Category: YA/MG/Children’s Books Page 9 of 38

Grandpappy’s Corner: God, Right Here: Meeting God in the Changing Seasons by Kara Lawler, Jennie Poh (Illustrator): A Little Dose of Natural Revelation

On May 14, 2023

In Grandpappy's Corner, Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living, YA/MG/Children's Books

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God, Right Here:
Meeting God in the Changing Seasons

by Kara Lawler, Jennie Poh (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: IVP Kids
Publication Date: June 20, 2023
Format: eARC
Length: 32 pg.
Read Date: May 7, 2023

What’s God, Right Here About?

God, right here.
God, right there.
God’s handiwork is everywhere.

With that as a starting point, Lawler takes the reader (and the read-to) on a tour of nature through a year’s worth of seasons. The point isn’t to learn about seasons or weather, or anything, but to see how God’s nature (flora, fauna, weather) reveals His work and care.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

It’s warm and friendly. Even the scenes depicting a chilly fall and snowy winter make you feel cozy and toasty. There’s a gentleness to the illustrations, too.

I’m failing at describing the art—as usual. Jennie Pho’s Instagram has some really good samples (including a Lucy and Mr. Tumnus drawing).

It’s not technically part of the art, but it’s part of the visual impact of the book, so I’ll talk about it here. The typesetting, or whatever you’re supposed to call it (it’d be lettering comic books), is excellent. There’s a variety of colors emphasizing words to match the theme of the page, it flows all over the page to follow the illustrations and add some movement. It’s eye-catching and serves to augment the art.

How is it to Read Aloud?

This is not the kind of book you have fun with, it’s not a fun read. It’s one to read when you’re trying to settle down—or better yet, have already settled down and want to snuggle up and get comfy.

It’s hard to think of toddlers as thoughtful but this is the kind of book for that kind of time.

It’s one of those where you will point to pictures as you read, and then go off on tangents talking about the ideas in the book. The book itself would take almost no time to read, but I can see this as the sort of thing the Grandcritter and I will linger over as we go through it.

* That’s a horrible stereotype, and I should be ashamed of it. But I know too many of them.

So, what did I think about God, Right Here?

This is a nice and pleasant book. Pleasant is the best word to describe this, really (and now that I’ve used it, my brain is stuck and I won’t be able to use another adjective for the rest of the post).

I feel like I should have another few paragraphs in me, but I don’t. I’ve said everything I can find to say about it (and I think I’ve used 2x the words that the book does). This is a pleasant read that’ll be good to use to talk and quiet down with.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post, and my honest opinion—thanks to both for this opportunity.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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The Book That No One Wanted to Read by Richard Ayoade, Tor Freeman, Jarvis Cocker, Lydia Fox: In Print or Audio, It’s Just Delightful

By HCNewton

On May 10, 2023

In Audiobook, Fiction, Humor, YA/MG/Children's Books

I am fully aware that the following post overuses the word “delightful.” I wanted to use it at least a dozen more times. This is both a sign that my working vocabulary needs expansion and that this book is a delight. More the latter than the former.

The Book That No One Wanted to Read

(Hardcover/Audiobook)
by Richard Ayoade
Narrated by Richard Ayoade, Jarvis Cocker, Lydia Fox
Illustrated by Tor Freeman

DETAILS:
Publisher: Walker Books US (hardcover); W.F. Howes, LTD. (audiobook)
Publication Date: March 14, 2023
Format: Hardcover/Audio
Length: 108 pg./49 min.
Read Date: April 4, 2023

What’s The Book That No One Wanted to Read About?

This is tricky without giving the whole thing away…but I think I can get close to it. Maybe more idea of the flavor?

We’re told at the very beginning that this book isn’t like others—other books are written by authors, while this book is written by a book. A book with opinions. For example, about authors:

Take it from me, authors can be quite annoying. They go on and on, filling up up page after page, but they have no idea what it’s like to be a book.

or these parts of Top Five Things That Grate My Gears (I’m only giving selections, but I want to give the whole thing):

1. People who fold the corner of the page to save their place.Have these savages not heard of novelty bookmarks? Or paper?…Which part of your body would you most like to have folded back on itself?*

2. People who underline certain words. ALL THE WORDS ARE IMPORTANT!

3. People who skip to the end. If the end was meant to come sooner, it’d be called “the middle.”

and don’t get it started on Ipswitch.

