“Comic Book Reviews: Beginnings and Endings - TV.com” plus 2 more |
- Comic Book Reviews: Beginnings and Endings - TV.com
- Area businesswomen launch - Cape Gazette
- Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly
| Comic Book Reviews: Beginnings and Endings - TV.com Posted: 04 Nov 2009 06:42 AM PST Click the button below to create a new TV.com account using your Facebook information. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. | |
| Area businesswomen launch - Cape Gazette Posted: 04 Nov 2009 06:06 AM PST Two Selbyville women are combining their business skills and experiences as mothers to launch a new, free family magazine. Created by Carrie Boyden and Devon Eastlack, family time for you and your crew is a publication connecting local families to local interests. | Boyden, a graphic designer with more than 20 years of design and publishing experience and Eastlack, with a 10-year background in marketing and finance, saw a need for a different kind of family magazine in the Sussex County area. Regular features of the magazine will include articles about family getaways, faith and family, healthy lifestyle, book reviews, even the family pet. The magazine's website will also have information not found in the magazine, giving readers another avenue to connect with their community. "We want to help uncover and share all of the wonderful aspects about this area and present it in an attractive and creative way," said Eastlack. The cover of the first issue will feature the winner of the magazine's "What family means to me" art contest. The contest is open to children from kindergarten through grade 12, and each year the winner's artwork will grace the cover of the winter issue. Artwork of the honorable mention winners will be featured within the four remaining issues of the magazine. The deadline for submitting artwork is Friday, Nov. 13. Contest rules can be found at familytimemag.biz. Local artist John Donato is working with Boyden and Eastlack to illustrate exciting one-of-a-kind covers for the remaining 2010 issues. With their program, One Ad at a Time, Boyden and Eastlack feel it is important to give back to the community. Each issue a percentage of ad revenue will be returned to the community via area organizations aiding families and children. Their hope is to help improve the lives of local families one ad at a time. The magazine is geared to educate, inform and entertain everyone in the family. The magazine will be distributed throughout Sussex County and the surrounding areas beginning Jan. 1, 2010. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Children's Book Reviews - Publishers Weekly Posted: 03 Nov 2009 01:14 AM PST Picture Books Carl's Snowy Afternoon Alexandra Day. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $12.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-374-31086-8Carl and Madeleine enjoy a winter's day in this addition to Carl's long string of escapades. Following her series' winning format, Day sets the scene for the duo's shenanigans with minimal text—the toddler's mother announces that she and her husband are going to the Pond Party and the TV-watching babysitter suggests that Madeleine eat her snack—and then lets lush paintings do the storytelling. They succeed splendidly, revealing cherubic Madeleine and the resourceful rottweiler escaping outdoors via the doggy door, helping neighbors make snowmen, sledding down a hill and catching snowflakes on their tongues. A highlight of their antics involves the two boldly cavorting on the frozen pond close by the girl's oblivious parents, a kid-tickling hallmark of Carl adventures. Pleasingly true to form, the pair manages to sneak back inside minutes before Madeleine's parents return. Among the fun flourishes are views of Carl purloining hot dogs from a vendor's grill and Madeleine, perched on Carl's back, removing a snowman's carrot nose for a hungry bunny. Despite its setting, it's a decidedly warm adventure. All ages. (Nov.) Brothers Michael Mazo, illus. by Michael Soloviov. Tundra, $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-88776-922-1Newcomers Mazo and Soloviov vie for laughs—screenplay-sharp lines on the left, madcap paintings on the right—in this account of canine sibling rivalry, easily transposed to reflect human dynamics. Julius narrates with all the requisite condescension and knowingness of an older sibling (he calls his younger brother William the Upstart). "He thinks the toilet is the Fountain of Youth and not a drinking bowl at all. He insists that when he's tall enough, he will drink from it and remain eternally young," Julius says. Set against black