After saving a unicorn (accidentally) Phoebe is granted a wish - and after trying all the usual work-arounds angling for more wishes, she settles on wishing the unicorn to be her best friend.
The socially awkward kid and smartass unicorn are wonderful pair. Nothing really happens in this graphic novel, and it's perfect just the way it is - it's mostly the pair talking, observing the world, and hanging out. And while Phoebe is a fourth-grade girl, I'd say the satire level and snark make it a book for a slightly older, preteen-through-adult readership.
I cannot wait for more Heavenly Nostrils (the comic series, taken from the unicorn's name), and will certainly be checking out the online comic's back issues. Pick this one up for sure! A truly hilarious graphic novel.
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label schools. Show all posts
Friday, November 21, 2014
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Soup by Robert Newton Peck
In this classic children's tale, a pair of boys growing up in small town America find "innocent" trouble and make mischief. Actually, it's more like a collection of short stories - vignettes of days gone by (the stories take place in the 1930s).
I'd never read any of the Soup series of books, and picked up this audiobook for some car time. Narrated by Norman Dietz, the book felt like your favorite grandpa telling you about his childhood: rolling down the hill in an apple barrel, getting in trouble at school, having a crush on that one cute girl.
For those who haven't read this series, "Soup" is the narrator's best friend (who doesn't like his real name and at threat of violence, no one calls him Luther), and the narrator is Rob. Soup's the mastermind behind all kinds of hijinks, and Rob's usually the action man. I'd say the series is on par as a boy-oriented alternative to the Little House on the Prairie books.
I'd never read any of the Soup series of books, and picked up this audiobook for some car time. Narrated by Norman Dietz, the book felt like your favorite grandpa telling you about his childhood: rolling down the hill in an apple barrel, getting in trouble at school, having a crush on that one cute girl.
For those who haven't read this series, "Soup" is the narrator's best friend (who doesn't like his real name and at threat of violence, no one calls him Luther), and the narrator is Rob. Soup's the mastermind behind all kinds of hijinks, and Rob's usually the action man. I'd say the series is on par as a boy-oriented alternative to the Little House on the Prairie books.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Kiss Kids by Chris Ryall, Tom Waltz and Jose Holder
The band KISS' marketing is a strange and diverse thing - the latest example is the new comics series Kiss Kids; they're juvenile bubblegum versions of the stage characters familiar to the KISS Army.
They're a little cheesy - but that's OK, because so is Archie and he's done alright for himself. They're a little cool, because the band is too. Each character has his own brand of swagger, true to the "characters" they become in makeup ... and they're ALWAYS in makeup in the comics. This is an all-ages read, with kid-size conundrums yet lot of in-jokes for fans in-the-know. The art is excellent.
I can see super-fans introducing their kids to KISS with this, and I think it certainly could work.
They're a little cheesy - but that's OK, because so is Archie and he's done alright for himself. They're a little cool, because the band is too. Each character has his own brand of swagger, true to the "characters" they become in makeup ... and they're ALWAYS in makeup in the comics. This is an all-ages read, with kid-size conundrums yet lot of in-jokes for fans in-the-know. The art is excellent.
I can see super-fans introducing their kids to KISS with this, and I think it certainly could work.
Monday, October 17, 2011
F in Exams by Richard Benson
A compilation of (supposed) real test answers - really, really BAD and pretty funny test answers.
Most answers fall into a couple categories: the smartass, the dumbass, or the clueless. The Smartass is attempting to get points for creativity. The Dumbass thinks they know the answer but they're really, really wrong. And the Clueless have an answer that's in the ballpark of right - if you didn't know better (mostly mis-heard words or something close, but no prize).
This is a funny book, and a quick browse. But what bothered me is that it makes no claims about where the answers came from - it doesn't say if they polled teachers, if they setup a website for submissions, if they had a panel they culled answers from, etc. There's absolutely no validation that they're truth.
Most answers fall into a couple categories: the smartass, the dumbass, or the clueless. The Smartass is attempting to get points for creativity. The Dumbass thinks they know the answer but they're really, really wrong. And the Clueless have an answer that's in the ballpark of right - if you didn't know better (mostly mis-heard words or something close, but no prize).
This is a funny book, and a quick browse. But what bothered me is that it makes no claims about where the answers came from - it doesn't say if they polled teachers, if they setup a website for submissions, if they had a panel they culled answers from, etc. There's absolutely no validation that they're truth.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
This is an inspiring book that goes to show that one person really *CAN* make a change in the world, if only they persevere.
Mortenson's story begins with a failed mountain climb. After getting lost on the descent, he bumbles into the remote Pakistani village of Korphe, where he is warmly welcomed and nursed back to health. The whole experience is so life-changing for Mortenson that he makes a vow to return and build a much-need school for the village; which is all fine and dandy, except once he's back in America, Mortenson realizes he has no money and no idea where to begin.
This book details his progress. Obviously, he's successful at his mission (or why would we have a book), and this project eventually becomes much more than just the fullfillment of Mortenson's original promise.
I'll predict that this book will change the way you look at world politics, especially in our post-9/11 biases. I know that I'll be more interested now when the news covers these Central Asian world hot-spots.
Mortenson's story begins with a failed mountain climb. After getting lost on the descent, he bumbles into the remote Pakistani village of Korphe, where he is warmly welcomed and nursed back to health. The whole experience is so life-changing for Mortenson that he makes a vow to return and build a much-need school for the village; which is all fine and dandy, except once he's back in America, Mortenson realizes he has no money and no idea where to begin.
This book details his progress. Obviously, he's successful at his mission (or why would we have a book), and this project eventually becomes much more than just the fullfillment of Mortenson's original promise.
I'll predict that this book will change the way you look at world politics, especially in our post-9/11 biases. I know that I'll be more interested now when the news covers these Central Asian world hot-spots.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