* The accompanying illustration of examples of ways to fold a body is delightful.

This book then goes on to tell a story in the second person about someone (presumably a middle-grade child, but really it could be anyone) who is going through a very large library and comes across the shelf holding The Book That No One Wanted To Read. That book then begins having a telepathic conversation with the “you” about being a book, the book’s plight as being so ignored, and how “you” can help it.

I’m not sure that makes sense—but it should give you an inkling of what you’re in for.

The Narration

Jarvis Cocker handles the bulk of the narration—he’s the voice of the opinionated Book telling the story, and as such is the voice that describes the “you” walking around. I could listen to his portions on repeat for a few hours at a time and be quite content (when I wasn’t laughing).

Richard Ayoade is the voice of the titular book and brings his distinguishing style to that narration. If you don’t smile listening to him as this character, you’re doing something wrong.

Lydia Fox provides the voice for the middle grader in conversation with the book. She’s just as fantastic as the others, and I only mention her last as I went in order of appearance.

This is one of those multi-narrator audiobooks where all the narrators are equally good—capturing the spirit and tone of the text and bringing it to life. I’d say that Cocker is the best narrator of the three, unless you asked me in the middle of one of Ayoade’s lines. Or while Fox was reading. I just loved all the audio aspects of this book.

The Illustrations

Oh, wow. I love the illustrations—they are absolutely great. It’s a sketchy kind of art, immediately relatable (think Jules Feiffer). They grab you right away and are just delightful—as funny as the text, without overshadowing it. They have the same voice, the same kind of humor, but don’t just retell the jokes in the book—sometimes they riff off them, expand them, and sometimes the humor is just adjacent to the jokes in the text.

I don’t normally recommend this kind of thing, but you can pick up the book and just look at the pictures (and read the captions) and have a good time without bothering with anything The Book is trying to convey.

So, what did I think about The Book That No One Wanted to Read?

When I heard about the book a few months ago, I was intrigued and made a mental note to look into it when it was released. Then I promptly forgot about it until I saw it on my library’s app. I’d intended on getting the text version, but I needed something short, so I jumped on it.

I was charmed instantly and loved the experience so much that I ran out to get the Hardcover so I could see the text, re-read portions—and check out the pictures. I haven’t found the time to read the whole book yet—but I have looked at every illustration and read bits of it a few times. This is why I’m giving you this strange hybrid format post.

If you’re going to encounter this book without the vocal stylings of Fox, Cocker, or Ayoade, you need the illustrations to make up for them. If you’re going to read the book without the benefit of the illustrations, you need narrators as strong as those three.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m doing much better at conveying my reaction to the book than I am the book itself. The voice and tenor of the book are great—it’s goofy and strange, the humor is occasionally dry, it’s imaginative, it’s affirming and encouraging, it wraps you in a blanket of fun and makes you feel good. The characters all three of them—”you”, The Book That No One Wanted to Read, and the Book telling the story—are the perfect way to convey the contents. You don’t want a lot of characters wandering in and out of this one—keep it simple. But you don’t want this to become a monologue or an essay (although judging by the first and final chapter, it’d be great as one of those), so you need the three voices.

The best thing that comes to mind to compare it to is The Phantom Tollbooth. But shorter. And with the humor dialed up by a factor of 50.

I have one reservation. I’m not sure that the style of humor or the content of all the jokes are going to land right with an American Fifth Grader. It feels, perhaps, too British for that. But then again, American Fifth Graders are exposed to more than I was. Also, this could be the kind of thing that trains an 11-year-old’s sense of humor in the same way that stand-up albums I didn’t fully understand did mine. So what do I know?

Bookish adults are going to have a blast with this. Middle-Grade readers who are into slightly off-kilter books will really enjoy this. Most middle-graders, as far as I know, are slightly off-kilter themselves, so maybe they’re all the right audience. Just give them this book in their preferred format and you’ve likely got a winner.

I adore this book—and think it’s going to be a favorite of mine for years to come. I can’t wait to introduce my grandson to it—and frankly, a few older friends and relatives, too.

4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Grandpappy’s Corner: Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall: The Story of a House That Was Also a Home

By HCNewton

On April 24, 2023

In Grandpappy's Corner, YA/MG/Children's Books

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Farmhouse

by Sophie Blackall

DETAILS:
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 13, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 40 pgs.
Read Date: April 21, 2022

What’s Farmhouse About?