backgrounds, Soloviov's scenes recall black velvet tapestries and poker-playing dogs, but Julian and William are postmodern ironic, especially when they are shown at the dog United Nations and William bangs his shoe on the desk. Their rivalry notwithstanding, Julius takes his brotherly duties seriously, emphasizing the importance of manners ("Despite my fine example, William is certain he must steal his food in order to eat") and higher achievement ("It is not greed that inspires us to stuff forty tennis balls into our mouths—it is ambition"). Adult siblings in particular will profit from Julius's sparkling exposition of the fraternal relationship. All ages. (Nov.) Rose's Garden Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick, $15.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4641-7Inspired by and dedicated to the late Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, for whom Boston's new Greenway park is named, Reynolds's (The Dot) gentle story introduces an intrepid girl who sails the seas on an oversize teapot that she fills with seeds from the various locales she visits. Announcing "It is time to plant my garden," Rose cruises into a port city, where she finds a "dusty, forgotten stretch of earth," which she decides "needs some color." After planting her seeds, she patiently waits—through four seasons—for flowers to bloom. As word of the girl's faith in her garden spreads, children from all over the globe appear "like seeds carried on a breeze," and each presents Rose with a bright paper flower, bringing the first splashes of color to Reynolds's wispy, monochromatic art. Soon, Rose is rewarded as real flowers sprout among the paper ones, and her garden becomes "Everybody's garden." The globe-trotting Rose clearly has an adventurous spirit and a strong sense of determination, and Reynolds's fable emphasizes that having faith (and patience) can pay off big. All ages. (Oct.) Big Fun! Tony and Angela DiTerlizzi. Simon & Schuster, $9.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-4169-7148-1DiTerlizzi, best known for the Spiderwick Chronicles, teams up with his wife to produce a preschool epic so polished that it looks untouched by human hands. Meno, a ready for prime-time elfin creature with a tiny necktie and an unruly cowlick, speaks a wonderful alien dialect that recalls Robin Williams on Mork and Mindy ("Meno, Meno, elf of space, here to visit human race" runs the Meno theme song, which is included with musical notation in the back of the book). After tracking down his friend—a bespectacled octopuslike creature named Yamagoo—Meno eats breakfast (aka "sunshine snack," a meal that features "moo juice" and "dough with hole"), and then it's time for a "Big Fun." "Toot!" says script lettering in the little cloud that emanates from Yamagoo's tentacles. "Poot!" says a similar little cloud coming out of Meno's pants. And that's it for this episode, first in the Adventure of Meno series. Lettering, art and production all mimic 1960s media with uncanny faithfulness ("Presented in vibrant Meno-color!" Meno says on the cover). Children will greet this with giggles. Also available: Wet Friend! Ages 1–5. (Nov.) Sometimes It's Grandmas and Grandpas, Not Mommies and Daddies Gayle Byrne, illus. by Mary Haverfield. Abbeville Kids, $15.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7892-1028-9First-time author Byrne, who is raising her own granddaughter, introduces a loving family unit intended to reassure children in similar living situations. "We cuddle a lot together, Nonnie and me," begins the ingenuous young narrator, pictured with her affectionate grandmother at different times of day ("Sometimes it's 'cuz morning comes too soon and I'm still sleepy and Nonnie snuggles in bed with me"). Her voice is plaintive as she and her grandmother read a book in which a father plays with his daughter ("I wonder if my Daddy and I will ever do that") and the mother tucks the child into bed ("I wonder why my Mommy doesn't do that"). The conclusion—that grandparents can do those things "just as good as" mothers and fathers—leaves unanswered questions (no explanation is given for the absence of the girl's parents), though this open-endedness keeps the book's audience from being further narrowed. Though constant cuddling makes for some repetitious images, Haverfield's (Harriett the Homeless Raccoon) homey watercolors reinforce the bond between the girl and her grandmother and grandfather. Ages 2–5. (Oct.)  Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth! Sarah Weeks, illus. by Robert Neubecker. S&S/Beach Lane, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4169-8686-7In a rant worthy of talk radio, young Sophie warns readers of the horrors of siblinghood: "Babies are not sweet. Babies are not precious. Babies are not cute. Babies are... your worst nightmare!" If readers need further proof of Sophie's claims, Neubecker (Wow! School!), wonderfully in his element, offers a portrait of infant-as-alien worthy of the Weekly World News (in addition to aliens, Sophie also compares babies to pirates and monsters). Truth (actually) be told, all of Sophie's complaints are familiar to the genre: babies are smelly crybabies, attention hoggers and violators of personal space and property. But Weeks (Catfish Kate and the Sweet Swamp Band) makes the material fresh: her heroine has an indelible personality and a voice that spills off the page, aided by comic typography ("If you have to sit next to a monster all the way to your aunt and uncle's house in Syracuse, New York, do not breathe in through your nose"). Fully owning her wounded rage, Sophie seethes with precocious certitude as she marshals evidence (she's big on lists) and wields rhetorical flourishes—the text is a gift to anyone reading aloud. Ages 4–8. (Nov.) Postcards from a War Vanita Oelschlager, illus. by Mike Blanc and Wilfred Bauknight. VanitaBooks (www.vanitabooks.net), $15.95 (40p) ISBN 978-0-9800162-9-1; $8.95 paper ISBN 978-0-9819714-0-7Based on the author's family, this story opens in the present, as Matthew notes that his mother, who is in the air force, "had to go to another country because there's a war going on." The boy's grandfather then talks with him about WWII, when his (and Oelschlager's) father, Bauknight, was a soldier stationed in the Philippines. He shows his grandson letters and postcards (which are reproduced throughout the book) that Bauknight sent home, many illustrated with rudimentary drawings of his life overseas and of his children at home. When Matthew's mother e-mails him notes and pictures, he and Grandpa decide to collect the missives from both soldiers in a book. A conversation about why wars occur concludes with Grandpa's pat statement, responding to Matthew's wish for an end to war: "If anyone can make that happen, it will be you and your friends. And you can always count on me to help you." Blanc's painterly digital illustrations use sepia pictures to depict Grandpa's memories of the WWII era while full-color images represent present day. Heartfelt, but a bit heavy-handed and sentimental. Ages 4–8. (Oct.) Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride Andrea Davis Pinkney, illus. by Brian Pinkney. Disney–Jump at the Sun, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7868-0767-3The team behind the Caldecott Honor book Duke Ellington offers a rousing biography of this indefatigable abolitionist, born a slave. Her parents gave their baby the name Belle: "Seems her newborn's cry was ringing in good news. Nothing quiet about that girl." Fittingly, the author's punchy, poetic prose is anything but hushed as it follows Sojourner Truth's remarkable life. When her master failed to honor his promise to free her, the young woman "fled like tomorrow wasn't ever gonna come.... She refused to stop until she saw hope." She never truly stopped, traveling "up and down the land" to speak about freedom, "the fire that burns inside. And Sojourner Truth, she was full of fire." Earth tones dominate Brian Pinkney's sunlit paintings, which are given loose definition by strong, inky brushstrokes. Truth is often shown surrounded by a golden glow, and the images consistently convey her charisma and conviction, markedly in a riveting recreation of Truth's galvanizing "Ain't I a woman?" speech. True to the spirit of Sojourner Truth herself, the Pinkneys' work emanates confidence and grace. Ages 5–9. (Nov.) Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illus. by R. Gregory Christie. Carolrhoda, $17.95 (40p) ISBN 978-0-8225-6764-6With lively language and anecdotes, Nelson (Juneteenth) chronicles the life of African-American lawman Bass Reeves in a biography that elevates him to folk hero. The story opens with an action-packed sequence leading to Reeves killing criminal Jim Webb. The second spread has readers staring down the barrel of Reeves's rifle, in an attention-grabbing, somewhat unsettling closeup. As Webb lay dying, he "gave Bass his revolver out of respect. Bass buried Webb's body and turned in the outlaw's boots and gun belt as proof he'd gotten his man." Christie's (Yesterday I Had the Blues) dynamic full-page oil paintings portray a somber, statuesque Reeves, his big eyes shining from under the brim of his deputy's hat. The folksy language is heavy with simile ("Bass took to guns like a bear to honey") and jargon (vittles, slack-jawed cowpoke), inviting a drawly reading. It's an arresting portrait of a man who rose from escaped slave in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) to become a federal marshal who made thousands of arrests, including his own son, but killed only 14 men. A glossary, bibliography, time line and other source material are included. Ages 8–12. (Oct.) Fiction The Unusual Mind of Vincent Shadow Tim Kehoe, illus. by Guy Francis and Mike Wohnoutka. Little, Brown, $14.