Author: Tony Johnston
Illustrator: Stacy Innerst
Publisher: Harcourt, 2011
Age: 4 and up
Themes: tall-tales, clothing, inventions, Gold Rush
Opening: “GOLD!” somebody yelled. Next thing anybody knew, the whoile world rushed to California and started digging up the place. The trouble was, they rushed so fats, they lost their pants.
Summary: (from my library catalog) Retells, in tall-tale fashion, how Levi Strauss went to California during the Gold Rush, saw the need for a sturdier kind of trouser, and invented jeans.
Why I like this book: I LOVE historical fiction, especially when the text makes me laugh, and the illustrations are something to marvel at. This book fits the bill!
Resources/Activities: Everyone has an old pair of jeans laying around, right? No? Well, come over and get some from me – I had grand plans for a quilt, but I don’t quilt! Try painting on fabric, maybe even add some decorative details to jeans you still wear.
For more Perfect Picture Book picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.
julie rowan-zoch 
I should find this for hubby who has a closetful of Levi’s jeans. 😀
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Careful, this book may bring you to paint them!
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I wonder what Levi would think of today’s jean styles! 😉
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Esp the decorated pockets, and I bet he’d be happy that people are still wearing them, that everyone is!
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Just put this on my library list! Thank you, this sounds like a mentor text to me.
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Always good to find one!
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This one reminds me of Lane Smith’s “Abe Lincoln’s Dream,” a little outrageous and a whole lot of fun.
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I think Innerst illustrated one about Lincoln too!
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Love, love, LOVE this book!
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Yay!
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I Love this one, too. I am always fascinated by the origins of inventions of things we ALL use!
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Or reuse – similar to #9, I use jean bits to giftwrap: http://www.brit.co/repurpose-denim/
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Thanks for sharing this wonderful book. I read it a couple years ago and forgot how marvelous it is. And what a great idea to paint on old jeans! I think I have a pair laying around that’s begging for some color!
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I have an evolving pair that I wear for painting instead!
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The inventor of JEANS? I wish I could meet him. I’ll add this one to my tbr list. Thanks 🙂
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Enjoy, Christie!
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Will have to check this out. Looks interesting. Her art style reminds me of Lane Smith’s.
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Stacy is a he, but I thought otherwise at first as well. He has done some brilliant work. You won’t be disappointed!
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Good choice! Great voice in this!
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True dat!
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My kind of story! Never knew about Levi Strauss and how he came up with the idea of making jeans.
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Sounds like a book kids will love!!
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Levi was such an entrepreneur! Can’t wait to read it. Historical fiction books are so much fun.
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I LOVE this book and highlighted it on Feb. 12 but I may have forgotten to link it Susanna’s list. Isn’t it fantabulous? The voice just reaches out and grabs you by the collar. It makes me smile just thinking about it. 😀
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