Adventures of a Furry, Funny, Flatulent Feline---- Farty Marty

    As I sat working on lesson plans for the first week in January for my second grade reading intervention group a few weeks before Christmas, I knew right away that I was going to have my work cut out for me those first days back.  I wasn't worried about the normal adjustments that pretty much all children go through after being away from their regular school day routine, but rather, it was something a bit more challenging.  After the long holiday break, we would be returning to a full week filled with assessment testing for our first through fifth graders...ugh!
     Now, testing immediately after a long break would make any experienced teacher worried about how their students would be able to perform.  So, I knew that it would be fitting to start off our 25 minute group session by a read-aloud of a book that would not only help to ease their transition from the comfort and yes, at times, complete idleness of their two week break away from school, but a story that would lessen their nerves and apprehension about their upcoming test.  But, after researching for a book that I felt would be an appropriate match for what my students would need, I just wasn't able to find what I thought would be a perfect fit.
     One night, however, in the middle of December, when I was on Facebook, I came across a post from actress/author Kathryn Leigh Scott (who starred on the classic gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, and later became a successful author and founder of her own publishing company, Pomegranate Press).  Ms. Scott, (whose career as an author was an influence on me as I began my own freelancing career after I graduated from college), mentioned in her post how proud she was of her good friend, B.J. Ward (a well-respected voice actress and singer) who recently published her very first book for children entitled, Farty Marty.  She included a picture of Ms. Ward alongside the cover of her newly published book, which prominently featured a smiling, green eyed tabby cat. 
     Cue the bright flash of a light bulb going off in my head and the sounds of ringing bells-- the very title and illustration made me immediately grin and think of what else would put a smile on my kids' face than a story about animals (which they always love for me to read) and well, farting (which, I have to say, they love just as much, if not equal to, hearing stories about animals)!  After reaching out to Ms. Scott, who kindly forwarded my message to her friend, and to Ms. Ward thru Facebook (I was so very touched to receive a lovely package containing a personally autographed copy of her book), I knew that I found the perfect story. 
     So, on the first Monday of the new year, as many of us across the nation were greeted by what the newscasters described as a 'polar vortex' of brutal cold, which reached all the way to our southern state, I walked down the hallway into the classroom holding on to this funny story which instantly put smiles on my sleepy headed eight year-old students faces.
    

As our tale begins, Marty, a wide eyed orange cat is cared for and loved by a little girl named Mary Jane Lemon.  One day, Mary Jane takes Marty along with her to school for 'Show and Tell'.  Marty is so happy to be there with Mary Jane that his excitement gets the better of him and, well, a little sound of air comes out from an unexpected source----namely Marty's tush!  The toot sound is quickly followed by a tweet, then, in rapid succession, comes a toot, then a croak and finally, ending in a big loud whoosh!
     Poor Marty is quickly banished from the classroom by Mary Jane's principal, who, while holding his nose to escape from the new, pungent aroma drifting in the air, loudly exclaims that Marty is, "a SKUNK, not a cat!"  When the duo returns home with a letter from the principal, they receive a less than happy greeting from Grandma, who warns the embarrassed, flatulent feline that, "we won't have a cat whose behavior offends." 
     The next day, after Marty's disastrously odorous debut at school, Mary Jane's vocal tutor, Ms. Chen, arrives at her house, bearing a French-inspired bag filled with all delicious French goodies to eat--- including cheese and grapes.  As Ms. Chen and Mary Jane sit down and start working on a poem that they will later recite in French, no sooner do they hear the sounds of gagging coming from the floor.  Marty, overcome by his feast, begins to toot once more, only this time, Ms. Chen and Mary Jane are startled to hear the familiar strain of "Au Claire du Lune" coming from the kitty's behind!  They decide to test Marty to see if this was a fluke and they feed him some pasta, which after devouring the yummy contents of the bowl, Marty starts to pass wind again, only this time, they hear him toot out the words, "Te Amo!"
     Mary Jane and Ms. Chen quickly decide to enter Marty into a local pet show, and Marty instantly becomes an overnight international sensation, and toots out across the entire globe on a world tour.  He even gets his very own scent appropriately named, "Le Farte" when he arrives in France!
     Ms. Ward's charmingly playful rhyming tale is matched seamlessly by the whimsical illustrations by acclaimed Regina Medal winning artist David Kellogg.  My students were completely engaged with this story, and they laughed along with all of Marty's toots!  They have decided to draw pictures of Marty next week that will accompany a writing prompt that they will be completing which will feature their very own follow-up as to what they think will be Marty's latest adventure, as we excitedly wait hopefully for Ms. Ward to write a sequel for her cute, yet gassy kitty!

Farty Marty
Written by B.J. Ward and Illustrated by David Kellogg
Publisher:  A Paula Wiseman Book/Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (2013)
Website:  kids.simonandschuster.com
Retails for $16.99
ISBN: 978-1-4424-3901-6
For ages 4 thru 8