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-316-05665-6Kehoe's debut is a quick-reading, whimsical tale of a boy inventor, but reliance on the trope of the evil stepfamily undercuts much of the fun. Vincent used to have frequent blinding flashes of inspiration and invented all sorts of wonderful toys in the secret laboratory his late mother built with him. But when his mostly absentee father moves the family to Minnesota, he loses access to most of his inventions (and stops having visions). Forced to sleep in a cold basement laundry room by his stepmother, Vincent's only ray of hope is his eccentric new art teacher, who gets Vincent the opportunity to enter a contest sponsored by toy designer Howard G. Whiz. Unfortunately, Kehoe's characters never amount to much more than cartoons. Vincent's stereotypically nasty stepmother favors her biological children—packing gourmet meals for their lunches, while Vincent gets the dregs—and his oblivious father is absentminded to the point of neglect. Though Vincent gets his expected moment of glory in the end, his family's last-minute turnaround feels pat and halfhearted. Ages 8–12. (Nov.) Mahtab's Story Libby Gleeson. Allen & Unwin (Trafalgar, dist.), $9.99 paper (186p) ISBN 978-1-74175-334-9With timely immediacy, this novel highlights the plight of a family fleeing Afghanistan after persecution by the Taliban, narrated by 12-year-old Mahtab. Once her father determines that the family will immigrate to Australia, they embark on a harrowing journey ("Two weeks of fear, of the ice stone in the belly, of holding your breath, of whispering, of blocking from your mind everything you know or have heard of what they can do. They. Taliban"). The action occurs in fits and starts, with escapes punctuated by long periods of waiting. Mahtab sometimes seems more a lens than a real actor in the drama. However, she becomes more compelling when she exerts her influence, such as when she sacrifices an heirloom bracelet to help fellow refugees and when she lies to her younger siblings about hearing from their father, to reassure them after he forges ahead and leaves the family in Pakistan. The issues and plight that Gleeson's (Half a World Away) novel highlights may be more memorable than the characters sketched within. Ages 9–12. (Oct.) The Pharaoh's Secret Marisa Moss. Abrams/Amulet, $19.95 (320p) ISBN 978-0-8109-8378-6A spring break trip to Egypt becomes more intriguing when 14-year-old narrator Talibah discovers a mystery regarding Egypt's only female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, which turns out to involve Talibah's family. Not that she's initially thrilled about this turn of events: "My goal for this trip is to lie by the pool and get a great tan, not run errands for some Egyptian ghost, even if that ghost could be my mother," Talibah quips (her mother died five years earlier). Talking sphinxes and gods, as well as time travel back to Egypt's 18th dynasty set Moss's (the Amelia's Notebook series) thriller in the realm of fantasy, as Talibah attempts to solve the mystery and put souls to rest. The villain, in the guise of a family friend and tour guide, is largely one-dimensional, though Moss fills the Egyptian setting with evocative imagery. The family dynamics between Talibah, her younger brother and her grieving scholarly father prove to be one of the most compelling aspects of the story. Talibah's b&w sketches support the narrative with pen-and-ink images of obelisks, hieroglyphics, maps and family trees. Ages 9–13. (Oct.) Powerless Matthew Cody. Knopf, $15.