Books of the Week – February 5, 2011

Here are our favorites from the past week (not counting Harry Potter and Ivy + Bean):

Tintin, age 8

Spider-Man: Everything You Read
Author/illustrator: Todd Dezago/Sanford Greene
Publisher: Spotlight (September 2010)
Source: ALA Midwinter/home library

In this graphic novel Spider-Man is reminded that he shouldn't believe everything he reads in the newspaper, especially since he himself hasn't always been portrayed correctly. He sets off to find a thief but is in for a surprise when he meets Dragon-Man. Tintin has always been pretty much indifferent to Spider-Man, but he likes this book. He read it twice, and he said he'll probably read it again.

Tintin's note: I like when there's a remote control and they press buttons to make the big purple robot act nice.

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups
Author/illustrator: David Wisniewski
Publisher: HarperCollins (1998)
Source: Public library

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups reveals to kids the real reasons behind those stupid adult rules, like "Eat your vegetables!" and "Don't blow bubbles in your milk!" They have nothing to do with health and cleanliness but instead come from secret never-before-shown-to-children files. Tintin thought it was funny, but unfortunately he still doesn't follow six of the eight rules.

Tintin's note: I liked when those people were in your heads and they're standing on your skulls and they have gum stuck to them to pull up the hairs so you go bald. So that's why you shouldn't eat gum.

Johnny Boo, age 5

Art & Max
Author/illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books (October 2010)
Source: Public library

Art & Max is about two artistic lizards, one serious and refined and one who is quite the opposite. When Art suggests that Max paint him, Max takes him literally and chaos ensues. We see Art, or Arthur as he prefers to be called, break out of his acrylic exterior in anger, turn to muted pastels, and then finally to a line drawing that unravels and must be put back together again. Max tries (hilariously) to fix Art and the book ends with a nod to pointillism and the paint-splashing of Jackson Pollock. This is now one of Johnny Boo's favorites. He loves everything about it – the story, the humor, the colors – and asked me to read it to him several times a day this past week.

Johnny Boo's note: I like Art & Max because it's good and ridiculous and preposterous. The funniest part is when Arthur paints the cactus plant.

Stoo Hample's Book of Bad Manners
Author/illustrator: Stoo Hample
Publisher: Candlewick Press (August 2006)
Source: Half Price Books/home library

Johnny Boo of course can't relate to this book, or at least that's what he told me, but he found it extremely funny anyway. It's full of ill-mannered kids and rhyming descriptions of their weaknesses, with funny illustrations to match. Johnny Boo especially likes reading the ongoing commentary of the illustrated Stoo Hample while I read the rest to him. And he really likes the end of the book, where there's a picture of a little boy mooning the reader.

Johnny Boo's note: It's so funny and it's preposterous and the bad manners are bad.

We're linking this post up with Feed Me Books Friday, Kid Konnection, and What My Child Is Reading.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Word of the Day: February 5 (The Odious Ogre)

It's day 3 of our Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we try to use it in conversation as much as we can.

Today's word is indefatigable, an adjective meaning "able to continue for a very long time without becoming tired" and which I suspect will be used right before the boys' next bedtime.

And we're reading The Odious Ogre, in which Ogre explains that one of the reasons he's got such a fearful reputation is that he's indefatigable.

The Odious Ogre
Author/illustrator: Norton Juster/Jules Feiffer
Publisher: Michael di Capua Books (September 2010)
Source: Public library


Almost everyone is afraid of Ogre. Besides being indefatigable, he's invulnerable, impregnable, insuperable and insurmountable, all words he learned from the dictionary he swallowed while consuming a librarian. While out for a walk, however, Ogre comes across a girl whose kindness confuses him so much that he doesn't quite know how to react.

A couple of books to go along with The Odious Ogre:

A couple of activities to go along with the book: an ogre dot-to-dot and how to draw an ogre.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Word of the Day: February 4 (Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty)

It's day 2 of our Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we act like Pee-wee Herman every time someone says the word (until one of us gets annoyed and we just say the word and shout out the definition).

Today's word is masticate, a verb meaning "to chew."

And we're reading Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty, in which Bad Kitty masticates (and gobbles and munches) all of his favorite foods (from an aardvark bagel to a yak zabaglione) for a special birthday breakfast.






















Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty
Author/illustrator: Nick Bruel
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (September 2009)
Source: Scholastic book fair/home library

It's Bad Kitty's birthday and she really wants a cat scratcher. What will happen if she doesn't get what she wants? The guest list at her party is full of interesting cats from the neighborhood, plus Poor Puppy, and Uncle Murray makes appearances throughout with his "fun facts" about cats.

More Bad Kitty books (both picture and chapter): Bad Kitty, Poor Puppy, Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, Bad Kitty vs Uncle Murray (which we might get at this year's book fair if the ice here in Dallas ever melts) and, coming in June 2011, Bad Kitty Meets the Baby.

Activities to go with the book: Check out the Bad Kitty website for games, a trailer, a drawing activity, a word search, "Bad Kitty Bad Libs," and a word scrambler.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Word of the Day: February 3 (Art & Max)

Today we start our new Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we act like Pee-wee Herman every time someone says the word (until one of us gets annoyed and we just say the word and shout out the definition).

So today's word is preposterous, an adjective meaning "ridiculous, absurd, foolish."

And we're reading Art & Max, in which Art says, "This is preposterous!" after Max splatters paint all over him.

 















 

Art & Max
Author/illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books (October 2010)
Source: Public library

From the publisher: Arthur knows how to paint. He's ready to share his wisdom with Max, who has a lot to learn but can't wait to dive right in.

