Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust

Hidden: A Child's Story of the Holocaust

written by Loïc Dauvillier
illustrated by Marc Lizano
colorist Greg Salsedo



Six-ish French girl, Dounia Cohen, believes her dad when he says that it is a sherrif's badge that Nazis force her family to wear. It is, in fact, the obligatory yellow star that identifies them as Jewish.

Suddenly her teacher sends her to the back of the classroom and gives her the harsh treatment. Her classmates avoid her. She puts two and two together and realizes that she is being shunned just for being Jewish.

"I didn't understand how being Jewish made me different from the other girls in my class. Also... why had Dad made up that story about sheriffs? [There aren't any sheriffs in France.]"

A frightening nighttime police raid claims her parents, but, Dounia is well-hidden and left alone thanks to her Dad's quick-thinking: "My father told them that I had gone to Marseille to stay with relatives. It was the second time I'd ever heard my father lie."

Kindly downstairs neighbors, Pericards, hide Dounia in their apartment for a while but it still was too unsafe. Dounia is smuggled off to a farm in the French countryside with Mrs. Pericard, who pretends to be her mother to dodge persecution. Dounia had to change her name to Simone Pierret to sound Catholic. While at the farm, Dounia learns a lot, pretends to be a Roman Catholic attending Mass, and stays there for the duration of the war.

However, Dounia does see her mom - emaciated and unrecognizable after serving at the Nazi camp.

Told in flashbacks as Dounia recounts her life story to her granddaughter, Elsa, one night, the book is at once heart-wrenching and hopeful. The illustrations appear childlike with giant oval heads and dots for eyes. Muted palette of earthy greens and browns complement the mood and the tone of the proceedings. While the seven year old had some trouble keeping the Elsa parts and Dounia's flashbacks separate and clear, the 10 year old had no such issues.

First Second look at the book

[cover image source: US Macmillan]

Roller Girl

Roller Girl

by Victoria Jamieson



Middle grade novels with girl protagonists who are authentic and not not stereotypical are on the rise. And what's more? Middle grade graphic novels with girl protagonists is on the rise as well with quite a few of them being memoirs of sorts -- like Smile, Sisters, El Deafo, and now Roller Girl.

What happens when two BFFs don't like the same thing? And, what happens when one likes this thing too much and the other doesn't? Can they still feel the close kinship? Can they be there for each other even if they don't see themselves doing things together? How do you unfriend your BFF, and should you have to?

Twelve year olds, Astrid and Nicole, find themselves in this strange land of limbo one summer when they realize they are growing apart. A trip to the roller derby reveals more than their respective interest in this sport. While Astrid is gung-ho about roller derby and signs up for camp, Nicole prefers her ballet and would rather not venture into roller derby with Astrid.

Things start getting complicated when Astrid makes new friends with her roller derby cohorts and Nicole hangs out with her ballet clique. The ins and outs of friendships during adolescence is explored with a keen understanding, especially since Astrid is not particularly good at roller derby and she has to work very hard to master basic skills.

With the intense backdrop of adrenaline-pumping high-energy sport of roller derby (which I have only read about and never witnessed in person), the author deftly explores every facet and dynamics of friendship among pre-teens with acute depth and honesty.

According to the resident ten year old: Astrid was overreacting quite a bit and was blowing things out of proportion and complicating her life. Nicole wasn't being mean and till then Nicole and Astrid did whatever Astrid wanted to do, but when Nicole wanted Nicole and Astrid to do what Nicole wanted, Astrid didn't want to . Why did Astrid dye her hair without permission, she could've just asked her mom? But Astrid doesn't make friends easily so she probably feels bad about losing Nicole's friendship. In the end,  things work out for Astrid anyway.

As a skater with Rose City Rollers in Portland, OR, Ms. Jamieson has chronicled her adventures at Roller Derby Comics. The book draws from her personal experiences which explains how rich and powerful the moments are when we see it through Astrid: her excitement, self-doubt, frustration, determination, and commitment all ring so very true in this coming-of-age style story.

The illustrations are bright and colorful with lots of action. We loved El Deafo, Smile, and Sisters, and now the ten year old and I are just bowled over by this starkly candid story which has a satisfying ending, even if not the happily-ever-after kind.

Free eBook on the Making of Roller Girl

Look Inside the book at Penguin Random House

[image source: author Jamieson's website]

Anya's Ghost

Anya's Ghost
by Vera Brosgol


Anya  Borzakovskaya is a teen who rejects her immigrant origins and tries very hard to "fit in" among her typical high school flock. An unrequited crush, an eager-and-friendly fellow immigrant, a mostly-selfish friend, plus a curious little brother and an overly-loving mother (as seen by Anya) all add up to a full range of emotions surging in her teenage life.

Add to this a 100-something year old ghost, Emily, who died 90 years ago. A seemingly understanding, friendly ghost who inches her way into Anya's life and turns it upside down with her dark thoughts and overbearing attitude. Anya has it tough indeed.