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-375-85595-5In a wholly satisfying debut, Cody tackles themes of heroism, sacrifice and coming-of-age, as played out in a comic book–inspired good vs. evil scenario. Soon after arriving in the small town of Noble's Green, Pa., where his family has moved to take care of his ailing grandmother, 12-year-old Daniel Corrigan discovers the existence of real-life superheroes. In this town, certain kids develop superpowers, which they use in secret to perform good deeds (for the most part). One catch: as soon as they turn 13, their powers and all related memories vanish. As Daniel forges a friendship with these extraordinary youths, he uses good old-fashioned investigative skills rather than superhuman abilities to uncover the secret of their powers' origins and the dark force that has been preying on the town's children for decades. What do comic books from the 1940s, a pulp hero, a burned-down orphanage and a pair of superhuman bullies have to do with the mystery? It all comes together in a tightly woven narrative characterized by a persuasive premise, memorable characters, a bit of intrigue and a sense of wonder. Ages 10–up. (Oct.) Bystander James Preller. Feiwel and Friends, $16.99 (240p) ISBN 978-0-312-37906-3The question at the heart of this story turns on what Martin Luther King Jr. called "the appalling silence of the good people." Is it just as bad to see someone get mistreated and not act as it is to be the bully? The villain is Griffin Connelly, a smooth operator with a megawatt smile and a dark heart, who regularly receives the back of his father's hand and passes along the abuse to any "sick gazelles" he finds at Bellport Central Middle School. When new student Eric refuses to play lapdog, he becomes the target. The strength of Preller's (Along Came Spider) narrative lies in how well he orchestrates Eric's response—he knows there is no easy answer and that going to adults is not always the best thing to do. As he wrestles with his conscience, Eric is befriended by Mary, a classmate making her own stand against malicious teasing. Plenty of kids will see themselves in these pages, making for painful, if important, reading. The resolution, though realistic, may leave some dissatisfied, as the bully moves on but never gets the comeuppance he so richly deserves. Ages 10–up. (Oct.) Demon Princess: Reign or Shine Michelle Rowen. Walker, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-8027-8492-6; $9.99 paper ISBN 978-0-8027-9534-2Paranormal romance author Rowen's (the Immortality Bites series) charming YA debut skillfully balances a lighthearted teen voice with emotional maturity, which bodes well for this new series. Sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan is less than pleased when a mysterious young man named Michael shows up bearing a message from her absentee father, who she learns is a dying demon king. Additionally, Nikki is her father's heir. Upon her father's death, Nikki will assume control of the Shadowlands, where her father rules the border between the demon lands and the mortal world. "That sounded like more of a gatekeeper than a king," Nikki thinks. "[T]he thought that my father wasn't a horrible, evil demon set my mind slightly at ease. Slightly." When Nikki balks under the sudden responsibility, she is offered a choice between mortality and fulfilling the responsibilities of her demon heritage. But as Nikki's feelings for Michael grow and as she learns more about her growing powers and her demon family, her decision becomes more difficult. Though the villains can tend toward the cartoonish, Nikki's engaging voice and several intriguing secondary characters make this a winner. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) The Brothers Story Katherine Sturtevant. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.99 (288p) ISBN 978-0-374-30992-3Set against the bitter English winter of 1683–1684, Sturtevant's (A True and Faithful Narrative) moving coming-of-age tale follows the adventures of teenage Kit, who impulsively flees his Essex parish and the burden imposed by his "simple" but adoring twin, Christy, to seek his livelihood in London. Finding employment as servant to a painter, Kit delights in his new freedom and the town's busy energy, while nagged by guilt over having stolen from his former mistress and abandoned his dependent brother. Although barely able to read, Kit is biblically literate and ponders scriptural applications to his own life, particularly the story of Joseph, saved by his caring brother Reuben. Kit's wrestling with situations of moral complexity leads him to question some of the era's culturally accepted religious mores, providing a subtle but enlightening exploration of class and gender roles. A budding romance illuminates the particular challenges faced by women at a time when female sexuality was blamed for many evils ("everyone knowed how lustful women was"). An era comes alive in this tale of a young man's awakening to his life's call. Ages 14–up. (Nov.) Winter's End Jean-Claude Mourlevat, trans. from the French by Anthea Bell. Candlewick, $17.99 (432p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4450-5Mourlevat (The Pull of the Ocean) tells a riveting dystopian tale set in an unnamed country. Life is grim and austere for the children of resistors, whose parents lost their lives during a bloody revolution. They reside in prisonlike boarding schools and are allowed to leave the grounds only a few hours a year to be comforted by their consolers, parent figures assigned to be their counselors. When teenagers Milena, Helen, Bartolomeo and Milos run away from their neighboring schools, they not only put themselves in danger but also threaten the safety of classmates, who incur punishments in their place, and their consolers, who aid in their escape. Tracing the tense cat-and-mouse chase between the young fugitives and the vicious authorities (who track them with man-dog hybrids), the story unveils secrets about characters' histories and the bonds that tie them together. Teeming with heroic acts, heartbreaking instances of sacrifice and intriguing characters—such as the horse-men, a tribe of gentle giants willing to fight to the death for their masters—the book will keep readers absorbed and set imaginations spinning. Ages 14–up. (Nov.) We Were Here Matt de la Peña. Delacorte, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-385-73667-1When Miguel, a high school student from Stockton, Calif.—"where every other person you meet has missing teeth or is leaning against a liquor store wall begging for change to buy beer"—commits an undisclosed crime, he is sentenced to a year in juvenile hall. Despite the efforts of his counselor (who constantly calls him "bro"), a despondent Miguel suffers alone at the group home, reading and scribbling in his journal; his entries provide the novel's narrative. When Mong, a violent fellow resident, plans an escape to Mexico, Miguel and his roommate, Rondell, join him on a tumultuous journey through Southern California and slowly become friends, as Miguel struggles to come to terms with the events that have brought him to this point ("Nah, man, there ain't no such thing as peace no more. That shit's dead and buried"). Miguel's raw yet reflective journal entries give Peña's (Mexican WhiteBoy) coming-of-age story an immersive authenticity and forceful voice. The suspense surrounding the boys' survival and the mystery of Miguel's crime result in a furiously paced and gripping novel. Ages 14–up. (Oct.) Children's Comics Long Tail Kitty Lark Pien. Blue Apple (Chronicle, dist.), $14.99 (64p) ISBN 978-1-934706-44-2Newcomer Pien's aptly named protagonist, who debuted in comics Pien created starting in 2001, now appears in a full-color collection of five original stories, rich in friendly, blissfully unironic conversations. Mischievous but goodhearted Long Tail Kitty ice-skates with his new friend Good Tall Mouse, fixes supper with said mouse as well as Bernice the dog and has a playdate with some friendly aliens. By the time readers hit the foldout page with nearly 70 fun games Long Tail Kitty has planned to do with the aliens—which range from "Office Jobs!" to "Crazy Tornado!"—they'll be converts. The panels are resolutely low-tech; Long Tail Kitty and friends are drawn with a few deft brushstrokes, while watercolors soften but draw little attention to themselves. Pien embraces ideals of compassion but doesn't hit readers over the head with them. After a bee stings him, Long Tail Kitty bridles at the bee's request to return his stinger, but when he imagines life without his own tail ("There would be nothing to keep my stripe up! My bellybutton would show!"), he relents. More, please! Ages 4–up. (Nov.) Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean Sarah Stewart Taylor and Ben Towle. Disney-Hyperion, $17.99(96p) ISBN 978-1-4231-1337-9Rather than rushing past the highlights of Earhart's career, this quietly moving book approaches her life through the admiring curiosity of a girl who also aspires to escape traditional boundaries. Young Grace has grown up in Trepassey, Newfoundland, the nearest point in North America from which a plane can take off to fly to Europe; it's also a seacoast community familiar with shipwrecks and other evidence of how coldly indifferent nature can be. In June of 1928, tweener Grace, the dubious townspeople and a mob of impatient newsmen wait for Earhart to finally get her plane in the air for a transatlantic flight. Grace yearns to leave the little village and to become a newspaper woman, so she observes the commotion and manages to get the aviator's personal encouragement in an interview before her successful departure. Taylor's lean script leaves much of Grace's feelings understated but easy to imagine. Towle's