Kid Adventure and a little Math Too

PLEASE BRING BALLOONS                  By; Lindsay Ward                    4.5 Stars

In this cute story a little girl finds a note from a carousel polar bear to bring balloons, which leads to a magical adventure. The storyline becomes even cuter when you find out the author’s parents actually met while painting carousel animals. However, the illustrations far outshine the words. In fact, I wonder if the story would have been even better if it was just illustrations.

I wish I knew the back story to the illustrations. There are numbers, dates, music notes, maps, and incredible colors. I ended up putting more books by the author on hold at the library so I could see how they compare. Check Please Bring Balloons out and see the magic for yourself.

 

BEDTIME MATH 2: This Time It’s Personal                            5 Stars

By: Laura Overdeck    Illustrated By: Jim Paillot

               

Math? At Bedtime?  Whose brains work that well as they are trying to go to sleep? I had to look at the book to see what it was all about. Let’s just say I was impressed.

There are almost 40 different sections to this book. Each section has its own topic, which contains interesting information and sometimes even facts. Then interesting math problems are connected to that topic. Each section has 4 different math problems all broken down into ranges for your children. There are: Wee Ones, Little Kids, Big Kids, and Bonus.

As an example the “Foot in Your Math-or on Your Arm” topic explains how your body parts relate to each other (your foot is the same length as your wrist to elbow). Then the math problems are related to less than/greater than, subtraction, addition, and multiplication. The answers are at the bottom of each page.

The layout is brilliant and the illustrations are unique to each page topic. Best of all, the back has a math equation chart that will help you figure out how to set up the problems if you get stumped. Now there is no reason for summer to affect your kid’s brains. Check out the website here.

Picture Book Author: Oliver Jeffers

LOST AND FOUND       By: Oliver Jeffers        4 Stars                         DVD: 5 Stars (Favorites!)

Like many of the entertainment forms, I found LOST AND FOUND at my local library. The movie was the first thing I noticed. The cover was brightly colored with the simple picture of a penguin and boy floating in an umbrella. It was too much for me to ignore. Who said you can’t judge something by the cover? When the cover stated it was based on a picture book by Oliver Jeffers, I had obtained it as well as the sequel, UP AND DOWN.

I watched the movie with a few choice little ones; one of which always chose to follow the movie along with the picture book. I am sure it will sound familiar to some of you that even when an entertaining movie is on everyone still has other electronics out. As if the one activity is simply not enough to allow your full attention. That was not the case with this movie. Like the book, it is a story of few words causing everyone to pay closer attention. The kids were compelled by the movie and were completely lost in the story of friendship.

LOST AND FOUND is a story of a penguin that appears on a boy’s doorstep. The boy, thinking the penguin is lost, tries to find out where he comes from and return him to his rightful home. This leads to a trip to the South Pole. Over the course of the story the boy realizes the penguin was actually just lonely and a close friendship evolves.

The reason I gave the movie more stars (and added it as one of my favorites) was based on the fact that you get more of the story and relationship of the characters. You see how the boy wants to do the right thing, yet he doesn’t seem overly friendly to the penguin. The penguin is just one of those characters you can’t help but adore. In fact, this movie was so adorable I could barely stand it. Even the little ones seemed to feel emotions for the characters friendship that make the story endearing to all of us. Add in the brilliant colors and simplicity (yet detail within its simplicity), I just couldn’t help but be completely entranced within the story.

 

I had to read other books by Oliver Jeffers as I was enthralled with his story-telling ways. I haven’t read all of them, but below is a list of a few favorites.

 

THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY             5 Stars

What literary person wouldn’t love the idea of books increasing our knowledge? Plus, the illustrations are amazing! Many of the pages illustrate pages of other books as the background. Other times there are random words, letters, maps and numbers strewn about. Then when you get to the end there is a bite mark on the corner of the book as if the boy had taken a chunk out of the exact one you are reading. Brilliant.