It’s about a Farmhouse (no, really!) and its residents. It tells the story of a large family (from an indeterminate time, but not recent) growing up, growing older, and departing their home and leaving it as a house.

As the years pass, the house falls into disrepair and a new type of resident moves in—animals of various species and sizes. Eventually, the house is about to fall apart and is found by someone fairly contemporary to us—and its story gets told.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

This is a pretty, pretty book. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know how a child is going to react to this art. But I can’t imagine any adult reading this and not being captivated. Maybe you can talk about the drawings and layers (more about that in a moment) with the child as you read it.

The last few pages of the book describe how the author (as a character in the story) created the art and the book. This is just great idea and fits the overall arc here—and (at least the first time) is a nice twist to the family story.

There’s also an Author’s note at the end for the adult to read that’s a lot more detailed about the way the art was created. This is a very nice bonus and will equip the adult to go back later and explain all the craft involved. For me, this is not the way I think at all—I can’t imagine taking all the bits and pieces that Blackall did and turning them into something like this. But I’m so glad someone did.

How is it to Read Aloud?

Well, the book is really one reallllllly long sentence, so if you’re going to be pedantic and uptight about that kind of thing, you’re going to run out of breath and pass out. Don’t do that.

Thankfully, it works pretty well to just read a page at a time.

This is not one of those books that’s fun to read—there’s no fun rhyme, no goofy wordplay, or that kind of thing. That’s also a blessing—you can just relax and bask in the warmth of this book. As such, it’s really pleasant to read aloud.

So, what did I think about Farmhouse?

In the beginning, I was pretty “meh” about this book—not that I disliked it, but I didn’t really care about it. But by the midpoint, it had worked its charm on me—and then when the author came along? I was totally won over.

This is a simple book, about a simpler time, told (in words and pictures) in an attractive way that will make fans of older readers, and likely younger readers (I’m assuming a Caldecott winner is a better gauge of what her audience will find appealing than me). It’s one I can’t wait to share.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Grandpappy’s Corner: God Never Changes by Carine MacKenzie, Derek Matthews (Illustrator) ★ ★ ★ Small Words About a Big Idea

By HCNewton

On April 23, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living, YA/MG/Children's Books

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God Never Changes

by Carine MacKenzie, Derek Matthews (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Series: Learn About God 
Publisher: CF4Kids
Publication Date: September 2015
Format: Board Book
Length: 12 pg.
Read Date: April 22, 2023

What’s God Never Changes About?

This is a quick and yet thorough (at least for the Board Book audience) look at the Immutability of God. Each page starts off by saying, “God Never Changes,” and then comparing Him to various aspects of life and nature that a child can understand and appreciate. And learn from.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

It’s simple, it’s cute, it’s bright, and attractive. It does the job. I liked it—and can see kids liking it, too.

How is it to Read Aloud?

Very simple. There’s no rhyming or anything (which is good, I think it’d be annoying for this subject matter). It works well for reading aloud and then stopping to talk about the ideas, too.

So, what did I think about God Never Changes?

I picked this one out of the handful from this series sitting on our shelves because I’m in the middle of the discourse on The Immutability of God in Charnock’s The Existence and Attributes of God, and I figured I’d stay on theme. It works remarkably well in conjunction—in fact, Mackenzie uses some of the same argumentation and explanations as Charnock does when it comes to this topic. Just much simpler. My inner geek loved that bit.

I don’t know that this is the kind of thing a child will clamor to have read to them again and again—but you never know. I do think it’s good for teaching at a young age, and that’s the whole point of this series. I do recommend it and look forward to using it with my grandcritter soon.

3 Stars
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A Few Quick Questions with…Elliott Linker

By HCNewton

On April 19, 2023

In A Few Quick Questions With..., Comics, Fiction, Grandpappy's Corner, YA/MG/Children's Books

I talked about Linker’s book earlier today, and now I’m excited to bring you this Q&A. This whole experience—from seeing the book at the Library’s Indie Book Fair and getting him to sign it through this Q&A—has been a delight for me. Which is probably why I ended up asking him more questions than I normally do—I’m just glad he took the time to answer me (and I have so many follow-ups that I want to ask!). Hopefully, you enjoy this at least 10% as much as I did.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? (how old are you, what grade are you in, career plans, and that kind of thing—whatever you want to say)
I am 9 years old and in the 3rd grade. I want to be an author and a football player when I grow up. I like to read a lot. My favorite authors are JK Rowling, Kazu Kibuishi, Dav Pilkey, and the authors of The 39 Clues. I also like building with Legos and I like Star Wars.