art is also emotionally restrained, but panels showing the bleak landscape—especially double-page spreads of what Earhart called "this broad ocean"—emphasize the courage of people willing to take ultimate risks. Astronaut Eileen Collins's introduction, which describes the inspiration she drew from Earhart's example, carries the theme to the present. Ages 10–up. (Feb.) Muppet Robin Hood Tim Beedle and Armand Villavert Jr. Boom!Studios, $10 paper (112p) ISBN 978-1-934506-79-0In the spirit of Muppet Treasure Island and The Muppet Christmas Carol comes Muppet Robin Hood, which is the same sort of thing, only in comic book form. Villavert's (ZAPT!) charmingly simple art makes the book feel like a cross between an indie comic and a children's picture book, and the characters less like drawings of puppets. Beedle's writing is strongest when it takes the story on the lunatic digressions that are a Muppet trademark—for example, the villains attempt to trap the heroes while wearing holy propeller hats, and the real writer at one point is replaced by someone who is obsessed with the Swedish Chef and can only write in Aboriginal Jingulu. A hilarious page and a half of the Swedish Chef saving the day—captioned in incomprehensible symbols—precedes the story's return to normal. Sadly, normal is where the problem comes in. Beedle doesn't have a good grasp on the Muppets as characters. Gonzo is cast as Guy of Gaborone, but aside from a few pratfalls, he's a boring straight-up villain with no resemblance to the personality of Gonzo. Funny but flawed. Ages 9–12. (Nov.) Burn Camilla d'Errico and Steve Sanders. Simon Pulse, $9.99 (160p) ISBN 978-1-4169-7873-9The conflict between man and machine gets a graphic novel examination in this YA adventure by painter/designer/cartoonist d'Errico. Burn is just a fun-loving, normal kid before he's caught up in a rebellion by giant robots created to serve humans, who slaughter his family and most of his friends. When Burn is injured and a mecha named Shoftiel is damaged in a fight, Shoftiel uses parts from both to create a surviving hybrid whose variant parts battle for control. This conflict is portrayed in a mental limbo where Burn and Shoftiel argue the merits of each side. Meanwhile in the real world, Burn encounters Aeya, the young daughter of Dr. Carnegie, creator of the mechas, and Kali, a tough-talking Han Soloesque female biker fleeing the battle. D'Errico's b&w art excels at strong character design and well-staged set pieces, carrying the somewhat formulaic characters, who will be no novelty to readers familiar with Astro Boy, Akira or the Matrix. Still, by spreading these influences over a wide area, Burn emerges as a fast-paced tale that leaves lots of room for further adventures. Strong language and a few grisly images make this suitable for older readers. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) The Good Neighbors: Book Two: Kith Holly Black and Ted Naifeh. Scholastic/Graphix, $16.99 (128p) ISBN 798-0-439-85563-1In this middle volume of a trilogy, the coauthor of The Spiderwick Chronicles considers the plight of a spectacularly alienated teenage girl. With a human father and a faery mother, Rue Silver is an alien everywhere but uncomfortably connected to both worlds. The title is ironic: the realm of the faeries may be nearby, but what those beings consider "good" might be awful for ordinary people. In this installment, Rue becomes aware that her faery grandfather plans to erect a magical barrier that will cut off the city where she lives from the outside world; then the buildings will be covered with beautiful vines, strange creatures will roam the streets, and the present inhabitants will be forced to adapt or die. Rue faces typical YA questions: how can you reconcile simultaneously hating and loving someone close to you—and what can you do if your kith and kin are committing actions that may be terribly wrong? Black's script presents this strong theme deftly, and Naifeh's b&w art differentiates the large cast well despite a natural resemblance between goth kids and faeries. Ages 12–up. (Oct.) Get Inspired! These books motivate readers to learn, explore and play (no video screens required). The Real Spy's Guide to Becoming a Spy Peter Earnest and Suzanne Harper. Abrams, $16.95 (144p) ISBN 978-0-8109-8329-8This collaboration between Earnest, a former CIA operations officer (now founder/director of the International Spy Museum) and author Harper explores the history (and the future) of spying, as well as spy myth busting, the basics of the job and the ways kids can hone their skills. "Spy Speak" boxes provide definitions of the vocabulary used by spies, while quizzes and a chart about "the intelligence cycle" offer additional diversions. Those with active imaginations will appreciate sections like "How to Create a Cover," and aspiring Bonds will value the advice. Ages 8–up. (Oct.) How to Be a Genius: Your Brain and How to Train It John Woodward, illus. by Serge Seidlitz and Andy Smith. DK, $19.