The Cotton Candy Catastrophe at the Texas State Fair

I am from Texas and wanted to share a cute story with some 1st graders in Pennsylvania. It was ok, but I wouldn't have bought it if I had read it first.

A great story by Dotti Enderle and a great tribute to Texas, where everything is bigger! The illustrations are eye-pleasing and my children laughed several times at the sheer silliness of this tale!

This is my son's favorite book. Great kid's story.

My grandkids loved this story. We then ate cotton candy. They had never tasted cotton candy. The story reminded me of my days at the State Fair minus the catastrophe.

I've become quite the storybook reader lately, gaining myself great kid popularity as the favorite aunt.This book was no exception.The author really got into the mind of a child with the kind of things they daydream about...the biggest state fair and a cotton candy machine going so haywire that it explodes cotton candy without stopping to the crowd. Now that's a kid's dream!The personification of the cotton candy is all done with a Texas twist as well...it slithers like a funny rattlesnake down the cart, it twists and turns like a Texas tornado on another page...too cute.The visuals are what make this a great tale for kids. They can totally "see" the cotton candy wrapping itself around all the carousel riders and bobbing up and down while the organ music "played merrily" (and the riders got a little sweet snack during their ride!)The drawings are colorful and bright and all things Texas...including actual buildings from the State Fair, longhorns, etc.Kids will also love the solution at the end of the book...fireman have to come to hose down all the cotton candy and turn it to puddles. Now what kid doesn't love a fireman rescue?This brought big giggles during my read...I can't imagine any child not loving it, especially a kid from Texas or one who wants to be!

Whenever I get a picture book to review, it's always a team effort between myself and my 4-year-old daughter. About THE COTTON CANDY CATASTROPHE, she said, "It was fun and funny. And it had a haunted house that I want to go in. And I like how it got sillier and sillier because the cotton candy made more and more mess." I agree. This is a great tall-tale story of what can happen if you aren't careful with that fluffy pink stuff. The illustrations are a hoot, too -- full of fun -- I especially loved the chickens. And you'll even get a peek at Big Tex, the 52-foot-tall cowboy who really does greet visitors to the Texas State Fair. It's a great regional book and a fun read-aloud.

As a long-time Texas State Fair goer, I'm thrilled to own such a fun book that is full of the flavor, adventure, and excitement of the Fair. Dotti Enderle does a wonderful job of creating a monstrous cotton-candy day for one boy and for everyone who reads this delightful book. The pictures are bright and sure to catch a child's attention. You can almost taste the cotton candy as you read!

In this tallest of tale tales, Enderle spins a story about some cotton candy that's spun out of control, gumming up the works at the Texas state fair. A great choice to read before a trip to the Midway, or to bring back memories after-the-fact. Be sure to have something sweet on hand while you read -- this book'll make your tummy rumble for a box of caramel corn or a plate of sugar-dusted fried dough. Put on your best twang for maximum read-aloud pleasure.