Did George the Banana start out as a school assignment or did you just decide to write and draw a comic book/graphic novel one day? Are you like most authors who have books they’ve tried before and decided to not show anyone, or is this your first?
I just decided to start writing my own comic book last summer. I have tons of books that I have written that I didn’t want to show anyone. I still have stories that I have written that I don’t want to share.

Is George based on someone you know, or did you me him up completely?
I made George up. I don’t really remember how he came into my imagination.

Before you start writing, do you have a plan for the story or pictures? Or do you just make things up panel by panel?
I just make things up panel by panel.

Have you read or watched anything to teach you how to go make a comic book/graphic novel? (things like panel sizes, flow of the pictures, and so on) Or have you just read enough that you learned that way?
I have just read enough that I learned that way. My parents did take me to the Boise Comic Arts Festival last Fall to try to gain a little more experience and I was able to have a professional comic artist/author review my “portfolio”… aka, George the Bannana.

Did you do all the art—lettering, drawing, coloring—by yourself, or did you get someone to help? If you did get help, did you tell them what you wanted or did you let them do it on their own? Did you have to tell them to try something else because you didn’t like a color or something? How did that work? (are you a tough boss?)
I did all the writing and illustrating but my mom helped me with the coloring. I told my mom what colors I wanted things most of the time, especially for the colors of the characters, cars, buildings… my Mom just made decisions about the blank background space. My mom asked me what colors I wanted if she wasn’t sure what I wanted.

Why did you decide to publish this? Did your family give you a lot of support and encouragement to do it?
I like telling stories and I want to share my stories. I want to make people laugh. Yes, my family gave me a lot of support. We weren’t sure about how to publish my book so it took my mom a lot of time to find out.

What was the hardest part about writing or drawing George the Banana? What did you do to get past that?
I didn’t have a hard time writing or drawing George the Bannana: Book 1

What are some of your favorite books to read? Either graphic novels or other kinds?
Amulet, The 39 Clues, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Cat Kid Comic Club, Dog Man, Zita the Space Girl, Captain Underpants and The Bad Guys

What’s next for Elliott Linker, author/artist?
George the Bannana: Book 2, including Volume 4: The Fight, Volume 5: Connecting Forces and Volume 6: The Last Stand

Thanks for taking the time to answer these—and thanks for making George the Banana, I really enjoyed reading it and I hope you keep creating! Be sure to let me know when Book 2 is available, I’ll snatch it up in a heartbeat!

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Grandpappy’s Corner: George the Bannana: Book One by Elliott Linker: The Origin of a Superhero (and his Writer!)

By HCNewton

On April 19, 2023

In Comics, Fiction, Grandpappy's Corner, Literary Locals, YA/MG/Children's Books

Be sure to come back this afternoon for a Q&A with the writer!

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George the Bannana: Book One

by Elliott Linker

DETAILS:
Series: George the Bannana, #1
Publication Date: January 13, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 25 pgs.
Read Date: March 18, 2023

What’s George the Bannana: Book One About?

Here’s the back of the book description:

Elliott’s best friend, George, suddenly turns into a banana! Elliott is scared of what people will think and inadvertently hurts George’s feelings. Trying to save his friendship with George, Elliott helps turn George into a super hero! Together they embark on a wild adventure.

I can’t think of a better way to put it or anything to add.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

The art looks like the product of an elementary school artist, so it’s rough, a little haphazard, and lacking in detail. Granted. It’s also dynamic, consistent (even the anonymous bad guys look the same from panel to panel), and engaging.

The coloring and shading are really well done, and elevate the work. The action scenes really work well—and Linker makes the wise move to take a break for the occasional cloud full of “Bam” “Kick Kick” “Punch Punch” “Kapow”—leaving it to the reader’s imagination (and saving him a lot of work).

Best of all, the art fits the story.

So, what did I think about George the Bannana: Book One?

