Book Review: Frightlopedia

Frightlopedia: An Encyclopedia of Everything Scary, Creepy, and Spine-Chilling, From Arachnids to Zombies by Julie Winterbottom. Illustrated by Stefano Tambellini.
Published by Workman Publishing in 2016
Age level: 8-12 years; Grade level: 3-7 Lexile Level: 1060.

Summary: Frightlopedia is a young person's encyclopedia on everything scary. The author has chapters on ghosts, haunted houses, poisonous trees, and more. Each chapter has illustrations or pictures, and facts about each subject. Some chapters have crafts or are even dedicated to telling an urban legend type of story. The author also offers harmless pranks or "horrifying how-to's"in some chapters, such as how to haunt your own house.

My Thoughts: This was a very fun, and funny book. There is a lot of information packed into this slim volume, and there is probably a lot more horror stories and folklore for the author to publish another volume. The language used and the goofy illustrations take the chill factor down for young readers, but there isn't anything truly scary that will disturb readers. The author has placed a "fright meter" in the beginning of each chapter, with a finger pointing to whether the subject matter is highly frightening, or only moderately so. The author does a well balanced job with writing about supernatural topics such as the Ouija board, seances and ghosts, with "real" interests such as spiders, snakes, and even Transylvania. I loved the light-hearted tone, and the facts and experiments that are thrown throughout the book.

Of note: Julie Winterbottom also has a book called Pranklopedia, for those who enjoyed the harmless pranks in this book, or just enjoy pranks in general. For readers who especially liked the urban legends in this book, they might want to check out the classic book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz or The Thing at the Foot of the Bed and Other Scary Tales by Maria Leach and Kurt Werth.

Book Review: Eye Candy: Crafting Cool Candy Creations

Eye Candy: Crafting Cool Candy Creations by Dana Meachen Rau
Published by Capstone Press in 2013
Age level: 8-14 years; Grade level: 3-4; Lexile: 790L

Summary: This book has over ten recipes to make candy "crafts." Some of these include a lollipop disco ball, winter icicles made out of rock candy, and an earth bead bracelet. Each recipe has step by step instructions and colorful photos to accompany it. There is even a glossary in the back. The author also helpfully places a "decorator's toolbox" on the first two pages, with a picture of all the tools you will use to make your eye candy. All are basic items that can be found in any kitchen, from wax paper, lollipop sticks, to scissors

 

My Thoughts: This is a very fun book. The cover alone caught my eye. The photos in the book are very colorful, and each step in making the candy is very descriptive. There are also helpful tips for each recipe. However, I think it would have been ever better if the author included pictures of the different steps to making the candy. While the instructions are pretty straightforward, images always help, especially for those who might not be used to cooking or baking. Making candy sushi has been a very popular program at many libraries, for tweens and teens. This book includes a recipe for it as well. There is a glossary at the end, and resources. This book is a teacher or a librarian's dream, and will work well for a tween or teen program.

Of note: This book is just one of many written by Dana Meachen Rau focusing on food for tweens and teens. Some of her others include: Dessert Designers: Creations You Can Make and Eat!, A Teen Guide to Breakfast on the Go, Piece of Cake! Decorating Awesome Cakes, and Smart Cookie: Designing Creative Cookies.

Book Review: Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet

Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet, by Buzz Aldrin and Marianne J. Dyson
Published by National Geographic Kids in 2015
Age level: 8-12 years; Grade level: 3-7; Lexile level: 900

Summary: Welcome to Mars is book written by former astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Marianne J. Dyson, a physicist and a former NASA flight controller. The book details how it would be if humans built a colony on Mars and lived there. The book describes every step in detail, from the very beginning of the solar system, different space crafts throughout the years, the history of Mars, and even growing food on Mars. Spread throughout the book are different activities for the readers to engage in, such as finding Mars in the sky without a telescope, comparing the sizes of Earth and Mars, and building a mock-up of what a house on Mars might look like.

My thoughts: There is a lot of information in this book. A lot. It is perfect for young readers who love science and space, and will draw in the STEM crowd. Every page has either a photo or illustration (or both), and there are numerous factoids spread throughout as well. However I feel it might be a little overwhelming for younger readers at times, especially those who just want to read about Mars itself. The activities offer a fun way to break up the text, however, and they would all be great for a school classroom, or at home. I feel there is nothing left uncovered in this book, which makes it a great resource. Everything from the terrain, to the Mars Rovers, and even The War of the Worlds book by H.G. Wells is discussed in depth. This probably could have been split into two separate books, with the history of Mars being one, and the 'what-if' scenario of actually living on the planet another. There is just so much information that it can be a lot to take in at once, especially with all of the visuals, graphs, and charts on every page. I am not trying to underestimate young readers, but I found it overwhelming at times, and I am an adult!