However, most of her troubles are self-wrought. I could easily understand Anya's struggles in terms of shedding her original cultural identity -- from her determination to overcome her accent, to her resorting to shortening a difficult-to-pronounce last name, to her need to distance herself from a fellow-countryman who is still exhibiting the eager-foreigner impulse -- in order to feel totally accultured in her new country.

Walking along one day while agonizing over her expanding thighs and irritation at her mom's home-country-cooking, Anya tumbles into a tunnel with very little hope of being rescued. Which is where she meets Emily, the ghost, eager for companionship.

While there are no cliched jocks, nerds, popular girls, and the usual misfits in this high school, the characters seem equal parts realistic and exaggerated. I kept wondering why Anya feels the need to dress a certain way even if it makes her uncomfortable, why she is friendly with the Irish-immigrant Siobahn but otherwise doesn't try to form deep friendships-- until I stepped back in time to my own high school days when it was very hard to know who understands you the most and therefore is worthy of your trust and friendship, who will not backbite and sell you out but would be there for you when you need it most...

Anya is not necessarily ugly, but she is not exceptionally beautiful in the classical sense either. She is just another awkward teenager who is trying to find her place. While it was troubling to read about casual smoking among the high school kids, Anya seems to have it under control. She seems like a kid who will turn out all right when she grows up.

The panels flow effortless to tell the story. The grays and deep violets and the diaphanous ghost add to the drama of the storytelling. Dialogues are perfectly rendered, the crisp words being smart and believable.

Anya's Ghost Step By Step from Vera Brosgol

View Inside Pages at MacMillan

Author's website Verabee

[image source: macmillan]

The Supernaturalist: Graphic Novel

The Supernaturalist: Graphic Novel

by Eoin Colfer with Andrew Donkin
illustrations by Giovanni Rigano

Sci-fi stories lend themselves well to graphic novel format mainly because it is much more fascinating (and challenging) to illustrate complicated machinery and futuristic world and beings, as opposed to describing them in great detail. A picture is truly worth a thousand words in this context.

Being a big fan of the written word, I thoroughly enjoy reading the thousand words and letting my brain come up with the visuals, but sometimes it helps to see it all in pictures conjured up by a talented artist. The book was quite the regular sci-fi fantasy, and this graphic novel adaptation stays true to the original.

Cosmo Hill is 'parentally disadvantaged'. Since there are no state funded orphanages, his particular shelter has resorted to fund-raising by allowing experiments on its inmates- the little orphan kids. Cosmo escapes with the help of some friends who happen to be similarly gifted as himself: they can see the Parasites that drain the human life force in Satellite City.

Together, the group of kids take it upon themselves to protect Satellite City from the Parasites.

One thing that can get annoying in graphic novels is the urge to have narration tell big chunks of the story rather than through characters and illustrations. A lot of exposition and filling in happens along the way, through wordy text boxes, which takes away from the graphic novel experience. 

The deep green palette and the style of illustrations align well with the grim dystopian story, but it was not quite appealing to behold as most of the panels were dark and intense. More for the older kids, the graphic novel is an interesting presentation of the story.

[image source: amazon.com]

Phoebe and Her Unicorn

Phoebe and Her Unicorn

Unicorn on a Roll
by Dana Simpson

Age Range: 8 - 12 years
Series: Amp Comics for Kids
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; 1St Edition edition (September 2, 2014)


The fact that the protagonist is a plain-Jane fourth grader might have something to do with it. Or perhaps it is the haughty and elegant unicorn that did it. Whichever it was, the then nine-year-old resident fourth-grader took to Phoebe and her Unicorn comics like a sponge to water.

Phoebe is a friendless fourth grader. Quite by accident one day, while skipping rocks, Phoebe hits a narcissistic unicorn who has unnamed magical powers, which breaks the spell and frees the said unicorn.

When the unicorn magnanimously offers to fulfill one wish, Phoebe latches on the one thing that every kid has thought of at one time or another: I wish for an infinity more wishes to be granted! Of course, that's never going to happen. So, she asks for Infinity dollars. Not going to happen either. Finally, Phoebe wishes for the unicorn to be her Best Friend. Which the unicorn is unable to oil out of.

The comic strip chronicles their adventures together, incorporating everyday school events as well as other situations. Available as a two-volume collection, A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle and Unicorn on a Roll are typically snarky yet sweet and extremely giggle-worthy. While not a graphic novel per se with a clear story arc, the groups of strips in the books are coherently organized to make up a story as it unfolded.

I enjoyed the books as well. First, how can one not like a name like Marigold Heavenly Nostrils? That's the unicorn's name. This high-and-mighty unicorn actually is the straight-man in this comedic team where Phoebe is full of wild antics that bounces off the self-assured unicorn. Second interesting aspect is the blurring of lines between fantasy world and real world for Phoebe. Thirdly, every once in a while, when the unicorn knows or does something inexplicable, a single word in a fancy font makes it all right: "Unicorn". Yes, that explains it all away, perfectly. Fourthly, it is clever and funny in parts, plus touching and sweet, which balances the sharp-witted sarcasm that can get annoying otherwise.

