What do you think?
Rate this book
Calvin Coconut #4
Calvin Coconut: Zoo Breath
What's stinkier than dog breath? Hawaii's Calvin Coconut is on a mission to find out!
Hawaii boy Calvin Coconut is a fourth-grade whiz he has convinced his mom to let him adopt a dog. But Mom says Streak smells bad. Especially her breath. To Calvin, Streak’s stink is a good one, but he’s worried. If he doesn’t come up with a way to deal with Streak’s zoo breath soon, Mom might make him give his dog back to the shelter. So when his teacher assigns the class a discovery project, Calvin teams up with his pal Julio to find a way to fix Streak’s bad breath.
Zoo Breath is full of fun . . . and great stinks. Calvin Coconut’s discoveries will delight readers who have grown to love him, as well as those new to this series by Graham Salisbury, with charming illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers.
Hawaii boy Calvin Coconut is a fourth-grade whiz he has convinced his mom to let him adopt a dog. But Mom says Streak smells bad. Especially her breath. To Calvin, Streak’s stink is a good one, but he’s worried. If he doesn’t come up with a way to deal with Streak’s zoo breath soon, Mom might make him give his dog back to the shelter. So when his teacher assigns the class a discovery project, Calvin teams up with his pal Julio to find a way to fix Streak’s bad breath.
Zoo Breath is full of fun . . . and great stinks. Calvin Coconut’s discoveries will delight readers who have grown to love him, as well as those new to this series by Graham Salisbury, with charming illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers.
- GenresMiddle GradeJuvenileDogs
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Graham Salisbury
32 books100 followersGraham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 26, 2022
Oh my gosh, such a funny laugh-out-loud book! What a fun read and I needed a fun read like this today:) The cute drawings in the book added to the humor and the story just got funnier as I read:) I'm sure I'll have to read this again!
March 4, 2013
This is my first Calvin Coconut book and I LOVED it. it has easy to read, short chapters,which is great for its target audience, and the book possesses heart-warming innocence that reminded me of books I'd read and real-life experiences I'd undergone when I was a child.
I love, too, how there's super multicultural diversity with its characters and there are real-world situations that are presented in honest but non-threatening, non-judgemental and non- melodramatic fashions.
Salusbury's text, accompanied with simple but sweetly adorable illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers, is a must or kids. Good stuff, Graham.
I love, too, how there's super multicultural diversity with its characters and there are real-world situations that are presented in honest but non-threatening, non-judgemental and non- melodramatic fashions.
Salusbury's text, accompanied with simple but sweetly adorable illustrations by Jacqueline Rogers, is a must or kids. Good stuff, Graham.
April 16, 2020
This book is perfect for children at the age where they like to be disgusted and they think words like farts (or futs, in this book) is funny.
The book is easy to read and tone is light. The author has cleverly incorporated some social themes into the story, ever so gently into background. Our protagonist's father has moved away, taking his old pet dog with him. He had to adjust to the loss of his old pet, as well as his parents' new partners.
In the fore, we see Calvin's a new pet dog. His mother and sisters complain of the dog's breath. Coincidentally his teacher sets them a research project and he decides to investigate about bad smells. It is entertaining reading about the stinks they look for, and actually stick their noses in it. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see the reaction when this is read out loud to a class.
This story will bring a smile to your face.
The book is easy to read and tone is light. The author has cleverly incorporated some social themes into the story, ever so gently into background. Our protagonist's father has moved away, taking his old pet dog with him. He had to adjust to the loss of his old pet, as well as his parents' new partners.
In the fore, we see Calvin's a new pet dog. His mother and sisters complain of the dog's breath. Coincidentally his teacher sets them a research project and he decides to investigate about bad smells. It is entertaining reading about the stinks they look for, and actually stick their noses in it. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see the reaction when this is read out loud to a class.
This story will bring a smile to your face.
September 2, 2016
Fourth grader Calvin Coconut is a fun-loving troublemaker living in Kailua, Hawaii, and Zoo Breath is the fourth book about his life and misadventures. (The first three books, in order of publication, are Trouble Magnet, The Zippy Fix, and Dog Heaven. A fifth book, Hero of Hawaii was just published on March 8, 2011, and a sixth volume, Kung Fooey comes out this September.) In this installment, Calvin’s teacher has assigned a project wherein every student in the class must work with a partner to make a discovery. Calvin and his partner decide to study smells, with the goal of de-stinking Calvin’s dog before his mother makes him get rid of it.