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-7566-5515-0Taking a sometimes humorous approach, this heavily illustrated encyclopedic love letter to the human brain covers such topics as memory, the five senses, creativity tricks and illusions, and the brain's evolution—not to mention how one's gray matter actually works. One spread illuminates how the brain processes data, labels experience and creates stereotypes by using photographs of a grass snake (the brain associates the harmless grass snake with other venomous snakes); another section utilizes a cartoon robot in a discussion of the development of good and bad habits. Photographs, flowcharts and activities work in tandem to create an accessible, fast-paced and informative read. Ages 9–12. (Oct.) Really, Really Big Questions Stephen Law, illus. by Nishant Choksi. Kingfisher, $16.99 (64p) ISBN 978-0-7534-6309-3This thought-provoking book poses challenging questions, using a conversational tone and illustrations reminiscent of vintage cartoons. Law, a philosophy professor, navigates controversial issues encouraging exploration and debate. In a section that asks "Where do living things come from?" he describes a Greek creation story and then the one from the Bible, remarking, "These stories from different times, places, and religions are certainly strange and wonderful. But are any of them true?" For certain ethical dilemmas, he gives more definitive responses ("Is it true that we care only about our own happiness? No"). The biggest philosophical quandaries naturally lead to more questions—which will frustrate some and invigorate others. Ages 9–12. (Oct.) Learn to Speak Music John Crossingham, illus. by Jeff Kulak. Owlkids (PGW, dist.), $27.95 (96p) ISBN 978-1-897349-65-6Crossingham, a member of the band Broken Social Scene, suggests that music just might be the universal language, and in this volume he urges kids to create, record and perform songs. He starts with the fundamentals (explaining pitch, rhythm, melody and other components), offers gentle encouragement ("Learning to play an instrument is like making a new friend—it's a little awkward at first") and covers forming a band, songwriting and performing. Kulak's images fuse seamlessly with Crossingham's soft-spoken style and, though they have a '60s graphic-design flair, the effect suggests modern hipster rather than true retro. Kids won't actually learn how to read or play music from this book, but it might provide impetus to learn. Ages 9–13. (Oct.) Show Off: How to Do Absolutely Everything Sarah Hines Stephens and Bethany Mann. Candlewick, $18.99 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-7636-4599-1This lively illustrated activity book delivers concise instructions for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. Projects include crafts, pranks and magic tricks; ideas for nature exploration; and other purely entertaining feats (such as building a "jiggly city" out of gelatin). Many activities are basic—with makeup, it's easy to "become a zombie"—but a good number of them, like "sport a comic-book tote," will require additional skill. The instructions are heavy on graphics and light on detail, making for an eye-catching but potentially frustrating experience. But readers should enjoy the irreverence and variety. Ages 10–14. (Sept.) Open Me Up Laura Buller, Julie Ferris, et al. DK, $24.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-7566-5532-7Appropriately, the die-cut cover of this unflinching guide to the human body, in the vein of graphic reference guides Pick Me Up and Do Not Open, reveals human organs. Inside, each of the eightcomprehensive sections discusses a different aspect of the body, from "Being Human," which depicts human evolution as a track race ("Best of luck Sapien!" reads a sign in the crowd), to "Malfunctions and Medicine," about diseases and cures, and "Life Story," exploring puberty and reproduction. The juxtaposition of photographs, humor (the autonomic nervous system is envisioned in comic book panels as a rescue team within a boy's body), historical narratives and a variety of artwork should generate hours of gratifying discovery. Ages 10–up. (Oct.) This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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