Of note: The end of this book has numerous resources for further study, including books and websites. Some of these are Buzz Aldrin's official website, the NASA website, and more. Here are just some:

Buzz Aldrin Official Website: http://buzzaldrin.com/

NASA Kids' Club: https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html

National Geographic video about the Mars Rovers: https://youtu.be/7zpojhD4hpI

 

Book Review: Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey

Dare to Disappoint: Growing up in Turkey, by Ozge Samanci
Published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux in 2015
Age level: 14 and up; Grade level 9-12; Lexile level HL570L

Summary:  Dare to Disappoint details the life of Ozge Samanci and her family, who live in Turkey. There is a lot of pressure on Ozge and her sister to do well in school, so they can get into prestigious colleges. Ozge's father wants them to be independent and make money, but Ozge has dreams of scuba diving, or being an actress. She is not as good of a student as her older sister, but more of a creative and artistic spirit. Her family is not religious, so she often does not fit in at her high school. Ozge goes from being an actress to a mathematician to finally realizing she was meant to be an artist. Samanci also goes into what the political world of Turkey was like in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the changes the country went through.

My Thoughts: After finishing a section on graphic nonfiction for class, I became inspired to seek out other graphic nonfiction works, especially graphic novels. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this, as there is so much on each and every page. I often found it hard to figure out where and what to read first. However, after getting into Samanci's story, I began to really like it. Teenagers who read other graphic memoirs such as Persepolis and enjoyed them will also feel a connection to Samanci's story. I think that many teenagers will be able to relate to Samanci's growing up, even if they don't live in Turkey. She goes through many of the same issues as any other teen: not having the "in" style fashions, or good grades, or a brand new Commodore 64 computer. But what I found to be the most profound issue of this book was Samanci's relationship with her father. She seeks his approval, but in the end must go down her own path to be happy.

Of note: The official website lists the awards the book has won and been nominated for, and also has the book trailer. http://www.daretodisappoint.com/

Ozge Samanci also has a website, that features her professional portfolio: http://ordinarycomics.com/portfolio/

She also has a blog: http://www.ordinarycomics.com/

Link to an interview from Comicsbeat.com where she discusses Dare to Disappoint: http://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-ozge-samanci-on-art-family-and-a-love-of-learning/

Book Review: Tuesday Takes Me There

Tuesday Takes Me There: The Healing Journey of a Veteran and his Service Dog by Luis Carlos Montalvan and Bret Witter, with photos by Dan Dion.

Published by Post Hill Press in 2016
Age level: 3-8; grade level P-2

Summary: Tuesday Takes Me There is a narrative nonfiction picture book. It is the story of Luis, a military veteran and his service dog, Tuesday. The book is "narrated" by Tuesday, and explains that Luis suffers from PTSD from being in the Iraq War, and how Tuesday helps him in life, from waking up in the morning to traveling to new places. In this book, Luis and Tuesday visit New York City and Washington D.C.

My Thoughts: Simply put: I loved this book. This book deals with some tough subjects, such as war, veterans, and post traumatic stress disorder and explains them in the gentle voice of Tuesday, the service dog. The photos by Dan Dion are just wonderful, and create a "realness" that illustrations sometimes can't. There is nothing more touching than the photo of Luis and Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery, and it really moved me.  Also to note that there are factoids spread throughout the book. Whenever Luis and Tuesday visit an important landmark, a fact will pop up somewhere on the page. This happens with the Jefferson Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, and the Freedom Tower. This book would be perfect for a read-aloud, as it gives ample opportunities for children to ask and answer questions, and learn a great deal about sensitive subjects. The end of the book talks about Tuesday and Luis visiting schools and libraries and talking about these subjects as well.

Of note: There are other books about Tuesday what young readers will enjoy. Tuesday Tucks Me In, the first book about Tuesday, details everyday life with Luis. There is also Until Tuesday: a Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, which isn't a children's book, but meant for teens and adults. Luis Montalvan also has an official website, with a section dedicated to Tuesday: http://www.luiscarlosmontalvan.com/tuesday.html

Book Review: How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg. Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley.

Published by Walker & Company in 2011.
Age level: 10-14; grade level 5 and up.

Summary: How They Croaked is an often humorous (yes, humorous!) take on the deaths of famous people throughout history. Puns are placed in each chapter, and each chapter also contains an  tongue-in-cheek heading, which might seem a bit distasteful for some, but isn't meant to offend. An example would be Marie Curie's, which says, "You glow, girl."  Each chapter describes in depth how each person died, and there is also a factoid sheet at the end of each chapter. The book is illustrated and
around 184 pages, with an index.

The authors are pretty straightforward in the very beginning:

My thoughts: Simply put: I *loved* this book. It might seem ghoulish or morbid to enjoy a book about death as much as I did, but the author has written a book dealing with death that probably will cause the reader to laugh out loud several times-like I did. Death is often a touchy subject with youth, but there will always be a natural curiosity, especially if it is being discussed in school or in a historical context. The "factoids" at the end of each chapter are also meant to make the reader giggle, such as on page 40, when talking about Henry VIII. Bragg writes in a box of the "Things that weigh as much as Henry VIII" when he died, including "244 regulation basketballs," "58,060 U.S. pennies," and lastly, "Jabba the Hutt."

