Ninja Librarians Recon Team

This week's Recon Team prompt is: Please name 10 scenes from a book that you'd want to experience.

Here is my list.

1. Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt  -  drawing birds from the Audubon book with Doug
2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick  -  watching the automaton work for the first time
3. Leviathan by Scott Westerfield  -  meeting the perspicacious loris or exploring the airship
4. Redwall by Brian Jacques  -  the first feast with all of the animals (that food sounds amazing and I'd like to hear the moles talking '"burr oi, zurr")
5. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis  -  the gathering of the Narnians at the stone table
6. Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman  -  Dinosaur Driving lessons (need I say more?)
7. The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting  -  meeting the Pushmi-pullyu
8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling  -  Quidditch!
9. Airman by Eoin Colfer  -  Conor's first glider flight
10. Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse  -  Pretty much any scene because this book has Gussy Finknottle (which has got to be the funniest name ever) and Bertie trying to be as wise as Jeeves and failing on a spectacular level. 

On a side note, compiling this list has made me realize that most of my favorite scenes are far too dangerous to want to actually experience. Not sure what that says about me.

Finger Puppet update

When I first started blogging, I talked about a large order of finger puppets I was working on. Now that the puppets are nearly finished, I thought I would share some more photos with you.

 

Book Review - The Ninja Librarians

Title: The Ninja Librarians: The Accidental Keyhand
Author: Jen Swann Downey
Genre: Fantasy
Similar Books: the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
                     the Time Warp Trio series by Jon Sciezka
Rating: 

Ready for adventure, especially of the swash-buckling variety

Summary: When Dorrie and her brother Marcus fall through the floor of the Passaic Public Library, they discover a secret world of lybrarians with fantastic skills. The longer they spend in Petrach's library, though, the more they learn about dark forces at work.
My Opinion: It is truly awesome to see librarians portrayed as action heroes, champions of free speech throughout all of time, rather than mousy or stodgy. Apart from just that and the appeal of the action (which is pretty thrilling, by the way), this book is well worth reading for the characters. It is peopled wit ha full cast of complex characters, including secondary and tertiary characters.

Books on Screen

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Many people are not even aware that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was originally a book. Written by Ian Fleming (of James Bond fame) the book takes a much different journey. While on a drive in a newly renovated car, the Pott family happens upon gangsters who lead them on quite a chase around Britain and France. The family escapes on multiple occasions by following instructions from the car.
The film takes on an entirely different (and, it implies, imagined) adventure to a town in the fictional nation of Vulgaria where the people are living in fear of the horrifying Child Catcher. The car's occupants in the movie are Caractacus Potts, his children, and the father's sort-of girlfriend, Truly Scrumptious.
Essentially, you have two entirely different stories, the only common thread being the fantastic flying car. Even so, both stories are entertaining, albeit in different ways.

Also worth noting, there are three authorized sequels to book written in the last few years by Frank Cottrell Boyce. 
Additionally, did you know the screenplay was written by Roald Dahl? I didn't until I did some fact checking for this post.

Graphic Novel Spotlight: the Amulet series

Amulet: The Stonekeeper; The Stonekeeper's Curse; The Cloud Searchers; The Last Council; Prince of the Elves  by Kazu Kubuishi

This is probably the most popular graphic novel series in our library (with the possible exception of Jeff Smith's Bone). And with good reason. The illustrations are very detailed while maintaining a cartoony style. The story is told in words and images in equal measure. Add in complex world building and characters who change and grow, and this is pretty much the ideal graphic novel series for middle grade readers. Besides, who wouldn't love a floppy eared bunny sidekick named Miskit?

On a side note, if you are following the series you know there are currently five books in print. Book 6, Escape from Lucien, is scheduled to be released August 26 of this year.

Ninja Librarians Recon Team

This week's Ninja Librarians Recon Team prompt is: Name 10 items that you would take from a book if you could (and the book you took them from!) and let us know what you'd do with those items.

Here's my list.
1. Hermione's beaded bag from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 
    I've long desired the beaded bag. It would make travel, and especially moving, a breeze. Imagine packing up your whole house, boarding a plane, and moving across the country!

The world's most amazing accessory

2. Starstuff from Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry
    Starstuff is what allows Peter and the Lost Boys to fly. It creates all magic in Neverland. Who wouldn't want that?
3. The box from Cardboard by Doug Tenapel
    The cardboard in this graphic novel has a kind of magic. It can be made into anything and the object then becomes fully functional. It's the truly multi-purpose product.
4. The Book from The Time Warp Trio series by Jon Scieszka
    The Book allows Joe, Sam, and Fred to travel through time and meet various historical figures. I don't know about you but meeting Galileo sounds pretty awesome to me.
5. The Simon Snow books from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.
    When I read Fangirl, I found myself very wrapped up in the world of Simon Snow, even though the books are only somewhat described. I desperately wanted to know what would happen to Simon. I just really want to read these books.
6. Sir Bobblysock from the Claude series by Alex T. Smith
    While Sir Bobblysock is character, he is also a sock and therefore a thing. I think he technically counts. He is a very fun character, cute, and a great companion.

See him hopping along there?

7. The ice cream from A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
    I can't decide which flavor I would pick. The Blackberry Sunrise has a magical ability to help you remember which would be amazing as I have some loved ones I would like to remember better. The other flavors just sound delicious.
8. Chuck's sneaker collection from Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo
    I'm a big fan of Converse sneakers and Chuck has a pair in every color. I drool enough of the green ones on the cover. Imagine the complete collection.
9. Any of the robots from Cinder by Marissa Meyer
    While the robots were not my favorite parts of Cinder I can't deny their usefulness as tools, information storage devices, and companions. Really, any of the robots from the book would do.
10. The pickle car from Mr. Frumble's New Cars (along with several other Busytown books) by Richard Scarry
     Mr. Frumble was always one of my favorite Busytown characters (Lowly was the best) and he drove a most unique car. If your car was shaped like a pickle you wouldn't have any trouble picking it out in a crowded parking lot and simply by virtue of his shape and uniqueness it would kind of be a theft deterrent. Everyone looks cool driving a pickle.

Ornaments

I've previously shared with you some knitting, crochet, and sewing projects. I've also been known to make polymer clay ornaments. Christmas may still be nine months away, but I work on these pretty much all year long. These are a few of my favorites from the past few years.