Chompsey Chomps Books

by Candice Marley Conner, Alaina Luise (Illustrator)

Chompsey the alligator is great at chomping and weaving beautiful flower crowns for his friends, but not so good at reading. He doesn’t understand why reading is so much harder for him than it is his swamp friends. The letters and words don’t stay on the pages like they’re supposed to. Discouraged and frustrated, Chompsey chomps at the words as they fly away. How will he ever figure out how to make the words stay still and make sense?

Animals & Nature | Dyslexia | Growth Mindset

32 pages, Unknown Binding

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Growing up between swamps, a river, and the Gulf Coast, Candice Marley Conner’s stories emerge from gnarled cypress knees, muddy water, and salty air. She is the kidlit haint at a haunted indie bookstore (but not haunted how you’re thinking), a Local Liaison for SCBWI, and an officer for her local writer’s guild. Her short stories and poems are in various anthologies and magazines including Smarty Pants Magazine for Kids, Highlights Hello, Cabinet of Curiosities, Under the Full Moon’s Light, Babybug, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and more. Her picture book, SASSAFRAS AND HER TEENY TINY TAIL debuts June 8, 2021 and her YA Southern mystery, THE EXISTENCE OF BEA PEARL, releases June 15, 2021. She lives in Alabama with her husband and two children (one of whom is possibly feral).
Candice is represented by Katelyn Detweiler of Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

Reviews

[Amy Steinman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book! The illustrations and beautiful and add humor to such an important and serious topic: dyslexia. My nephew has dyslexia and I wish he were still young enough to read this book! He was embarrassed for seeking help. This book teaches children that we ALL learn differently, whether it be ADHD, dyslexia, or any other learning difficulty and that it can certainly be overcome!

This book also gives the message that it is our own uniqueness that makes us special and what makes the world go round.

Highly recommend!

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biased author review here! :) I hope y'all enjoy my sweet, chompy, daisy-crown weaving alligator, Chompsey, as he learns to catch those pesky words so he can join in on a swamp friends' book club. I was a Reading Buddy at a local elementary school and was blown away by the hard work and dedication dyslexic children exhibit as they learn to read. Add in my favorite animal--alligators! and my favorite thing to do--book club! and CHOMPSEY CHOMPS BOOKS was born.

I hope he and his book club friends inspire your little one to eat books up too (by reading of course!)

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great picture book, a needed message.
I wish ALL books were printed in Dyslexie font.

[Joyce Lapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chompsey Chomps Books" is a warm and sweet book about the challenges faced by dyslexic readers.

Chompsey the alligator WANTS to love reading. But his dyslexia means he can only "digest" books by eating them.

For Chompsey, letters can "grow wings and fly off." For example, "A" becomes airborne, "B" buzzes off. And to a dyslexic reader, many letters look alike. The letters can even seem to change order! I, personally, had no idea dyslexia can cause any of this!

With the help of Chompsey's friends--including Beaver, Squirrel and Heron--the dyslexic 'gator finds a *different* way to learn. He's determined to enjoy books the way his friends do--by reading them, not eating them. This is important, because as Beaver points out, books are very hard to come by in a swamp!

"Chompsey Chomps Books" wraps up with valuable backmatter on dyslexia. I recommend this book for every dyslexic reader and their family!