Over summer, when I noticed that the ten-year-old pulled this book out from our shelf and asked her visiting best friend to read it right then, and when I saw them both engrossed in it, pointing and giggling and discussing it, I knew this is resonating well with this reader-demographic.

[Unicorns vs. Goblins: Another Phoebe and her Unicorn Adventure is launching in Feb 2016]

[image source: Andrews McMeel publishing]

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish

by Deborah Diesen
illustrated by Dan Hanna

published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), Sept 2015

Ages 3-6


Ever since we first encountered Mr.Fish with his fish face stuck in a permanent pout, spreading  dreary-wearies all over the place, we've been a big fan.

And, boy was I thrilled when Ms. Diesen stopped by and left me a comment on that post!

The very first book, The Pout-Pout Fish, with its perfect beat and rhythm, is an all-time favorite for read-aloud sessions. After The Pout-Pout Fish and the Big, Big Dark, and The Pout-Pout Fish Goes To School, the duo is back with some holiday spirit in, The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish.

While it might be near-impossible to recreate the magic of the first book for authors in any genre, it is even tougher in picture books. But, Ms. Diesen and Mr. Hanna have worked very hard to capture the beauty of Mr. Fish's endearing nature yet again.

Mr. Fish makes his Gift list and is all set to go shopping for his friends. He wants to get the best and latest gifts with "bling-zing" as nothing less would do. When circumstances arrange themselves to frustrate and disappoint him regarding finding the very gifts "guaranteed to bring delight", Ms. Shimmer comes along and shows him that making gifts for friends "with his very own fins" is just the thing to do to spread the joys of the season.

The seven-year old's favorite is Manta Claus, and his sleigh pulled by sea horses, of course. Cute and clever details like that tucked into every page provide hours of fun for the little ones to discover and giggle over. Although Mr. Fish's shopping dilemma may resonate more with adults than kids, the gentle reminder that hand-made holidays are what it is all about brings a sense of peace and calmness to the young readers.

I am very happy to be part of the Blog Tour for The Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish.

View Inside the Book at US MacMillan

Learn More at  www.poutpoutfish.com


Interview with author, Ms. Diesen:

How did you come up with the original Pout-Pout fish book in 2008?

The story grew out of an actual pout!  One day many, many years ago, when my elder son was a preschooler, he was having a very grouchy afternoon.  Hoping to amuse him, I made an exaggerated pouty face at him.  He smiled and then pouted right back, which got us both laughing.  “We look like fish,” I said.  “Like pout-pout fish!”  As soon as I said that out loud, it became a story idea.  I jotted the idea down and I started writing The Pout-Pout Fish that same day.  Years later, I started sending the story to publishers, and in 2005 it was accepted at Farrar, Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers.  The book was published in 2008 and began a series of stories, all featuring Mr. Fish, his friends, and their adventures. Since the first book, we’ve seen Mr. Fish go to school, learn to smile, face the dark, discover how to dream and play hide-and-seek.

What do kids (and their parents) love most about the series? 

I think one of the things that makes Mr. Fish an appealing character for many kids and parents is that kids and parents alike can identify with his experiences.  Toddlers sometimes pout; so do adults!  Preschoolers have things they’re scared of; so do adults!  Kindergartners get nervous about starting something new; so do adults!  Mr. Fish’s experiences provide a way for kids and grown-ups to explore those issues together.  In addition, the stories have rhyme, repetition, and wordplay, which are fun in a read-aloud book.  And Dan Hanna’s illustrations!  They’re fantastic.  They truly bring the stories to life.

What is Mr. Fish up to now? Does he have a case of the “dreary wearies” in the latest book, too?

Mr. Fish’s newest adventure is called The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish.  In it, Mr. Fish is in a bit of a holiday panic, searching for perfect gifts for all of his friends.  His shopping trip is unsuccessful, and Mr. Fish is sure that he’s let all of his friends down.  But his friend Miss Shimmer reminds him that the best gifts of all come straight from the heart, and she helps him craft simple and meaningful presents to bring to the holiday party.  His friends are delighted with their presents, and together everyone celebrates peace, joy, and love – what a very merry gift!

What do you hope young readers (ages 3-6) will learn from The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish? Is there a message here for grown-ups as well? 

I hope that Mr. Fish’s latest tale will help children to realize that presents don’t need to be expensive or complicated or splashy.  Simple, heartfelt presents that connect us to one another are the best gifts of all.  A drawing; a craft project; time spent together; even just a smile!  These sorts of gifts are the most cherished and the most enduring.  It’s a lesson we grown-ups have to re-learn periodically as well.

Do you have any tips for parents of toddlers about the joy of giving presents, rather than just receiving them, this holiday season?

Kids love to give presents, and they especially love having an active role in the process of creating the presents.  Try a craft idea or project that’s extremely simple and stress-free, and then let your child have at it with a minimum of help.  The more messy, lopsided, and imperfect the results the better!  Have fun with the process, and as you do you’ll create not just gifts but memories as well.