Parts of this book are downright disgusting, which is what I think will draw boys to it. The previous volumes that I read didn’t have toilet humor or anything like that, but the subject matter lends itself to it in this book. I can’t say I loved all of it, but I think it definitely worked within the story and helped Calvin feel more like a real kid. I also loved the boys versus girls dynamic that emerges when a female partnership in the class starts spying on Calvin and his friends as part of their own class project. There are so many lovable kids in this book, and the class presentation when the project was over was one of the best parts of the book.
For me, though, what I love most about this series is the way it brings Hawaiian culture to life. I think early chapter books often seem to exist in a vacuum, with few references to place, or even time. But Graham Salisbury, who himself grew up in Hawaii, has a definite knack for infusing Hawaiian slang, food, and customs into the story. I learn new things by reading these books, and I imagine kids can’t help but do the same. I also laugh a lot at these books, which is a compliment not just to the writing, but also to Jacqueline Rogers's wonderful illustrations that bring Calvin's personality, facial expressions, and sense of humor to life. The Calvin Coconut books are quick, fun reads, and I look forward to reading whatever else might be in store for this character. These books are fresh and unique, and among my favorite chapter books right now.
Be sure to visit Calvin's website at calvincoconut.com, which contains more information about the books, as well as biographies of the author and illustrator, and an explanation of their writing process. Especially don't miss the music page, where you can listen to Calvin's father, Little Johnny Coconut, perform four of his hit songs.
Parts of this book are downright disgusting, which is what I think will draw boys to it. The previous volumes that I read didn’t have toilet humor or anything like that, but the subject matter lends itself to it in this book. I can’t say I loved all of it, but I think it definitely worked within the story and helped Calvin feel more like a real kid. I also loved the boys versus girls dynamic that emerges when a female partnership in the class starts spying on Calvin and his friends as part of their own class project. There are so many lovable kids in this book, and the class presentation when the project was over was one of the best parts of the book.
For me, though, what I love most about this series is the way it brings Hawaiian culture to life. I think early chapter books often seem to exist in a vacuum, with few references to place, or even time. But Graham Salisbury, who himself grew up in Hawaii, has a definite knack for infusing Hawaiian slang, food, and customs into the story. I learn new things by reading these books, and I imagine kids can’t help but do the same. I also laugh a lot at these books, which is a compliment not just to the writing, but also to Jacqueline Rogers's wonderful illustrations that bring Calvin's personality, facial expressions, and sense of humor to life. The Calvin Coconut books are quick, fun reads, and I look forward to reading whatever else might be in store for this character. These books are fresh and unique, and among my favorite chapter books right now.
Be sure to visit Calvin's website at calvincoconut.com, which contains more information about the books, as well as biographies of the author and illustrator, and an explanation of their writing process. Especially don't miss the music page, where you can listen to Calvin's father, Little Johnny Coconut, perform four of his hit songs.
July 20, 2011
Calvin's teacher, Mr. Purdy, assigns the class a project where their goal is to do some primary research - the topic is up to them. This comes in handy for Calvin, who's afraid his mother is going to make him take his beloved dog, Streak, back to the pound because of how much she stinks. He decides to do his project on dog breath - why it smells, if other things smell worse, & how to make it better. The usual craziness ensues. Calvin's voice continues to be very authentic, & his world full of the love of quirky family & friends. The warmth of this book will make all fans like it, but boy readers will especially love Calvin's musings on gross smells.
April 26, 2012
Another in a series about a 10 year old Hawaiian boy. This time, his teacher challenges the class to try to answer one question that has them stumped through research. He decides to tackle why his dog has such stinky breath. There is alot about stinky stuff..boys would probably like that. It was my least favorite.
July 25, 2010
This series will work well with boys who enjoyed "Captain Underpants."
It's the next level up from that series, and apparently boys find this kind of humor fun to read about...bodily functions and some gross stuff.
Not the worst thing for them, but if it keeps them reading....
It's the next level up from that series, and apparently boys find this kind of humor fun to read about...bodily functions and some gross stuff.
Not the worst thing for them, but if it keeps them reading....
November 18, 2010
What is causing Calvin's dog Streak's stinky breath, and how to eliminate it before mom makes him get rid of his dog? Boys' humor about gross smells and annoying girls makes it a funny, easy read. yspn
October 28, 2010
Another good one. Join Calvin and Julio as they test out all sorts of stinks.
April 9, 2016
All the more reasons to love the book. Tthe book reallt brings out the stink of the dogs breath, man that is bad!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews