I loved the first one too. If you haven't read it, start there. We passed the first on to our ten year old niece in Northern Maine...as the niece of two booklovers one of whom writes children's book reviews for a (partial) living and goes to American Library Conferences, and has been on the Newbery twice--she gets a LOT of books as gifts. On our visit in June 2012, we asked her what her favorite book from Uncles Tim & Trent was. the speedy answer: "Zita Space Girl" Guess where this one went when I finished it?
I don't want to spoil this with much of a synopsis. Let's just say that Zita is tiring of fame and she finds her solution isn't the easy fix she thought it was. She gets to save the universe again...or at least one planet. There's a "to be continued" at the end (squeee!), and Ben Hatke's art and imagination are again delightfully in evidence. As I stayed up late last night to gulp this down in one sitting, I was reminded again and again of the work of a certain Japanese author/animator I love...this is like an outer-space Miyazaki tale. It's Ponyo in outerspace. It's Kiki's Delivery Service in the stars. Just lovely (and a page-turning adventure). Ready for the next one, Ben!
I loved the first one too. If you haven't read it, start there. We passed the first on to our ten year old niece in Northern Maine...as the niece of two booklovers one of whom writes children's book reviews for a (partial) living and goes to American Library Conferences, and has been on the Newbery twice--she gets a LOT of books as gifts. On our visit in June 2012, we asked her what her favorite book from Uncles Tim & Trent was. the speedy answer: "Zita Space Girl" Guess where this one went when I finished it?
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Banjo's Book Recommendations -- "Cat Skidoo" by Bethany Roberts, illlustrated by R W Alley7/10/2013
SO, I missed working with children so much that I sought out a new position. Actually, I waited until the library system in the next county over offered a full time children's services position and then I pounced! Thankfully, I was the most qualified pouncer, and they gave me the job. I missed working with children and parents and teachers. I missed storytime. But ya know what I missed most? Sharing the great books I read with people who will really appreciate them. Sure some adults in big-people library land read children's and teen titles, but only the "Big" titles. SO I could blather on about how much I liked Beth Revis to co-workers and some patrons...but when I read the latest Bad Kitty or 39 Clues, I couldn't talk about them with anyone who would be interested or better yet who'd read them. Now I can! All the goofy books I love, I can now share with lots of people who'll love em too. On the slight down side, I may not have as much time to write for a few months while I get acclimated and learn all about Beavercreek (where my parents live). Getting up at 4 am to write may have a detrimental effect on new-job performance. Maybe I'll just stay up late :-) Pinky up there is a tough taskmistress. She will club me with her giant paperclip if I don't write. I have someone looking at a couple of my projects. If there is no action in that quarter, look for one of those books mentioned on my books for young people to go live on Amazon. It's self publishing time again!
Banjo's Book Recommendations and Mousie Recon-- Miss Annie by Frank Le Gall and Flore Balthazar7/6/2013
Happy Fourth of July! Since many Americans will be hearing booms tonight (it's raining in Dayton...so not so much here,) I thought of this book. This is an updated edition of a book originally published in Britain in 1992 as "Gridzbi Spudvetch." My knowledge of children's literature is not that encyclopedic (not even pertaining to authors whose books I have enjoyed in the past), it just says so in the foreword. I reviewed one of Haddon's picture books years ago, and I quite liked "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" (a big boy book he wrote a few years ago). All that's beside the point. This is hysterical. I read a lot of middle grade and YA titles that indicate they are "hilarious" "uproarious" "laugh out loud." Many of them make me smile. This one is a stitch! Starts out completely in the realm of possibility and then, as Jim would say, "goes pear shaped." Jim is just a regular kid. With a slight-slag of an older sister who is dating a real loser. His dad is out of work and his mother has a great job. Jim's not so great at school. When his sister tells him the teachers are talking about sending him to a reform-type school, Jim becomes paranoid. His best friend Charlie's there to save the day with a plan & walkie-talkies...but what they hear listening in to the teacher's meeting blows them away. Two of their most regular teachers are talking in gibberish. Charlie becomes obsessed--to the point of breaking into one of the teachers' house...then a weirdo with a glowing blue finger threatens them at a chicken shop-- And that's all you're going to get out of me. I DID laugh out loud several times. This reminds me most of Terry Pratchett's "Johnny Maxwell" series crossed with Hitchhiker's Guide sprinkled with Doctor Who (or maybe "The Sarah Jane Adventures"). If you know a young fan of humor or science fiction or books of any nature, this is the book for them. One caveat: it is not one of those "translated" British novels; the slang is intact and can be a bit thick (that's the American thick, rather than the British thick where it can mean "stupid"). Heck, I think adults should read this too. And I really want to see animated versions of the monkey faced spiders of Plonk!
Ideas I am awash with. Plans? Got plenty. But motivating myself to sit down and work is always difficult. I have found in my reading of books on writing (a tried and true writing avoidance tactic: reading about what you should be doing) that I am far from alone in this. Skilled and published and respected authors find themselves washing the car, mowing the grass, reorganizing the junk drawer…while the computer sits open or the notebook and pen unused. I told you in a previous entry about painting the extra room in the garage with a flower mural instead of writing…I often play videogames or read or—hey! Even blog instead of working on a project that sits unfinished before me. I currently have three novels in various stated of “finished” and another circling in my head plus one nifty picture book dummy and collection of nonsense verse…all of them could use attention. And yet what I said earlier: no-writing can be painful is true. Why do I do this to myself? Just write, right? Where can I get some motivation? I tell myself that the books won’t write or publish themselves…I tell myself that my time is the exact opposite of infinite…I feel the pull to get to work aaaand I take a nap. (Today, I am pooped because Bubble and Banjo kept waking us up—She once in an attempt to eat my toes at 2:30…and again at 4, so I just got up to work—SO I would really like that nap…) {SHE is having a nap next to my computer, likely saving up energy to keep us awake again} I don’t even need to seek out something to steal time from writing now, Bubble and Banjo actively participate in my writing avoidance. Bubble wants to play, Banjo needs a drink (and Bubble wants to play), Bubble scratches the furniture…what is it that I am supposed to be doing? Oh yeah, writing… If someone could invent a magic motivation machine, I would be the first in line to try it. Maybe hypnosis would work! I’ll have to research it (ßwriting avoidance tactic) |
About MeTim is a writer, book reviewer and Librarian. He has a Master's of Library Science and was on the Newbery Committee twice. Technology scares and often annoys him, but he is always game for a silly costume! Archives
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