How do you and the illustrator, Dan Hanna, work together on the books? (Are there any special stories about the illustrations on Not-Very-Merry that you can share?) 

I absolutely adore Dan’s art, and I credit it as the reason for the success of the series.  We work independently of one another during the creation of the books.  I work with our editor on the stories; then, when a story is finished and ready, she passes it along to Dan.  Dan moves through the art creation process, from sketches to finished product, working with our editor and with the art director.  I do see some of the steps along the way, but during the illustration process the author’s most important task is to stay out of the way!  And that’s for the best, because it allows the artist to bring the story to life in the way only an artist can.  Dan brings a thousand times more to the illustrations than I could ever begin to imagine – the characters and their expressions; the settings and their details; and all the funny and quirky extras.  For instance, in The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish, one of the spreads shows a store full of what I describe in the text as shiny trinkets and handy gadgets.  Dan took that description and brought it alive by imagining, drawing, and labeling shelf after shelf in the gift shop with hilarious and unique sea gifts.  His creativity is amazing.  I feel very grateful and happy to get to make books with Dan!

Any future plans for Mr. Fish? What adventures can we expect to see him in next? 

Mr. Fish has a new mini-adventure coming out later this year called Kiss-Kiss, Pout-Pout Fish.  This mini-adventure, like the previous mini-adventures Smile, Pout-Pout Fish and Sweet Dreams, Pout-Pout Fish, is a very short board book with just a few words per page, meant for babies and young toddlers. In spring 2016, there will be a touch-and-feel alphabet book and a sticker book.  Another mini-adventure, called Trick or Treat, Pout-Pout Fish, will arrive later in 2016.  And in 2017, Mr. Fish will be in a new full-length hardcover called The Pout-Pout Fish, Far, Far From Home.  He stays pretty busy these days!  But he’s enjoying all of his adventures. As am I!



Interview with illustrator, Mr. Hanna:

How long have you been illustrating the Pout-Pout Fish books? What inspired your depiction of the main character, Mr. Fish?

I started illustrating the first book in early 2007 and so it's been about 8 or 9 years now.  About 15 years ago I was scuba diving in Fiji.  There was a huge rusting hulk of a shipwreck about 80 feet down.  At the end of a pole extending above the deck was a small metal basket.  Resting in that basket was a pudgy fish about the size of my fist.  I swam up and looked right into his eyes and he looked right back with a deep, gloomy frown.  Years later, when I received the manuscript for The Pout-Pout Fish, that memory bubbled up.  I realized, at that moment, that Mr. Fish was an actual fish, living on the other side of the world, 80 feet down on a shipwreck.

When there’s a new Pout-Pout story to illustrate, how do you collaborate with author Deborah Diesen?

It may seem odd but I don't communicate with Debbie regarding the illustrations.  I work with are the Editor (Janine O'Malley) and Art Director (Roberta Pressel).  When I initially receive a manuscript I'm given complete freedom to break it down into pages and to illustrate it however I think best.  After I complete the first dummy (a mock-up of the book) I send it to Janine and Roberta.  That begins a long series of feedback and changes until we get to a version that we're all happy with.  At that point I begin the final art that will eventually be delivered to make the book.

What has been your favorite Pout-Pout book to illustrate? Why?

The first book!  Nothing can compare to getting your first book published.  Its success paved the way for all the others.  The original book was the first for both Debbie and me and that made it extra special.Usually a publisher will team up a first timer with someone who has experience.  Fortunately, FSG took achance on two rookies.

What medium do you use to make the illustrations? What’s your favorite to work with? Tell us about your creative process.

I use the PPPPP approach: Paper, Pencils, Pens, Paint and Photoshop. My favorite is just pencil and paper.  When I start a new book I like to visit a variety of coffee shops in my area.  I let my caffeinated mind roam, scribbling out ideas and laughing to myself.  If a sketch doesn't make me laugh then it usually doesn't make the cut.

What illustration in The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish did you have the most fun creating?

I especially like the one where Mr. Fish imagines giving Ms. Clam the robot body.  She just looks so happy and empowered. The items in the shop and the gifts Mr. Fish imagines in this story are so detailed and quirky.

How did you come up with them? Did you have a specific inspiration?

For the imagined gifts, I drew on my own experience as a kid where I would dream up magnificent presents for my family and friends.  Eventually, as with Mr. Fish, I would have to confront reality and drastically scale back my plans. The shop items are based on all the goofy stuff you can find on the shelves of some of the more interesting gift shops.

Of all the items that the Pout-Pout fish dreams up (robot, spaceship, submarine etc.), which one would you love to get this Christmas?

The Submarine!  When I was a kid there was an ad in the back of a comic book for a submarine.  The ad went something like this:
"Delux Submarine!  Life Size!  Torpedo Tubes!  Absolutely NO Cardboard Parts!  Only $10!! I saved up the money and sent away for it.   As I waited for it to be delivered my dreams were filled with visions of underwater adventure.  Eventually it arrived and sank my dreams into the abyss.  It was just a cardboard box with torpedo tubes made from toilet roll tubes.  It was even more depressing than the SeaMonkeys and X-Ray Glasses.

