Module 1: Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley

Book Summary
This book is about a brother and a sister who are asked to write a fairy tale for a school library project. The two cannot decide on what to write about, so they each tell part of the story using their ideas. The two combine into one story 

Citation 
O'Malley, K. (2005). Once upon a cool motorcycle dude. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc. 

My Impressions
I really enjoyed this book. Dare I say that I loved it?? I enjoyed that the book shows the disagreement between siblings, specifically a boy and a girl. I also like that is showed them each coming at the story from their own perspective and incorporating their own likes and beliefs. In the end, the two stories merge to create one story that actually does make sense, at least for a fairy tale. It is exciting to find that a boy and a girl with very different ideas can work together to create a story that would appeal to both young boys and girls. This book is a keeper that I will enjoy reading to my children one day. 

Review Excerpts
Coats, K. (2005). Once upon a cool motorcycle dude. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, 58(9), 398-399
"This battle of the sexes, which recalls the similar urban legend about writing collaboration gone awry, is cleverly rendered by three illustrators with three different styles-the princess is a purple and pink fantasy-art creation, the muscle dude roars onto the scene amidst garish orange flames and lurid greens, and the kids themselves are rendered in a classic comics style, complete with stipple for stylized shading. The story does what fairy tales are supposed to do-the arguing kids project themselves into the arguing princess and muscle dude and work together to banish the evil assignment-er-giant. The result is canny as well as funny, and it offers inspiration for a clever, outside-the-box way to attack a pesky group project where the members of the group don't see eye to eye."

Morning, T. (2005). Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude (Book). Booklist, 101(14), 1294-1295.
"The fun in this picture book comes in the contrasting styles of the illustrations, which include contributions from Carol Heyer and Scott Goto. The girl's story features bright colors, flowers, and long golden locks, while the boy's story is done in the dark, taut-muscled style of comic books. Throughout, O'Malley depicts the girl and the boy reacting to the twists of the plot. A funny take on the age-old battle of the sexes, with an ending suited for the new millennium." 

Suggestion for Use in a Library
My suggestion for this in the library would be to have a fairy tale writing/telling contest. I would want students to work together in groups of 2-3 students to come up with a clear, cohesive fairy tale, one that makes sense and is entertaining. I would encourage them to try working with someone they may not normally choose. I would read this book and use it as an example of how two very different viewpoints can come together to make an entertaining story.