 

HOW TO CATCH A STAR                     4.5 Stars

The illustrations are still good, but not quite as creative as THE INCREDIBLE BOOK EATING BOY. The ending of the story is just to perfect to not love the entire book.

Sweet Revenge

REVENGE OF THE GIRL WITH THE GREAT PERSONALITY                  4 Stars

By: Elizabeth Eulberg

When I saw this book title I couldn’t resist checking it out. I knew it would be a classic high school book that everyone should read. I was right.

This book allowed me to cover most emotions known to man within the few short pages. It is a quick read that will make you sad, angry, pensive, disgusted, giggly and more. I loved it!

Lexi is a teenager who opens the book by telling us her Saturday is spent applying butt glue on her 7-year old sister. You might wonder why in the world Lexi would be applying butt glue to her sister; well her sister is a child beauty pageant girl. Imagine Toddlers and Tiaras and you will correctly guess how Lexi’s family is.

Lexi’s parents are divorced and her mom’s coping skills involved eating horribly and spending thousands of dollars (money she doesn’t have) on pageants for Mackenzie. As a result Lexi is placed in a position where she is the runner girl for anything and everything Mac needs.

As Mackenzie gets more beautiful, Lexi feels uglier. Lexi’s two best friends, Benny and Cam are the only ones that seem to know her true beauty over the fact that others only think she has a great personality.

After Benny and Cam discover that Mac called Lexi “ugly” they talk her into fixing herself up. Lexi is actually a fashion wiz and seamstress, yet she hides in baggy clothing and no makeup. Benny makes a deal with Lexi to dress up for a week in order to help her self-esteem.

While Project Lexi 2.0 is underway you see many similarities between high school and beauty pageants. Pick up the book and see how Lexi handles it all in this funny page turner.

REVENGE WEARS PRADA: The Devil Returns             3.5 Stars

By: Lauren Weisberger
 
It has been a few years since I read The Devil Wears Prada, but I remember enjoying it as much as I enjoyed the movie. Actually, I didn’t read the book at all. I listened to it, which could have been part of the reason I loved it. I don’t remember who the reader was (it looks like a few different versions are available) but I do remember being highly entertained by the parts when the assistants are required to perform a little song before being allowed into the building. In fact, I should listen to it again; I could always use a laugh.

When I heard that Weisberger had released a sequel I immediately placed a hold at my library. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It has been a decade since Andy’s famous Paris scene where she told Miranda Priestly exactly what she thought. For about two thirds of the book we are just catching up on her life, which starts with Andy’s wedding to another man, yes I was disappointed to find out it wasn’t Alex.

In additional to her wedding, Andy has teamed up with Emily. That’s right; it is the same Emily who Andy worked with while at Runway. Andy and Emily have started a new bridal magazine, The Plunge. It is doing rather well and Miranda has taken notice. Soon Miranda is setting up meetings in order to discuss purchasing the magazine.

While the first portion of the book is interesting, it didn’t quite live up to the hype I was expecting. Suspiciously Miranda is quite controlled and we don’t see the devil until later in the book. Fortunately, the last third of the book shows the Weisberger drama we have come to love and expect. Even though the excitement is kept to the finale, it is still worth picking up if you are a fan of The Devil Wears Prada.

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME                 4 Stars

By: Jennifer Larue Huget & Red Nose Studio

What better form of revenge exists than running away from home? It doesn’t matter that you are running away from home because you don’t think anyone cares; you are going to show them the ultimate form of revenge by denying them of your presence. That should teach them!

As a child I used to write many notes detailing my plans to run away. I kept them in a drawer in order to save time for when I actually decided to really run away. I just knew when that moment happened my family would know to look in my drawer and see all my run away notes and realize what they had done to deserve such revenge. Turns out I was a little delusional.

