Tag: Grandpappy’s Corner

Grandpappy’s Corner: God Never Changes by Carine MacKenzie, Derek Matthews (Illustrator) ★ ★ ★ Small Words About a Big Idea

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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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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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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Grandpappy’s Corner: Geeky Baby’s Guide to Colors by Ruenna Jones, Josh Lewis (Illustrator): Starting a Geek Off Right

By HCNewton

On February 22, 2023

In Grandpappy's Corner, Non-Fiction

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Geeky Baby’s Guide to Colors

by Ruenna Jones, Josh Lewis (Illustrator)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Publication Date: September 21, 2023
Format: Board Book
Length: 26 pg.
Read Date: January 16, 2023

What’s Geeky Baby’s Guide to Colors About?

This is a book about colors illustrated with Geeky/Pop Culture illustrations (or inspired by pop culture things—for example, I don’t think some of the orange-masked faces are real superheroes).

There are pages about a White Wolf, a Gray Wizard, a Black Car (a ’67 Impala with a couple of men in the front seats), a Yellow (not golden) Lasso, and so on.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

This art is cute—in case you ever wondered if Legolas or T-Rex could look dangerous and “awww” worthy at the same time, Josh Lewis can answer that for you. All the colors pop—not just the color focused on in the drawing. All the illustrations are eye-catching and will bring a smile to the adult reading with a kid (or likely will entertain a kid flipping through the book solo).

There are a few images from the book on the Illustrator’s website.

How is it to Read Aloud?

So the reading part isn’t that engaging. It’s two words per page—color + item. But this isn’t a book about reading, it’s a book about exposing a child to colors, and helping them identify them. So the words are more prompts about what to talk about rather than reading.

So, I guess this question should be re-rephrased as “what’s this like to go through with a child?” And that answer would be it’s a lot of fun for a geeky adult who will enjoy the pictures for what they represent in Pop Culture.

Timing Is Important

If you ask me, this is a book to go through before a child is at the asking questions stage of life. As I was preparing to write this post, I started thinking about some of the conversations that could go really wrong with an inquisitive child.

Child: What happened to the White Wolf and its brothers, Grandpappy?
Me: Well, um...er, it went to live on a farm where there was a lot of room for it to run around and play.
Child: But they live near a forest already, why couldn't they stay with all the Stark children?
Me: It's time for a nap.

Child: What do those men do in the Black Car, Grandpappy?
Me: (forgetting to think about phrasing) They travel around and fighting angels and ganking demons, and...
Child: Are you s'posed to be fighting angels?
Me: No, that's not a good thing.
Child: What's "ganking demons" mean?
Me: Er, want some cookies? Let's not tell Mommy we had this chat, okay?

And so on. When they start getting inquisitive, it’s time for this book to be shelved out of sight.

So, what did I think about Geeky Baby’s Guide to Colors?

When my wife and I saw this, we only had to look at one or two pages to know we had to have this around for the Grandchild-to-be. I think it’ll be great to sit and look at with them while they learn colors or just to look at the pictures.

For the adult, there’s the nice feeling about introducing a child to some of these images, even if it’s only to get them embedded in a child’s subconscious. You’re never too young to learn about a sonic screwdriver or role-playing dice, anyway, right?

This is fun (in different ways) for young and old. I’m really looking forward to sharing this one with the Grandcritter.

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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Grandpappy’s Corner: Saint Patrick the Forgiver by Ned Bustard: Patrick’s Story Told for Wee Ones

By HCNewton

On February 19, 2023

In (Auto)Biography, Grandpappy's Corner, Non-Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

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Saint Patrick the Forgiver:
The History and Legends of Ireland’s Bishop

Written and Illustrated by Ned Bustard

DETAILS:
Publisher: IVP Kids
Publication Date: February 21, 2023
Format: eARC
Length: 32 pg.
Read Date: February 17, 2023

What’s Saint Patrick the Forgiver About?

Drawing on both legends about him and Patrick’s Confessions, this book tells the life story of Patrick of Ireland for the youngest set.

It starts off with his childhood and touches briefly on his period of slavery before moving into his return home and the call to Ireland. It doesn’t gloss over the hard parts of his life, but it doesn’t dwell on them, either. The focus is on Patrick forgiving those who wronged him, spreading the gospel—and even teaching the Trinity via the shamrock.

The book even covers some of the myths that arose around Patrick—baptizing a giant, driving out the snakes, etc.—working that in seamlessly with the book and not distracting from the main point.

Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute

This art is great—it’s friendly and cartoonish, with great colors and details. Bustard also weaves in traditional Celtic knots and Christian art (like elements seen in The Book of Kells, etc.). So we’ve got a pretty modern feel with a lot of Irish elements thrown in to ground it in Patrick’s history.

Are kids going to get that? Nope. Will the adults reading it with/to the kids? Quite likely. And if not, I think they’ll still appreciate it the art, even if they’re not familiar with the influences Bustard is drawing from.

Click here for a two page sample (picture and text) on the Publisher’s site. I’m not sure it’s the image I’d have used, but it’s representative.

How is it to Read Aloud?

It’s pretty fun—the rhythm is easy and the rhymes are nice (and only one or two of them seemed like stretching things to make the rhyme).

The Grandcritter isn’t around yet to listen to me read this, but I still read most of it aloud just to see how it went—I think it went pretty smoothly and I could have some fun with it.

So, what did I think about Saint Patrick the Forgiver?

This was a great way to give an age-appropriate lesson in forgiveness while telling the story of one of the heroes of the faith. I was entertained, and even chuckled a couple of times.

It’s a great combination of story, art, rhyme, and lesson. I can see this winning over little audiences as much as it did me. Hopefully, it’ll lodge in their minds enough that they’ll want to learn more about Patrick as they grow older and through him the Three-in-One that Patrick spent his life teaching about.

I strongly recommend this quick little read.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

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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