Bibliography: Isaacs, Anne. DUST DEVIL. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2010.Print.

ISBN: 9780375867224

After outgrowing Tennessee, Angelina Longrider AKA Swamp Angel moves west to Montana.  The size of the land suited her but the lack of proper shade did not, so she moved beautiful mountains to provide shade for her and her neighbors.  Soon she was feeling at home except she just couldn’t seem to find the right horse.  That summer “the worst storm anyone had ever seen” tore across Montana.  When the storm came by her ranch, she jumped on that whirlwind and road it until she tamed it into a beautiful giant horse.  Things returned to normal after that, until Backward Bart and his flying Desperados began robbing and terrorizing everyone in their path.  Angel and her horse Dust Devil chase Backward Bart and his gang for a week before they catch up to them.  Dust Devil forged spears of lightning for Angel to throw at the desperados.  But when Angel drops the spears of lightning the Desperados quickly swarm in on their giant mosquitos.  Will Backward Bart and the Desperados prove to be too powerful for Angel and Dust Devil?

Anne Isaacs brings us an original tall tell featuring a strong female protagonist who is not afeard to ride hurling whirlwinds or confront a gang of desperados.  Taming the Wild West is the theme of this good versus evil story with a happy ending. In keeping with the distinctive elements of a tall tale Angel is the size of a mountain, her horse Dust Devil is a force of nature and together they create the authentic western geographical land markers, such as the buttes of Montana, the Grand Canyon, and the Sawtooth Range.  Isaacs’ subtle use of western vernacular such as, “the cows were none the worst for the trip” represents part of the cultural authenticity of this story.  However, the humor is entirely original.  Backward Bart actually talks backwards “Cash your gimme!”

Zelinsky’s occasional use of sequential panels is key to advancing the story.  His depictions of the log cabins, ladies gathering hats and buttes capture the feeling of being out west, but it is his folk-art style of painting that truly anchors this story into the heart of the old west.  Moreover, Zelinsky’s illustrations are so packed full of unexpected and humorous features that it’s easy to miss the humorous detail the first time you read this book, but look closely because these features add a comedic layer to this story that can be enjoyed on its own.  

Activities:

English Language Arts:

Similes: Dust Devil contains many expressive similes in the descriptive text of the story: “the wind shrieked like a thousand trumpets playing out a tune”; “They were pricklier than porcupines in a cactus patch.” and “… they opened their toothless mouths and bawled like babies.”

You can do a very short lesson on similes by simply pointing out the similes and discussing them briefly or you can extend the lesson time by giving students simple sentences and having them write similes to add to the description. Suggestion for sentences you can use so your students can add similes:

·         My sister Elizabeth has curly blond hair like….

·         After the rain, the yard is bright green like….

·         Wyatt’s new car is fast like…

·         My stomach growled loudly like…..

·         Nick’s locker was so messy and full of papers that it looked like…..

You can create many of your own.

Reading Skills:

Compare/Contrast – You may create a double-bubble map, a Venn diagram, or other graphic organizer on the board or projector. Then have students compare/contrast Swamp Angel to Dust Devil.  Also, use this activity to help students understand text to text connections.   

Recommended reading by Anne Isaacs:

Swamp Angel
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch
The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch

Awards:

Booklist starred 09/01/10
Library Media Connection starred 01/01/11
Publishers Weekly starred             08/09/10
School Library Journal starred 09/01/10
Kirkus Reviews starred 09/01/10

Reviews:

Isaacs and Zelinsky tell an even taller tale about Angelica Longrider, the outsized heroine of their hilarious, Caldecott Honor-winning Swamp Angel. Singsongy, colloquial narration guides readers from predicament to outlandish predicament with humor and folksy charm. Angel's antics, pictured in oval and rectangular panels and surrounded by rippling wood grains, neatly explain the topography of the West in traditional folk-story fashion (wrestling the bucking bronco, Angel's feet drag across the ground, creating the Grand Canyon). Zelinsky's rustic oil illustrations offer a gallery of comic faces, frozen in exaggerated surprise, shock and frustration. Artfully crude, comedic artwork, friendly, understated narration and a wildly hyperbolic story combine to create a new classic. (Excerpt from Kirkus Reviews, 2010)

In this long-awaited follow-up to the award-winning Swamp Angel (Dutton Children's Books, 1994), readers join Angelica Longrider for a Montana-sized tall tale of epic proportions! Zelinsky's vibrant watercolors are so big that they simply extend off the pages. Dust Devil is a perfect example of the highly exaggerated style of tall tales, and the illustrations enhance the story, making it a must for elementary school libraries. Teachers will love teaching from this book; students will enjoy it so much, they won't even know they are learning! Highly Recommended. Jennifer Harkleroad, Librarian, Thomas Crossroads Elementary School, Sharpsburg, Georgia (Excerpt from Library Media Connection, 2011)