This made me so happy to read—it’s clearly the product of an imaginative youth expressing himself. The story is ridiculous in the way that only a child can let one be—feeling both out of control with random elements, yet somehow sticking to an outline. Linker knows what the arc of a superhero story should be and executes it—he may not quite understand how to get from Point A to Point B, but he gets there through sheer determination and will (and this is the most enjoyable part for me).

Linker was 8 when he created this work—9 when he published it, which is just great. It also makes me want to focus on something in the description—Elliott isn’t the superhero, he’s the side-kick (who will need to be rescued). He’s also the guy who was a jerk to his best friend. Big choices that say a lot about the author.

I’ve got to say, I don’t know how many kids would take a moment to have George confront Elliott with how he made him feel when George became a banana (I’m certain I wouldn’t have at his age). That one moment made this a winner in my book—but so did many of the others.

The bonus of including a preview of Book Two in black and white for the reader to color? Very clever and very fun.

The entire time I read this, the back of my mind kept saying “He must have had such a blast writing and drawing this.” That joy was infectious so I had a blast reading it, and I can’t imagine any adult having a similar reaction. One of Linker’s contemporaries probably would, too—and maybe find the inspiration to tell their own story, too.

3 Stars

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Grandpappy’s Corner: Red Stripes VS Miles the Mutant Mouse by Amy Rice and Kyson Rice: Not Your Typical Cat and Mouse Story

By HCNewton

On April 4, 2023

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

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Red Stripes VS Miles the Mutant Mouse

by Amy Rice and Kyson Rice

DETAILS:
Publication Date: August 28, 2017
Format: Paperback
Length: 60 pgs.
Read Date: March 27, 2023

What’s Red Stripes VS Miles the Mutant Mouse About?

Red Stripes is your typical pet cat who spends his time playing with his human, Kyson. Unless disaster strikes—then he has to disappear (not unlike a certain Agent P) to help out, he’s secretly the superhero, Red Stripes the Super Wonder Cat!

In this particular adventure, a perfectly nice mouse was exposed to some toxic chemicals and mutated into a large and very hungry hulk of a mouse. Seeking food, he inadvertently creates a path of destruction, wreaking havoc on businesses, homes, and the city. Can Red Stripes stop him in time?

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

As Amy Rice described it to me, while she did the art—Kyson directed it—changing colors and providing input on the overall look. A good team approach that is probably reflected in the text, too.

The designs and looks for Red Stripes and Mutant Mouse are great—I particularly like the mouse. Some of the objects—and (I’m sorry to say) all of the people are a little on the iffy side. But overall, it’s an attractive, vibrant, and playful book with a lot of energy to the art. It fits the story and the writing—and probably only older readers like me will nitpick the art (and really, I’m only nitpicking, not complaining).

So, what did I think about Red Stripes VS Miles the Mutant Mouse?

This is a cute little story, really. What I really admire about this is that the Rices worked on this together and accomplished something at Kyson’s pretty young age (I believe 5 at the time of writing).

I think younger readers will respond to the idea that a kid wrote this—it reads like the kind of thing a kid would make up, too—so it’ll probably hit the reader right in the sweet spot. Who knows, it might inspire a reader to try something like it themselves.

I don’t know that older readers will respond too well to the writing or the story—but that’s okay. We can get wrapped up in the story behind the book, that’s enough for us—we’re not the audience. And while I might not have loved this book on an aesthetic level, I did get a kick out of it and found myself smiling a good deal while reading it.

I admire Kyson’s mom for seeing this through—and the patience that both of them must’ve had to exercise along the way—and recommend a parent pick it up just to show a child what’s possible when they stick to a goal. The fact that they’ll be entertained by the art and story is a great bonus.

3 Stars

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Please Return to the Lands of Luxury by Jon Tilton: An MG Tale (in a Dystopian World) About What Matters Most

By HCNewton

On April 3, 2023

In Fiction, Science Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Please Return to the Lands of Luxury

by Jon Tilton

DETAILS:
Series: The Lands of Luxury, #1
Publisher: Blueberry Finch
Publication Date: March 21, 2023
Format: eBook
Length: 188 pg.
Read Date: March 22-23, 2023

What’s Please Return to the Lands of Luxury About?