A couple of books to go along with Art & Max:

A couple of activities to go along with Art & Max (and not quite as messy as Max's style): marble painting and a Jackson Pollock site.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (The Knights' Tales Series)

 Review by Tintin, age 8

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (The Knights' Tales Series)
Author/illustrator: Gerald Morris/Aaron Renier
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 18, 2011)
Source: NetGalley

Sir Gawain the True is about a knight who goes on a quest to the Green Chapel. He cuts off the green knight's head. He meets Sir Gologras and Spinagras. Spinagras is a dwarf. Sir Gawain saves people from recreant knights. I like this book because there's fighting in it and there are good people in it. My favorite part is when Sir Gawain cut off the Green Knight's head and then the head talked. I would recommend this book to people who like knight stories and King Arthur stories.

LitLass's note: The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True is the third book in the Knights' Tales Series and the second that Tintin has read. After reading the first (The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great) and now this one, Tintin definitely wants to read the second book, The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short. In the latest book, Morris tells the story of the celebrated Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. As with the previous books in the series, both the text and the illustrations are humorous, even to adults (especially if they're Monty Python and the Holy Grail fans), so this would make for a great read-aloud. Plus, there's a nice little message about loyalty and friendship. And I agree with Tintin, fans of other King Arthur stories would love this book, and the other two in the series.

I asked Tintin to draw a dragon to go along with his review, and this is what he came up with (a dragon with a lion's head and chicken legs):

Books of the Week – January 29, 2011

Here are our favorites from the past week (other than our ongoing obsessions – Ivy and Bean, Skippyjon Jones, and Harry Potter):

Tintin, age 8

Binky to the Rescue
Author/illustrator: Ashley Spires
Publisher: Kids Can Press (September 2010)
Source: Public library

In this second Binky graphic novel  (the first is Binky the Space Cat), Binky still thinks he's a space cat that must save his space station and his humans from intruding aliens. It turns out, however, that his space station is really his house and the aliens are flies buzzing around his house. While trying to fight off the aliens, Binky accidentally falls out of the window of his spaceship into outerspace (aka "outside" to those of us who aren't space cats). While outside, he spots his favorite stuffed mouse, Ted, and tries to rescue him from a warship full of stinging aliens that bear a strange resemblance to bees. Unfortunately, he's not successful and ends up back in the house, where he devises plans to outsmart his humans and sneak back out into outerspace to save his friend.

Tintin's note: I liked Binky to the Rescue when the bees sting him and when he farted. I liked when he saved Ted.

Zig and Wikki in Something Ate My Homework
Author/illustrator: Nadja Spiegelman/Trade Loeffler
Publisher: Toon Books (April 2010)
Source: Public library

Zig and Wikki are two alien friends who accidentally end up on Earth while flying their spaceship to Zig's grandmother's house, where Zig was going to find a pet for his class zoo. Instead he must make do with finding a pet on this strange new planet. Fortunately, Wikki has a screen that turns on every once in a while and spouts out information about the creatures they meet during their search. So, for instance, we learn that flies taste with the hair on their feet and spit on their food to turn it into liquid so they can suck it up again. Unfortunately, Zig and Wikki have a little trouble catching a pet to bring back with them and must get back to their spaceship before they end up being eaten for lunch.

Tintin's note: I liked Zig and Wikki because when they went to Earth they thought they found aliens, but they were really animals.


Johnny Boo, age 5

Bunny Days
Author/illustrator: Tao Nyeu
Publisher: Dial (January 2010)
Source: Public library

This is a cute and whimsical book about the mishaps of six bunnies and the bear who comes to their rescue. Split into three very short stories, the bunnies find themselves in need of a washing, thanks to Mr. Goat's mud-splashing tractor; a dusting, thanks to Mrs. Goat's super-sucking outdoor vacuum cleaner; and a little sewing on of tails, thanks to Mr. Goat's careless hedge-trimming. Luckily, Bear knows just what to do and everyone ends up happy again. Johnny Boo's favorite part was when the bunnies were hung on the clothesline to dry, but he did get a tiny bit sad when their tails were cut off during a game of hide-and-seek.

Johnny Boo's note: I liked Bunny Days because they're cute and marvelous, and that's kind of it.

Curious George Around Town Boxed Set
Author/illustrator: H.A. Rey
Publisher: HMH Books (October 2010)
Source: Home library

This six-book set includes Curious George and the Puppies, Curious George at the Aquarium, Curious George Visits the Toy Store, Curious George Makes Pancakes, Curious George Goes to the Chocolate Factory, and Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery. Not only does this set have a book about a chocolate factory (I've convinced Johnny Boo that he wants to work in a chocolate factory when he grows up), but it also has a carrying case with handle, which makes it perfect for carrying around the house and taking in the car. Johnny Boo loves reading these books and yesterday got an extra-special treat when his big brother read all six books in a row to him.

Johnny Boo's note: I liked Curious George because he's curious and he gets into trouble.
Tintin's note: And he always gets prizes at the end.

We're linking this post up with Feed Me Books Friday, Kid Konnection, and What My Child Is Reading.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on most of the links in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Our New Reading Spot

My boys are big on reading. We have books in every room. Tintin and Johnny Boo didn't really need an excuse to read more, but I found one anyway. In the living room we used to have a basket next to the couch overflowing with library books, as well as their current faves piled up on the coffee table. After reading a post on Book Loving Boys, I was inspired to take the Target-bought toy baskets that were in Tintin's room and instead use them as part of our new reading spot. The beanbag chair used to reside in our office and was mostly something on which to jump. Now, however, as you can see from the above picture, the boys are relaxing with their Ivy and Bean books, or whichever books grab their attention; they've got lots of bookmarks nearby from which to choose and, if they want, our family journal and our sketchbook are close by as well. Now, the first thing Tintin does in the morning and when he gets home from school is head straight for the reading spot, and when Johnny Boo sees him there he says, "Hey, I know, I'll read too!"