Nobody did it better than one of my sisters, who put her run-away note on my parent’s bedroom door in plain sight. However, she was unable to find tape so a little ingenuity was required. This came in the form of toilet paper or a paper towel. When wet it would stick to the surface, which magically held the note so it could be discovered. I remember my dad not even being worried about her when he saw the note. He just chuckled and mentioned what a smart little girl he had. He knew he didn’t raise a dummy, even if she thought she could run away.

Before I talk about the content of The Beginner’s Guide to Running Away from Home, I want to talk about the illustrations. It is different from most picture books we are used to. Imagine a small doll house world. Items are made out of wood, paper, plastic, and various other materials. Imagine people made out of clay or wood and a map detailed in chalk. When this world is put together it is photographed in various scenes to depict the story. Since it is photographed we get light, shadow and silhouette. Imagine bright paint and color and details that are intricately placed.

Once you have an idea of this world, add even more. Add more well-known background illustrations in what could be paint, chalk, or possibly even pencils. Don’t forget that the materials mentioned above are also used. Then add random graphite sketches to enhance a few of the scenes. All of this was a lot to take in, and took some getting used to, but once you do, you will realize how brilliant it all is.

Going back to the content of the book we discover indispensable tips on the proper etiquette of running away. For example, the unnamed boy tells you to forget the hobo idea of a bandana on a stick. A wagon is way more acceptable to carry all the supplies you will need. Taking an animal is also a good idea, but make sure it is one that won’t eat your snacks. You can eat said snacks once you can no longer see your house, but don’t take too long in case a search party is sent out after you.

This book is full of adventure and fun. Pick up the book to see what other tips you missed or your child might miss while planning their great escape.

Slightly Late Father’s Day Picture Book

FArTHER                      By: Grahame Baker-Smith                  5 Stars             Favorites!

I have cut down on my book purchases for various reasons (money, space, time to re-read books when there are so many other books to read, etc.). Now the only books I purchase are ones I have read and loved in the past, thus I will eventually re-read them. FArTHER is a book I will consider purchasing in the future. It is an incredible picture book based on the relationships of father and son as well as following dreams. (I did want to post this book for Father’s Day, but life got in the way. Oh well.)

FArTHER is a story of a father who dreams of flying. His life is taken over in the effort to make wings to fulfill this dream. His obsession led him to many times forget his son, but the times he came out of his trance, father and son spent long hours playing and having fun.

One day the father is called off to war, never to return. The boy grew and eventually his father’s dream of flying was manifest within his own life. The son started by reworking his father’s wings. By reaching farther he is ultimately able to fly.

The story ends with the son’s son and the possibility that the same dream will come to him. It leaves you wondering how the grandson will take the dream of flying even farther (hot balloon, airplane…).

While the story is told well enough by itself, it is further enhanced by the flawless artwork. The cover of the book was enough to grab my attention and stand out among the hundreds of books I see every day. With all the books I want to read, I tried to push this one aside, but I was drawn to its irresistible force of attraction.  It is a book I could stare at forever.

Baker-Smith uses tones of steampunk (even if you don’t like or understand that genre, you should still check it out). The father’s house is high on a rocky cliff overlooking a sea and a distant city. Keeping true to the setting the colors are in cool hues of blue, green, and purple, neutral colors consisting of white, gray, black and brown with a warm tone of gold mimicking the sun.

The only color that deviates from the theme is red. Upon the first few times of reading the book I understood the red to represent a trail, leading to something important, or even portraying a great accomplishment. Upon digging a little deeper, I came to understand that when the red was used as a poppy it is a sign of remembrance to soldiers. After reading the story again I realized it is also used as foreshadowing for the father. Then again the red is used in other contexts, such as in a kite and when the son pursued his father’s dream and succeeded; leading me to believe that it does have additional meaning than just remembrance.

Baker-Smith was awarded the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012 for distinguished illustrations. This is a well-deserved award as the more I study FArTHER, the more I get. It is one that has layers of meaning and beauty.