Jane, Timothy, and Rodney are three children living in the community of Yarborough. Yarborough is a small(ish) group of people living on an island of trash. I’m not being metaphorical here—it’s a landmass that serves as a dumping ground for the refuse of the rest of the world (at least a continent). Like the rest of their neighbors, the children spend their days scavenging for things they can use and eat out of the refuse. Robots that run the place provide a daily allowance of water for each resident.

One day Jane finds a doll—almost pristine in condition—the nicest thing she or her friends can remember finding. The boys encourage her to cherish it and take it for her own—but the one who can read tells her that the attached tag says, “Please return to Gloria Thatcher.” It includes an address—in Paradise City, the source of the rubbish they live off of and among.

Jane knows that if she’d lost something so fantastic she’d be heartbroken without it—and she has the means to get it back into Gloria’s hands. She only has to risk her life to escape the island and make it to Paradise City. It seems like the right thing to do—and it shouldn’t take that long, she can probably get it done and be back in time for the next water distribution.

Her friends try to talk her out of it—but they fail. Once they realize she’s gone, they attempt to find and rescue her.

All three of them end up in dangerous situations—for both their physical and emotional well-being—and end up learning a lot about the world they live in.

It’s Dystopian, but Not

Most Dystopian novels are about people realizing the problems in their particular dystopia—or realizing they have the opportunity and ability to fight against those problems. I have nothing against those novels—I have (and likely will continue to) like many of those.

What I appreciate more (at least I think I do…maybe I’ll take this sentence back) is another kind of dystopian novel. The protagonists are sometimes aware the system is rigged, that things could be better. Sometimes, they don’t realize that’s where they are—like the fish who doesn’t realize it’s wet, it’s just life. But they press on, making do with what they have—or making things a little nicer for themselves and those around them—however temporarily. Those seem more realistic, more relatable, you know?

This falls into the latter camp—the people (even the kids) in Yarborough realize that life is hard and that theirs is harder than most. They don’t spend time dreaming of social change, of bettering their station in life, or anything like that. They’re surviving, helping each other, and trying to stay alive—finding joy in little treasures they find and in each other (and in hiding a harmonica from someone who doesn’t know how to play one, but keeps trying anyway*).

* Any parent—including, at one point, my own—can relate to this move. Yes, it’s mean—but it’s merciful to everyone else.

Stand-Alone vs. Series

This is kind of related to the previous point—I was a little discouraged to learn that this is part of a planned trilogy (at least, maybe more). I liked visiting this world and not having any real explanation for how things got to this point. How society evolved in the way it did, how a community emerged on a trash pile that should be bereft of life, what may happen now that some people in Paradise City know that the government and/or company have been lying to them about what goes on on the trash piles, and so on.

Sure, I was mildly curious, but I was more invested in the story than the world.

But now, to tell the story of Jane, Rodney, and Timothy after this book, we’ll need answers to the above—and maybe more—if the story is going to hold up. And I can’t imagine that the answers will make this a more interesting place—or that the following stories will match this one. Also, I’m a little worried that it’s going to end up being preachy—always a danger for books aimed at this audience, and I think the danger is greater in a dystopian world.

I hope that Tilton is able to make me eat my words and that he delivers a satisfying series. But at the moment, this story is enough time in the world for me.

So, what did I think about Please Return to the Lands of Luxury?

My finger is not on the pulse of MG fiction—I don’t know that in the recent resurgence of dystopian fiction (especially on the YA front) if it’s carried over into the MG world too much. I can remember a little bit of it from when I was that young, but I don’t remember my kids reading much like that. So take everything I say about MG dystopian fiction with a grain of salt.

I really liked the way that Tilton presented this world. Sure, there are things I’m not sure are all that consistent. For example, I don’t know how or why Timothy learned to read—particularly as much as he does. I absolutely get why Rodney and Jane can’t. There’s a lot about the culture in Yarborough that I don’t understand—and it’s fine, I don’t need to for this novel. But what we saw was enough. The tech makes sense (both the good and the bad about it), the consumerism seems more realistic than what we see in most dystopian fiction, and so on. And it was all really well communicated to be understood by the target audience.

The characters were great—everyone was well-designed. I liked how the adults in Paradise City were earnest, caring, well-intentioned, and clueless about what they were doing. Given time and a little opportunity for thought, I think the latter could work itself out. They just didn’t have the time to wrap their brains around what was happening in order to be anything other than clueless. But the way they stepped up when presented with the need and opportunity is exactly the kind of thing I like seeing in MG fiction.

