative illustrations showing their polar opposite dreams of life with an iguana take the humor to even higher heights. Look for more stories highlighting Alex's powers of persuasion: I Wanna New Room and I Wanna Go Home.

Review Quotes

An International Reading Association Children's Choice Notable Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Arkansas's Diamond Primary Book Award Honor Book
Florida Children's Book Award Honor Book
California Young Readers Medal nominee
AZ Grand Canyon Reader Award nominee
Black-Eyed Susan Picture Book Award nominee
Prairie Bud Children's Book Award nominee
Georgia Children's Book Award nominee
Colorado Children's Book Award nominee
Ladybug Picture Book Award nominee
Kentucky Bluegrass Award nominee
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominee
Maine Chickadee Book Award, 2nd place
Montana Treasure State Award nominee
Golden Sower Award Nominee
Young Hoosier Award Nomineenominee
Abilene, Texas's Mockingbird Book Award

"Hilarious. . . A familiar domestic interchange, played out with broad comedy--and mutual respect, too." -Kirkus Reviews

"This funny story is told through an amusing exchange of notes, as Alex tries to convince his seemingly unshakable mother that he should be allowed to adopt a friend's baby iguana ("If I don't take it, he goes to Stinky and Stinky's dog, Lurch, will eat it. You don't want that to happen, do you?"). . . The tale is perfect for reader's-theater presentations and could also be used effectively as a writing prompt for older children. It will make even the most serious youngsters giggle." -School Library Journal

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.