What do you think was your most valuable childhood experience?

Being bored.  I firmly believe that having enough free time to sit around and be bored is very important for the development of a healthy imagination. What kinds of things inspire you to work?I'm primarily motivated by death.  When I contemplate my eventual demise it scares me into action.  Although what really gets me going — is death and a cup of coffee.

What do you want the students to get out of your school visits?

That being a writer or illustrator is like being a wizard.  Your magic wand is a pencil.  Your potions are words and scribbles.  And the spells you cast will be the stories you write and the pictures you draw.  So pick up a pencil and make some magic happen!

Do you enjoy researching or do you prefer working totally from your imagination?

Initially I let my imagination run wild.  Then I knock it out with a tranquilizer dart while I do some research.  Finally, my groggy imagination re-awakes, snarls angrily and then runs wild again.  I've found that this approach works best for me.

Do you have any advice for aspiring picture book illustrators?

Buy one thousand parrots and place them in a room with a looped recording saying something like: "Dan Hanna can sure draw fish!" Then release the parrots, using a helicopter, over each of the major publishing houses. When the editors leave for lunch they'll hear the parrots in the trees screeching "Aaaaccck, Dan Hanna can sure draw fish!" Now I know this scheme seems rather elaborate, but it worked for me.

How did it feel to have your first book (and author Deborah Diesen's first book) become so successful?

It feels like a hot air balloon ride.  But not like one of those rides where the basket catches on fire or the balloon hits a power line or something.

What do you think will be the ultimate fate of your work?

Five billion years from now, when our sun has blown up and the Earth is a smoldering chunk of charcoal, humanity will hopefully have escaped to another planet.  Perhaps, packed away in one of the zillions of moving boxes will be an old, dusty copy of "The Pout-Pout Fish".  Maybe then, some remnant of my wandering soul will smile as a genetically enhanced child stumbles across it and cracks open its ancient spine.

www.BlueBellyLizard.com
www.DanHanna.com


[Disclosure: I received a review copy of the book, but the opinions expressed here are entirely my own.]

Gaijin: An American Prisoner of War

Gaijin: An American Prisoner of War

A graphic novel by Matt Faulkner


Imagine being an American teenager growing up with not much doubts about your place in society, having aspirations to realize the typical American dream. And then, picture the world turning upside down with World War II, and you realize you don't belong anywhere anymore, except this deplorable interment camp, simply because you are half-Japanese, your father happens to be from Japan, even though you are an American citizen by birth.

That's what happens to 13-year-old Koji Miyamoto, who is suddenly thrown into a chaotic environment in Japanese internment camp after Pearl Harbor. His father is missing and his mother is trying to do her best to keep them together. He struggles with finding his own identity in the midst of being bullied by other teens at the camp, and not relying on anyone to guide him through this troubling times. Gaijin is a term meaning outsider/foreigner, used in a not very complimentary manner, meant to isolate and ostracize.

However much we want to cringe and sweep it under the rug and pretend everything's fine, racism exists even today. The plight of Japanese Americans during this time period is quite heart-wrenching.

Bright and bold illustrations bring out the emotional struggles Koji goes through, especially since teenage years are tough to deal with anyway without added stress. His anger and his irrational response to his mom's choices to keep them together are depicted with full impact in the graphics. Koji says some cruel words to his mother and her relationship with the men in the camp. He does find a kindly father-figure who helps him see reason and not fall into the gang that could destroy his life.

Best suited for older kids due to the subject matter, this graphic novel is based on a true story involving the author Matt Faulkner's great-aunt, which did not end in a happily-ever-after fashion. Just enough background context is woven into the story to put things in perspective for the young readers of today who may not be familiar with this dark part of American history.


Read More from Matt Faulkner on his graphic novel, Gaijin.

More information about the book

[image source: Disney Hyperion]

Fairy Tale Comics

Fairy Tale Comics

Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists
Edited by Chris Duffy; Various Authors

published by :01 First Second, 2013


Seventeen fairy tales ranging from the popular Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, and  Rapunzel to slightly obscure ones like Give Me the Shudders and  The Boy Who Drew Birds are presented here by various artists, each in their own unique and inimitable style, with refreshing interpretations, while remaining close to the popular version of the tales, no radical changes.

Wordless Goldilocks by Graham Annable; earth-toned full-page panels of Baba Yaga by Jillian Tamaki; digitally rendered Red Riding Hood by Gigi D.G. featuring a female lumberjack; 8-page story distilling the Rapunzel tale by Raina Telgemeier; The Small Tooth Dog by Charise Mericle Harper; and Rumpelstiltskin by Brett Helquist were some of the favorites.

Back of the book gives a short bio of each of the contributing artists; and  Editor's Note lists additional versions of the stories.

The ten year old liked many of the stories instantly, especially thanks to the graphic rendering, and kept going back for repeat reads.