It was exciting enough—with good tension (even if it was pretty easy to see who would survive and how—at least for older readers). But as good as the life-and-death material was, the interpersonal relationships were better. It mattered more how Rodney and Timothy got past the mutual offenses than if they lived. I cared more about Jane’s feelings, misunderstandings, and care for her home and friends than I did about the danger she faced—and so on. Tilton did a good job balancing all the aspects of this novel—and majored on the right aspects when he had to make a choice.

A quick aside—this cover just pops! It feels playful and vibrant, but there’s something undeniably ominous in those robots—so, you know, it matches the book. Sylvia Bi did a great job on this cover.

Misgivings about the next books aside, I’m coming back for them. I recommend Please Return to the Lands of Luxury for adults who find the idea of MG dystopian fiction intriguing and I heartily recommend it to anyone who might be shopping for an MG reader.

3.5 Stars

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Grandpappy’s Corner: The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith, Katz Cowley (Illustrator): Tongue-Tying Magic

By HCNewton

On March 16, 2023

In Fiction, Grandpappy's Corner, YA/MG/Children's Books

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The Wonky Donkey

by Craig Smith, Katz Cowley (Illustrations)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Publication Date: December 29, 2020
Format: Board Book
Length: 21 pgs.
Read Date: March 8, 2023

What’s Wonky Donkey About?

Lifted from the lyrics of a children’s song, the book starts:

I was walking down the road and I saw…
a donkey,
Hee Haw!

And goes on from there to describe this unfortunate equine in more and more detailed (and ridiculous) ways–starting with its three legs, going on to describe its taste in music, coffee consumption, attitude, attractiveness, and so on.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

Katz Cowley is fantastic. The natural world and physical objects are presented in a great realistic fashion–heightened just a bit. The titular donkey and a bird that shows up in every scene, however, are a goofy cartoonish exaggeration of that fashion

I don’t know who decided to give this donkey a prosthetic leg–but it only comes up in the illustrations, so I’m going to give Cowley credit for it. It’s a great detail on many levels.

The expressions on the bird and donkey are the stars of the show–better than the words (by a crooked hair). I don’t know how a child can look at them and not want to stare. Or not wanting to pick up the book for another reading session.

Especially when a child is the age of the target audience, the adult reading the book is going to see themselves in the coffee-less expression of the donkey on the page talking about the caffeine deprivation. So everyone wins?

You can see some of the art, and learn more about the book, on Cowley’s website.

How is it to Read Aloud?

Ohhh boy. This is going to be hard to convey. First, it was only after I’d read this that I took the time to track down the song, but I couldn’t help but get a sing-songy cadence and voice as I read it. I also found myself talking faster and faster as I went through the book–like there was this unconscious effort on my part to spend the same amount of time reading each pair of pages–like a snowball rolling downhill, growing bigger and getting faster. This is great and all, but it’s also kind of a workout of both stamina and verbal dexterity.

You can’t help having fun with these lines–even as they build up and repeat like the 12 Days of Christmas. Really, try being expressionless or frowny while saying “He was a hanky-panky crank stink-dinky lanky honky-tonky wink wonky donkey.” You can’t, can you?

You might need to start using a spirometer before cracking this thing open though. As fun as it is, you’re going to end up getting requests for encores, and after 2-3 readings in a row, it’s going to lose a little bit of its charm. So keep something else around so you can switch to it for a minute or two before having to come back.

(between you and me, the song isn’t my style. I really hope the Grandcritter doesn’t discover it, because it feels like the kind of thing that’d you’d have to listen to 30 times a day–like that ditty about an infant scaleless predatory fish)

So, what did I think about Wonky Donkey?

A couple of weeks ago, my wife was telling a friend about our prep work for grandkids, including all the books we’re starting to stockpile. Once she got over being aghast that we’d never heard of The Wonky Donkey, she insisted that we fix this. We dutifully complied and it’s either one of the best moves we’ve made or one of the worst (see what I said above about reading it).

Joking aside, this is a great book for the intended age group. I’m going to have to do a deep dive into both the work of Smith and Cowley.

