Fandom ducks

Some time ago, a patron made a donation of craft supplies to our library. Among those supplies were some customizable rubber ducks. We've always wanted to use them for something but there have always been problems. Either we didn't have the right supplies to decorate them or we were getting the wrong group of kids (too young, too many, etc) for this to be an appropriate activity at a program. When we decided to do a Comic-con themed event for our teen summer reading program this year I knew we had a chance to use the ducks at last. While I've never been to a comic-con, I've read about them and know that "comic-con exclusive products" are a part of the draw. It was the work of a few days to design and paint these ducks, each representing a common fandom. For the most part, we simply painted the ducks, adding and subtracting nothing. The single exception is Jabba the Hutt in the final photo. For Jabba, we cut off the beak and closed off the resulting cavity with a little bit of hot glue.
 

Fandoms: Firefly, Star Wars, Avengers

Fandoms: Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Doctor Who

Fandoms: Harry Potter, Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, Star Wars

All of the ducks were painted with acrylic paint and sealed with Mod Podge. NOTE: If you are experiencing high humidity (like we were when I painted these) Mod Podge is not likely to dry well. Your project will end up extremely sticky to the touch.

Book review - The Six

Title: The Six
Author: Mark Alpert
Genre: sci-fi
Similar books: BZRK by Michael Grant
                     Mindwar by Andrew Klavan
Rating:

Scientifically strong

Summary: Ever since muscular dystrophy stole his mobility, Adam has filled his days with writing virtual reality games which allow him to run, jump, and play football like he used to. His father offers a more permanent solution: transfer his consciousness into digital information, allowing him to inhabit a robot body. This offer isn't entirely magnanimous. Adam and five other terminally ill teens will be expected to fight Sigma, an artificial intelligence gone rogue that threatens to dominate and destroy all humankind.

My opinion: Unlike some sci-fi with dubious technology, this novel lays out the science, purpose, and other potential usages of the technology. If you can believe such a technology possible, than the plot makes sense. It's very cinematic, with tight pacing and not much in the way of introspection. In fact, Adam and the others adjust surprisingly well to their new life as machines. In that aspect, the characterization is a bit weak. The characters don't particularly grow or change, but the use of technology is phenomenal. There are some spectacular scenes where Adam describes the sensations of moving his new robot body or of moving between objects as pure information. If you enjoy looking at the world from unique perspectives, this might be the book for you.

More information: The Six releases July 7.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Pick 6: sci-fi

There are many levels of science fiction, from mostly realistic with some mild sci-fi elements to tales entirely set in a fictional world. While my personal tastes lean more towards the former, I try to read novels that fit all over the spectrum. Luckily, there are some really good sci-fi novels being written for young people these days. Here are six sci-fi novels, from beginning readers to teen novels, written in the last six months.

6 new sci-fi novels
1. Dinosaur Boy by Cory Putnam Oakes

2. Frank Einstein and the Electro-Finger by Jon Scieszka

3. Denton Little's Death Date by Lance Rubin

4. Undertow by Michael Buckley

5. Dino Mike and the T-Rex Attack by Franco Aureliani

6. The Stellow Project by Shari Becker

Book review - Nimona

Title: Nimona
Author: N D Stevenson
Genre: fantasy, graphic novel
Similar books: Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale
                     Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
Rating:

love, love, love it

Summary: For years, Lord Ballister Blackheart has been fighting against the Institution and his nemesis Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin. It's a battle he never seems to win. Things might be changing now that he's met Nimona, a young shape-shifter with a taste for chaos and a mysterious past. Their partnership seems like a match made in heaven but as Nimona becomes increasingly unpredictable, Blackheart wonders if there are things she's not telling him, secrets that are more dangerous than the Institution.

My Opinion: I read this initially as a web-comic and fell in love after just a few pages. I'm thrilled to see it in print. Blackheart is the quintessential anti-hero. His goal is not to gain power or wealth but to point out the problems with the Institution and the failures of Goldenloin. Nimona is sharp, witty, and impulsive. Because it was originally published a page at a time, this graphic novel is particularly well paced. Each page tells what is essentially a complete thought, often ending in something of a mini-cliffhanger. The plot is both action oriented and thoughtful. It takes a hard look at the relationship between "heroes" and "villains." This is a book you can read repeatedly and continue to enjoy it.

Upcycled Sasquatch

Interestingly enough, this project started with a conversation with my nephew about Minions. We were discussing the idea of making a Minion marionette and trying to decide what you might use as a base. In the process, I remembered some old bolster pillows I had lying around and lamented that they were brown and furry.

Remembering those pillows, though, sparked an idea. Surely we could make them into something, maybe a puppet. A Sasquatch, we decided. We turned some vending machine capsules into giant wiggle eyes with some pompoms and craft foam. Some precision cuts, fabric scraps, and hot glue gave it a mouth. We made a single tooth out of a bit of craft foam. It took a bit of hunting to find just the right t-shirt to make his feet. We had combed the pillow to tidy the fur (a goal that turned out to be futile, as you can see from the pictures) resulting in little wads of loose fur. A tuft of that made great hair. It's actually a pretty simple project but we're thrilled with the results.
 

Best of all is the way he dances.

Book review - The Stellow Project

Title: The Stellow Project
Author: Shari Becker
Genre: mild sci-fi
Similar books: Revived by Cat Patrick
                     The Secret Under My Skin by Janet McNaughton
Rating:

not amazing, not terrible

Summary: Following the advice of her father, Lila packed up her little sister Flori and headed for their cabin in the mountains, thrying to stay a step ahead of a killer storm on track to hit their home in Manhattan. Their situation at the cabin quickly becomes dangerous as Lilah runs low on the medication that keeps her alive and their father fails to meet them as promised. When Lilah discovers that her father has been accused of an act of eco-terrorism, Lilah is desperate to save herself and her sister. This effort finds her mixed up with a secret research facility that may have ties to her father.

My opinion: I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I loved the premise (though I loved it more at the beginning than I did as secrets began to be revealed). The characters are mostly likeable and complex. The plot is a little weak though. For a book that wants to be a thriller, the tension just isn't there. And there are too many questions and not nearly enough answers. Many characters draw conclusions about secrets with only the slimmest of evidence, conclusions that are seldom challenged or misled. It's a plot with great promise and may very well live up to that promise with future volumes. As it stands, though, I'm hesitant to commit to this series.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Petty Rathmann

Officer Buckle wants nothing more than to keep the residents of Napville safe. Unfortunately, his safety presentations put everyone to sleep. When he takes along Napville's new police dog, though, people start to take notice. Kids of all ages will delight in the highly expressive Gloria and the way she acts out all of the safety tips (#80 - Wipe up drool) which are included in the story and the cover liners. Some small kids enjoy this book but it is a somewhat subtle plot that relies on the text and images in concert to an extent that not all kids are able to understand. Even adults find this book charming.