[View Inside the book at MacMillan]

[Westfield Comics interview with Chris Duffy]

[Interview with Gigi D.G at sare-endipity]

[Interview with Raina Telgemeir]

[image source: MacMillan]

Bird and Squirrel

Bird & Squirrel (series)
On the Run,
On Ice,
On the Edge
by James Burks

published by Graphix, an Imprint of Scholastic

Making the leap from animation for movies and television to children's publishing, James Burks has successfully drawn from his experience to present a set of delightful books. While Haggis & Tank, and Beep & Bah had a modest influence on the seven year old, somehow, Bird & Squirrel caught his attention and held it for long, entertaining and amusing him suitably.

There are three books so far - Bird & Squirrel On the Run, Bird & Squirrel On Ice, and Bird & Squirrel On the Edge (released Oct, 2015). The very first book, On the Run, introduces the happy-go-lucky devil-may-care Bird, meteorite-might-fall-on-my-head Squirrel who likes to play it safe and follow the rules, plus the I-am-going-to-eat-you Cat who, obviously, wants to eat them. But he has to catch them first!

The clean and colorful panels, the crisp and kid-friendly text, plus plenty of action just leaping out of the page made this a favorite read for the resident seven year old. The story is fairly predictable. This being the first, we learn how Bird & Squirrel become buddies and seal their friendship by helping each other out of dire situations, that somehow seem to be brought on by Bird most of the time. The entire book is one long scene or episode of Bird & Squirrel on the run, no plot per se or intricate storytelling.

Bird & Squirrel On Ice has elements of fantasy and slightly more involved plot than the first book, with the introduction of a new character and a sense of urgency and quest. Of course, being gullible, Bird doesn't sense the danger of becoming Killer-Whale-Food, and he bungles through, but comes out fine in the end, thanks to Squirrel and the new friend, Sakari, the female penguin warrior.

Bird & Squirrel On the Edge has some tense moments and cliff-hangers, with a new friend, and plenty of close-calls with the wolves. When the usually cautious Squirrel accidentally hits the Bird on the head while trying to ward off the slavering wolves, naturally the Bird develops amnesia and loses his unaffected bravado. Role reversal is inevitable. Squirrel takes on the task of protecting the baby bear - yes, a lost cub can't be thrown to the wolves - and Bird just gets in the way... Until... of course, Bird gets another bonk on the head accidentally and everything turns out fine - bear cub is united with Mama and the friends are safely home.

The stark contrast of the two main characters, with Squirrel acting as the perfect foil for Bird's exuberant lunacy, plus precise sound-bites-style dialog that reflects the snarkiness that today's generation has a facility for, the books seemed to have made an impression with the kids at home.

Why does Squirrel wear an acorn cap helmet? Doesn't he know it is not going to protect him from meteorites? Besides, it has to be a giant acorn to have a cap that fits Squirrel, unless Squirrel is a miniature one so the normal size acorn would fit... Now, what kind of bird is Bird? He is yellow and orange, his beak doesn't give a big clue... How does Cat keep coming back, even after it falls all the way down a ravine? These are some of the questions the kid was itching to know the answers for, which is a good indicator that the book engaged him positively. Why else would he care to know so much, right?

[Video of Cleaning up Bird & Squirrel On Ice]

[Read an Excerpt at Scholastic Canada]

[image source: scholastic.ca, jamesburks.com]

CROCUS:Celebrating Reading Of Culturally Unique Stories

It's that time of the year again!

Saffron Tree's annual festival, CROCUS:Celebrating Reading Of Culturally Unique Stories, is a four-day long joy-ride of fantastic books and interviews shared by our contributors on a specific theme or topic, to foster the love of reading in children.

I am happy to be a part of this vibrant community of individual contributors who have all come together through their love for children's books and passion for fostering early childhood literacy and developing a lifelong fondness for reading in children.

Many of the contributors are authors of children's books, powerful storytellers in their communities who reach out to the underprivileged and offer this simple joy of entering into a book for the pleasure of it.

Being an admin for Saffron Tree blog (ST, for short) has been the best volunteer-job for me so far, not just because I get to hobnob with my talented and generous pals and talk about all my favorite children's books, but because I get to reach so many people across the globe through the simple act of sharing a good book.

While Saffron Tree Blog is nine years old, this is our 7th CROCUS, and the theme is Comics and Graphic Novels -- a genre that is oft-neglected and gets very little exposure. I grew up with Amar Chithra Katha comics, plus assorted Phantom, Steel Claw, Zorro  and so on, and it was considered legitimate "reading". The right kind of graphic novels and comics can attract reluctant readers, getting them interested in entering the fictional world, rather than be intimidated by stark pages filled with words.

Having an incredibly talented illustrator with her own popular comic strip, plus a couple of passionately skilled artists in the mix at ST, I love peeking into their works and learning from them. Hop over to Saffron Tree to read the various posts on graphic novels and comics over the next few days.

Back in 2009, when we started this annual celebration, the theme was Around the World. It was a vague idea we had and wanted to cram as many books on the topic as possible to share with our readers at ST.

2010: A Cultural Odssey had us thinking about what Culture means in this increasingly global world and how to preserve it and celebrate it.

