Parents' Guide to

Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice

By Patricia Tauzer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Fun, spicy Mars trip with kids' favorite big-eared cat-dog.

Book Judy Schachner Picture Book 2009
Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 4+

Based on 3 parent reviews

kcburnett
kcburnett Adult
November 2, 2021
age 5+

Cultural Appropriation

This book, written by a White author, mocks Latino/a and Hispanic heritage and culture. The cat acts in completely stereotypical ways that do damage to all readers.
nobeli
nobeli Parent of 3, 6 and 8-year-old
March 18, 2011
age 3+

Great Family Fun!

We love Skippyjon Jones! Great books to read aloud. The kids get involved with clapping in the "songs" and we all get to work on our "very best Spanish accent". I read Lost in Spice to my son's kindergarten class during Reading Month, and all were listening closely the entire time. It is also great practice for the older kids to read to the younger ones, as it helps with vocabulary and pronounciation.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Skippyjon Jones, the "kitty boy" who thinks he is a chihuahua, is really a Siamese cat with big ears, and an even bigger imagination. In this adventure, the wonder perrito is intrigued with Mars and, with a little chili powder and the magic of his closet, he manages to rocket himself there. What happens next, what makes the red planet red, who he meets, and how he gets back home all make quite an intriguing story.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (3 ):

The story is a silly one, filled with original and very unexpected happenings, just the kind you might find in the imaginary adventures kids create themselves. None of it really makes too much sense, but it is funny, original, and very entertaining. Young readers, particulary those who already love Skippyjon Jones,  will love it. The text is interspersed with snappy vocabulary, Spanish words, wordplay, and silly songs, as well as offbeat rhymes and rhythms, and the pages are covered with zany cartooning.

Together, all that make this book a whole lot of fun, especially when read aloud. And the accompanying CD, featuring the author reading her own story, completes the whole enjoyable package. 

Created in acrylic and pen and ink on watercolor paper, the artwork in this book is energetic and full of funky fun.  Skippyjon Jones bounces, jumps, and bursts across pages filled with rockets, paper planets, paintings of Mars, posters and projects. That is, until he enters the Spice Zone...then it is all red except for the buggy, and verde,  Martian monsters.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Mars. Where is it?  Why is it called the red planet? What does Skippyjon Jones think? Why do you think he is so interested in being the "first dog to bounce into space"?

  • How did Skippyjon Jones get to Mars? What happened in the "closet for
    Chihuahuas"? What did chili powder have to do with the whole adventure?

  • What would it be like to go to Mars? Do you think you would find green Martians there?

Book Details

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