Saturday, October 23, 2010

Books of the Week – October 23, 2010

Here are our favorites from the past week (just one for Tintin – he spent most of his reading time finishing up Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone):

Tintin, age 7

Kaput & Zösky
Author/illustrator: Lewis Trondheim, with Eric Cartier

Kaput and Zösky, from First Second, the publisher of some of Tintin's other favorite graphic novels (Little Vampire and Sardine – see our review), contains 12 comics about two evil aliens intent on conquering the universe. The blaster-happy duo travels to several different planets in the hopes of ruling over their inhabitants, but something always ends up ruining their plans. Tintin's favorite story includes vampires, Kaput and Zösky covered with strawberries and clotted cream, and burps infused with the smell of garlic sausage.


Johnny Boo, age 4

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion
Author/illustrator: Mo Willems

Trixie travels to Holland to visit her grandparents and loses her beloved Knuffle Bunny on the way. In this, the third (and final) Knuffle Bunny tale, Trixie learns a lot about growing up. Obviously Johnny Boo is not at the same stage: He read the book while still at the library (we had this one on hold as soon as we saw it was being acquired) and on the way home he held on tightly to the book while shoving his security blanket in his face. He loved the book anyway, just as much as the other Knuffle Bunny books, which we also had to bring home (again).

The Magic School Bus: The Wild Leaf Ride
Author/illustrator: Judith Stamper/Carolyn Bracken

Ms. Frizzle's class takes a trip to study leaves (and acorns) up close in this easy reader, Johnny Boo's first introduction to the Magic School Bus series. Johnny Boo wasn't interested in this one when I showed it to him at the library, but I overheard him reading it the other day, and now he's hooked. He loved when the bus turned into a bird and he learned so much about leaves (and retained the information when I asked him questions later on). He now knows how to identify a maple leaf and that a leaf's fall colors are always hiding behind its green color. Hmm...I see more Magic School Bus books in our future.

We're linking up with What My Child Is Reading at Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns and Kid Konnection at Booking Mama.

6 comments:

Grandma and Grandpa said...

Always fun to read their reviews:)

Laura at Library of Clean Reads said...

My kids love The Magic School Bus. And they are so educational!

An Almost Unschooling Mom said...

I missed that Magic School Bus one when we did leaves - I'm heading straight to the library sight, to look for it now!

Julie P. said...

My daughter never was very interested in the Magic School Bus books, but maybe I can introduce them to my son.

Natalie PlanetSmarty said...

Tintin sounds like such an "all boy" in his reading choices. For some reason Anna was never interested in Knuffle Bunny series and didn't want to read the new one. I think that she doesn't like the fact that something happens to the bunny - she has her own security objects that she loves literally to pieces. Thanks for joining WMCIR!

Jackie Higgins said...

I love Magic School Bus books. It's good to know the early reader versions are good too! Thanks for the reviews.