Review: Super cute!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2013
When you read A 13th Tail, you're not just getting the pleasure of a short story; you get to solve a riddle of sorts. Daniel Kelley says that has an issue with the number 13. While he's not overly anxious, he wrote this tale "in an effort to combat this superstition." While you're reading, Kelley encourages you to try and catch the 13 "thirteens" hidden in the story. I won't give them all away, but an example is that Sara and her mother made muffins. The recipe should have yielded 16, but Sara ate so much batter that they were 3 short.This book takes place one afternoon with Uncle Wilby telling a story to his niece Sara and two nephews, twins Harold and Gerald. The children listen to the tall tale, which reminded me of something Tim Burton might tell his own nieces and nephews.Kelley gets two thumbs up for entertainment, engagement, and creativity. I recommend this book to readers grades 3-6.