Would you like a tiger in your living room?

Would you like a tiger in your living room?

New book tells you how to catch one

Lexington, MA: “A tiger in your home makes a delightful living room decoration, conversation piece or intruder deterrent” is a quote from a new book that has stories and pictures for children and literary references for adults.  The book is Professor Magillicutty’s Dingle-Dangle Guide for Hunting Wild Animals written by Joanne Blondin and illustrated by Anne Chavez, Lexington High School tutor and teacher respectively.

The Dingle-Dangle Guide is a fanciful, humorous book of adventure tales and follow-up letters between Professor Magillicutty and his fans, questioners, and complainers.  One of his followers catches a python instead of a tiger.  Another reader tries to capture a blue rhino from a passing truck.  A complainer asks how to get rid of the excess pachyderms in his backyard.

The book is a great present for birthdays, graduations, any time for sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and neighbors.  It is available in paperback from Harvard Bookstore or Amazon for $11.95. 

“I wrote the first two stories in Professor Magillicutty’s Dingle-Dangle Guide as assignments for a class at Grub Street Writers in Boston.  I wasn’t thinking of a book at all.  A classmate suggested that the stories become part of a children’s book,” explained Joanne Blondin during an interview. 

“Anne Chavez and I were chatting about my new book. Where am I going to find an illustrator?”  I asked.  My usual one is preparing for an art show.  Oh, I can do that, Anne said, I could show you some of my drawings.” Professor Magillicutty’s Dingle-Dangle Guide for Hunting Wild Animals is the result. 

Happy hunting!  Best wishes for catching the wild animal of your choice.