Each chapter is short, at around 7 or 8 pages each. The author carefully uses terms and words that youth of today will recognize and identify with. In the chapter about Cleopatra, the author describes her style as "big, with a lot of bling. If you're a girl it's fun to be her on Halloween, with her black eye makeup and distinctive hairdo" (Bragg 19). Another chapter I found particularly amusing was the one about Charles Dickens. Dickens, who was not known to be an overly pleasant man, often berated his children and gave them nicknames such as "Chickenstalker" or "Flaster Floby." Bragg writes "The kids' nicknames for Dad could be have been Shutyourwordhole or Getoveryourself."

The illustrations match the tone of the book, and the artist, Kevin O'Malley, puts a special "spin" on each portrait.

As well as illustrations and charts, such as this one detailing Henry the VIII's wives:

Of Note: The book has been nominated for numerous awards, including the North Carolina Children's Book Award, the Truman Readers Award, and the Cybilis Award for Non-fiction, which int won. It is also a ALA Notable Children's Book and a Quick Pick Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (as picked by YALSA).

Further Resources: I was delighted to find out that the author has another book out, titled How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous. There is also a brief and interesting interview with NPR conducted with the author and can be found here: here. The author herself has included a "further reading" appendix in the back of the book, for those who wish to continue their morbid history lessons.

In conclusion: For students who are fans of "gross out" humor and facts, this is the book for them.

Book Review: Big Top Burning by Laura A. Woollett

image from Amazon.com

Big Top Burning: The True Story of an Arsonist, a Missing Girl, and the Greatest Show on Earth by Laura A. Woollett.

Published by Chicago Review Press in 2015.
Age level 10 and up; grade level 5 and up.

Summary: Big Top Burning is an examination of the 1944 Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus fire in Hartford, Connecticut. The book traces the history of the fire, the victims and survivors, and possible theories as to how the still unsolved disaster started. The fire killed 167 people, and injured 682. The book is 167 pages long, but contains a lot of information for a young reader. There are images included, as well as an index.

My thoughts: Woollett does a fine job of going back to that tragic day in history, by writing about different families who were attending the circus that day. The book appeals to a wide audience-children who like reading about history, who are curious about how the circus was in the past, and even youth who like mysteries or detective stories. At one point Woollett, when describing the mystery of "Little Miss," an unidentified victim of the fire, goes into detail about forensics, and identifying her body, which surprised me. The dental chart of the victim is even included. At first I thought it might be a bit heavy for a young reader, but there are youth who like to read about true crime and detective stories, and the chapter talking about "Little Miss" will surely keep their interest.

The fire itself takes up about half of the book, with the other half delving into how the fire was started, who might have started it, and stories of the survivors and victims' family members. The book is very well organized, in chronological order from the beginning of the day when families set out to see the circus, to modern times and the still present mystery of the fire.

There are many black and white photographs in the book, including the one below of famous Ringling Bros. clown Emmett Kelly Jr., carrying a bucket of water to help douse the flames. With the bleachers burning in the background, Kelly's full clown makeup and dress make up an almost surreal image. A clown, who many associate with laughter and joy, carrying a bucket of water while smoke lingers in the background.

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The image of the scene after the fire is particularly devastating.

Personally, I found the book very interesting. Living so close to Hartford (about 20 miles) the subject of the fire comes up all the time and always piques my curiosity. I had seen an excellent exhibit about the fire two years ago at a state fair, and always wanted to learn more. It might be hard for youth of today to relate to the circus from years ago, since almost all big events are now held in a stadium of some kind, but Woollett really gives great detail about how the circus would travel by train, set up a tent, and how the operations would work back in 1944. It is a great piece of narrative non-fiction, and it made me want to read more about the fire.

There are many websites dedicated to the history of the fire and the victims, but I did not come across any that would be a very good companion to this book. Some of the websites I encountered included graphic images that might be upsetting to young readers. Similar books that young readers might enjoy include Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary by Gail Jarrow, Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson and even the I Survive fiction series.

*Tap, tap*

Is this thing on???

It's been almost a year since my last post. Hmm...yeah. It's been an eventful year though, so why not dive into it?

After working for six months as a reference librarian, I accepted a new position as a technical services librarian in a different library. A full-time position, one that I was very excited about. I kind of do a bit of everything there. Cataloging, computers, social media, covering the reference desk, PLUS overseeing the bookmobile. The library also has two branches, which I travel to when they need me. I'm also on a few committees. It keeps me very busy. So busy sometimes, I feel like this:

I'm almost done with my MLS program. In fact, I started up this blog again because I will be adding some book reviews as assignments for my Seminar in Children's Literature class this Fall semester. I'm also taking Public Library programming. Exciting stuff!

I'd like to keep this blog going, and the only reason it dropped off (for the one person who might have read it, heh) was because of school and work. I took two summer classes this year, and really enjoyed the ten day break I had before Fall semester started. I read ALL the books in between that time (not really, only about four books) and even some comics too.

I have New York Comic Con coming up in October, and this is the first year I'm going to be there for Professional's Day. I'm looking forward to the panels dedicated for librarians and authors. I also went to Wizard World Philly this year, and met this guy:

Yep. That's me and Captain America himself, Chris Evans. I posted that just because he's Chris Evans. And I was having a good hair day and proud of how that picture turned out. =D


So sit back and relax, and please read my book reviews and other library-related ramblings.