Our 2011: A Tribute to the Five Elements gave us a chance to understand the five universal elements - Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Space. - and their roles in shaping our lives.

2012: A Menage of Math and Eco-Science came about as a means to remove any stigma attached to Mathematics, to find accessible books that make learning math fun. Plus, to balance it, we added eco-science to get the little minds thinking globally and caring for our Earth.

In 2013: Migration and Exploration takes us back to our ancient roots and travels through time to present day: We looked at animal and human migration and our boundless energy for exploration that led to the moon landing and Mars rovers - things that only we, humans, continue to do because we are not happy staying put.

2014: Prehistoric Life and Ancient Civilization: Civilizations are works in progress. If we don’t know what happened in the past, how can we move towards the future? We need knowledge of history in every aspect of our lives – science, sports, fashion, communications, engineering...

Bookmark www.saffrontree.org and visit it as often as possible, especially over the next few days to join in the CROCUS fun!

Kids and I had a fantastic time reading over three dozen graphic novels and comics over the last 3 months in order to prepare for this year's theme. Even though only a handful of those books resonated with us, it was an eye-opening experience, especially to realize how few graphic novels are out there for kids. Over the next several days, I'll be cross-posting graphic novels here that was reviewed especially for ST's CROCUS 2015. 

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: Sword of Summer

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer

by Rick Riordan


When she picked up the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the older child, then eight, only liked Sea of Monsters, the second book, and didn't care to read further and finish that series. I don't blame her. It is not her preferred type of story. She was into Roald Dahl and Judy Blume (Fudge books) and Bruce Coville (Magic Shop books) at that time.

At 9 she tried Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus,. This time around she read all the books in this series, and even liked some of them. The difference? Perhaps she was a bit older and ready for it. Or, perhaps there were many strong female characters who saved the day and didn't just tag along and try to prove themselves and display bravado; plus it was more than just Percy -- it was all of them together that made the team strong. And perhaps because at that time she was into R.L.Stine's Goosebumps and Poison Apple series and Charles Gilman's Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series and was craving for more adventure and suspense and mystery.

In any case, the snarky, devil-may-care attitude of boys jumping into the fray wasn't impressing her much. Why is there so much fighting, bloodshed? Why is everyone trying to destroy everyone else? And why is there these impossible quests that make no sense? Well, those were her questions, not mine.

So, I wasn't holding out much hope for her to pick up Magnus Chase of her own volition now at 10. And she didn't. But, once it came home from the library, she wouldn't return it unread...

I, of course, *had* to read it. I needed to find out what it was all about. And, now that I've read The Sword of Summer, I am convinced that neither of my kids will pick it up and read it and enjoy it on their own. The older child might be inclined to if I give her a nudge... Maybe in a year or two, the older child might be inclined to know what all the fuss was about - especially since the rest of the books in this series will be out by then. But, the younger child will probably not go for it -- he has not liked violence and gore so far, and doesn't care much for fiction, in general. And that's okay.

The Boston accent is a giveaway: the story unfolds in and around Boston.

Exposition aside, the book flowed smoothly towards a common end: Reclaim Sumerbrander, Re-bind Fenris, Cast Surt back to Muspelheim, and thus postpone Ragnarok! All in a day's (week's?) work for a dead demigod -- son of Frey, nephew of Freya - elevated to the status of einherji, by mistake (i.e., Odin's design.)

The characters are diverse and colorful - from a deaf elf, Hearthstone, who has suffered much to gain rune magic, a fashion-conscious dwarf, Blitzen, a Muslim Valkyrie demigod daughter of Loki, Samantha al-Abbas; to the re-imagined slightly-gross and gassy, loud-mouthed Thor who rides a cart drawn by two goats, the book continues the theme of Percy Jackson by twisting our accepted notions of Norse mythology and noble characters. I liked that Sam and Magnus are not instantly attracted to each other to become love interests.

As always, my objection has been that the odds are stacked up disproportionately against our heroes in an effort to make their victory seem all the more meritorious. There is always the looming deus ex machina, which is unavoidable as the book is all about deus (dei) and their machinations.

On the one hand, we want more kids to enjoy reading for pleasure, therefore, be it graphic novel or grisly adolescent entertainment, we should be open to any and all such reading materials. However, I can't help but wonder if Magnus Chase books can do with a bit more of the sublime -- a smattering of veneration, and a little less of the flippant impertinence -- not just to mythology, but to the adolescent attitudes and presentation style itself.

Magnus Chase comes across as just another good kid with certain super powers by birthright, learning to master them and use them for worthy purposes. He is witty, has self-deprecating charm and a stubborn streak of zero-self-preservation where he will plunge to death if he believes that's the right thing to do.

There is plenty of gore and death which is mitigated by the fact that in Valhalla, they rise up again and do it all over again. Cousin Annabeth Chase makes an appearance at the beginning and the end, but, Book Two: The Hammer of Thor, promises to include her in a larger capacity. Epilogue leaves us speculating wildly about Loki's plans and Uncle Randolph's secrets.