The other thing my wife’s friend told us was to get the board book–and she was right again. Parents/Grandparents/Etc. Do NOT get the paperback or hardcover. If the child(ren) doesn’t/don’t like the book, you’ll have spent too much money. If they do like the book (the more likely outcome), they will destroy it. It’s going to demand the number of re-re-re-re-reads that anything else won’t hold up to it. It’s also going to end up being one of those books a kid is going to carry around with them and flip through themselves–a lot. Paperbacks/hardcovers will not survive the gumming, accidental ripping, deliberate ripping, and overall expressions of toddler love that are so destructive.

I can’t see where this doesn’t become a tongue-tying obsession. The book you know the kid will love, you enjoy (the first few times a day you read it), you end up memorizing without trying to and just hope your lung capacity holds out during. It’s fun, it’s goofy, and it’s the kind of thing you’ll look back on in fondness.

4 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Grandpappy’s Corner: The Adventure Begins! (Dungeons & Dragons) by Dennis R. Shealy, Nate Lovett (Illustrator): Nostalgia for the Adult, an Adventure Story for the Kid

By HCNewton

On March 2, 2023

In Blog Series, Fantasy, Fiction, Grandpappy's Corner, YA/MG/Children's Books

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The Adventure Begins!
(Dungeons & Dragons)

by Dennis R. Shealy, Nate Lovett (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Golden Books
Publication Date: January 03, 2023
Format: Hardcover
Length: 23 pg.
Read Date: February 8, 2023

What’s The Adventure Begins! About?

This is essentially the Dungeons & Dragons cartoon episode, “The Night of No Tomorrow” turned into a book for the pre-reading/very early reading set. Which is one of the best ideas I’ve come across this year.

For those of you young enough not to be aware of it, for three seasons (only 27 episodes) starting in 1983, there was a Saturday Morning cartoon based on Dungeons & Dragons. On the show, a few friends (and the little brother of one of them) were sucked into a world full of dragons, wizards, unicorns, and other magical things/beings. A small little fellow, calling himself the Dungeon Master, equipped these children with weapons and abilities to keep themselves safe and guided them through the world to try to find a way back home.

This particular book tells the story of them being brought into the world, equipped, and through their first adventure.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

The art is very much like what I remember from the cartoon—but it seems a little simpler, a little more like the kind of thing you find in a Little Golden Book (not at all coincidentally, that’s what this was). Lovett did a great job of capturing the look of the show and translating it into a book for kids.

Sure, I think people are a bit too smiley in it overall given the subject, but that’s to be expected for this kind of book, so I’m not complaining. Basically, it’s everything a guy could hope for.

There are some samples on Lovett’s website, in case you want to check them out.

How is it to Read Aloud?

It’s a little wordier than most of the Children’s Books that I’ve been playing around with lately—it’s got a better story, and some heft to it (for what it is). I think this is the kind of thing to read to an older toddler (also, the pages are very easy to tear, so keep it away from those who want to taste their books).

It’s not the most verbally-engaging read—but at the point where the reader is transitioning into stories, you’re not looking for fun rhymes and goofy things to say, you’re looking for a simple story. And that’s what’s delivered here, with good art to support that. I’m really looking forward to reading this to an audience in the near-future.

So, what did I think about The Adventure Begins!?

I was on the homepage of a certain online bookseller and this cover was shown under the heading, “You might like” (or words to that effect). It seemed too good to be true—a Little Golden Book take on this show? I put it in the shopping cart without further reflection.* I was a big fan of the show back when it was on, and have often wished that there were more episodes. Somehow, back when they aired reruns of all animated shows so frequently, I don’t think I ever saw this particular episode. So getting to see the friends get into this world for the first time was a little bonus for me.

* Maybe I checked out the price. Hopefully, I checked the price first. If my wife asks, I absolutely did.

Do you need to know the show to appreciate this? Nope—which is good, it’s not streaming and the DVDs are cost-prohibitive.* The grandcritter’s dad has had no previous exposure to the show and liked the book (which is good, I got it as a way to introduce the critter to their dad’s hobby). I doubt we’ll get it, but I’d appreciate a couple of sequels—the title does say “Begins,” after all.

* Yes, I went looking as soon as I saw this book. I might have even scoped out action figures for the cartoon, which are not as cost-prohibitive.

This is a fun age-appropriate story, a nice nostalgia-hit for people of a certain age, and full of eye-grabbing art. I’m glad the store’s algorithm decided I needed to see it.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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