[cover image: Rick Riordan website]

Deepavali: Festival of Lights

Fall has always been soul-filling yet overwhelming for me. First, the natural beauty around me just fills me up with joy. But then, the pressure starts building with a string of festivals and holidays both Indian and American that we try to celebrate as best as we can.

When I was young, it felt liberating during the festival season - no school thanks to national holidays; all friends and neighbors celebrate together so it is hard not to get into the spirit; it was one big long party interrupted by a few school days on and off... of course, we kids always hoped that monsoons will strike as well and give us more school closures...

However, over the last quarter century, it has been difficult to keep up that tradition of celebrating Indian festivals and holidays. I still celebrate as many as I can to connect my kids with my roots and pass down some traditions, which they may outgrow and reject as they get older.. and that's their choice.

Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, however, is not optional. Since we celebrate in a non-denominational way, with lighting of as many lamps and candles around the house as possible - inside and outside - while the kids sing "Down with Darkness, Up with Light" and some other Sanskrit slokas I have them repeat after me, it seems like a fantastic way to integrate their mixed cultural heritages in as harmonious a way as possible.

What's a festival without special foods, right? Each Indian festival comes with its own prescribed menu. Deepavali is filled with sweets and savories of all kinds.

Deepavali is also about giving - house help, vegetable vendor, rickshaw-man, random folks in need - small acts of kindness like offering new clothes, special sweets and gifts... it's what makes the holiday special.

Little Minions

Stretched on the sofa eating bon-bons and reading my favorite book while the little minions er... elves jump to my bidding er request... Ha!

Thanks to establishing The Cleaning Elves lifestyle over 2 years ago, things are a bit easier to handle. Kids still struggle to put things back in their allotted spots on a daily basis, they still need plenty of reminders to organize their things, they still need a healthy dose of carrot-and-stick routine for some basic tasks...

But the one thing I am grateful for (for as long as it lasts, fingers crossed), is the unloading of the dishwasher, my least favorite job. When they come back from school, the younger one unloads and puts away the non-breakables which is conveniently in the lower cupboards that he can reach. The older child puts away the breakables in the upper cupboards. They know exactly where everything goes and they unload quite enthusiastically.

No, it's not any magic spell that I cast. Just that, after the dishwasher is unloaded they earn 30 minutes of laptop or iPad time. Seems antithetic that a reward would be "screen time" but since the younger one looks up things like plioplatecarpus during his iPad turn, and the older one plays Animal Jam with her old friends on her laptop, it doesn't seem like such a bad deal for me.

Particularly since, School Days are Not Watch Days.

If only I can get them to not generate so much dirty laundry and have them make their own dinners, I'll be all set for that stretch-on-sofa-eat-bon-bon routine...

Ever-Scary Clown and the Bucket Head Zombie

Unlike the previous years where I did the major work of sewing/making kids' costumes based on their input and request, this year I left it entirely up to the kids. I offered to assist them as needed, of course, but, I made it clear that I won't be deeply involved.

The 10 year old is fully capable of  designing and possibly sewing her costume if needed, but she has her plate full this term with school and extra activities. So she opted for the Ever-Scary Clown.

There is no doubt clowns are scary as this survey shows, and of course we learn a lot more from this article about the History and Psychology behind this fear of clowns. Speaking from personal experience, the clown make-up was what gave me the chills as a little girl, even though their slapstick antics is commendable when I look back as an adult.

Now, we did talk about picking a character from a book, or for that matter, a scary character from a scary book if she wants. But, she said nothing can be scarier than a clown and was firm about it.

With a dedicated "Dress Up" cubby from toddlerhood, to which we have been adding and subtracting items constantly, the ten year old has always loved playing dress up at home, even talking her little brother into some dress-up role-play activities. Assorted wigs, bead necklaces, jewelry, mermaid tails, pirate stuff, cat mask and tail, hats, goofy glasses, home-made fairy skirts, home-made butterfly wings, home-made crowns... just a simple collection of  items, always handy. So, the clown costume was easy to pull together.

The make-up was the fun part: nothing too elaborate, just some basic elements to suggest a hint of the sinister.

The seven year old decided early on that he wants to be a bucket head zombie from PVZ. He had the clothes, and he asked to borrow my brown coat and Papa's tie. The only thing left to do was get the bucket that goes on the head. He was going to use the large yogurt tub at first, but wanted to paint it all gray and wasn't sure if the paint will stick. So, I bought a fabric bucket-style bag from Dollar store -- sold as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag. He painted the green bag gray, with some red paint for blood just like the bucket head zombie is depicted in the game.

Again, make-up was the fun part - just an all-over gray with some dark circles under the eyes and some red around the mouth from eating brains.

As usual, they picked out their pumpkins, scooped out the innards and got them ready for carving. Papa, the official Carver Extraordinaire, let them pick out their designs and carved the pumpkin with effortless ease, especially thanks to these newfangled Pumpkin Carving Kits.

Pouring down rain didn't stop them from going trick-or-treating, although the younger child had his reservations about venturing outside.