Puppet plans

Ever since I got started making puppets with kids, I've taken more notice of how professional puppets work. This also means that I've been known to sketch out plans for elaborate puppets. This particular puppet is inspired by a character from the Team Starkid show Starship. The rod that extends out the back of his head is bent, allowing it to hook into the puppeteers belt (or it can be held like a regular puppet rod) and the rods from his feet attach to the puppeteers shoes, allowing him to walk with a halfway natural gait. If I ever manage to make this guy he'll stand about waist high in his natural, knees bent, pose. Of course at the moment, he's well beyond my skill level.

Someday, frog man. Someday.

Book review - The Doublecross

Title: The Doublecross: and Other Skills I Learned as a Superspy
Author: Jackson Pearce
Genre: thriller
Similar books: School for S.P.I.E.S. #1 Playing with Fire by Bruce Hale
                     NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley
Rating:

a pretty fun read

Summary: The Sub Rosa Society is all Hale has ever known. His parents have been SRS spies his entire life. Hale and his sister are training to become junior agents and it's all Hale has ever wanted. Of course, he's not your stereotypical spy. Unathletic, he has to work twice as hard as his fellow trainees. Then his parents disappear on a mission and SRS says they can't be rescued. It's up to Hale to infiltrate enemy headquarters and bring his parents home.
 
My Opinion: Hale is a great protagonist. Not only is he somewhat of a non-traditional hero (his mother calls him big-boned, the bullies call him fat), it's not luck or even his body type that allows him to succeed. It's a combination of his unique perspective and sheer determination. Simply put, Hale tries harder. He knows he can't compete physically so he finds his own work-arounds. While the plot is somewhat predictable, the quirky characters and great pacing make up for that weakness. The appeal factor is pretty high for middle grade readers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: an African tale  by John Steptoe

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is the story of two girls: one who values kindness and the other who values power. Their king calls all "worthy and beautiful" girls to be considered in his quest for a queen. On their journey to the king, Manyara time and again proves to be self-serving while Nyasha, faced with the same situations, is kind and generous. In essence, this is a simple story about the value of generosity and true beauty. What makes this a great choice for older kids is detail. The writing is elegant and atmospheric (consider this line: "Just as they entered through the great doors, the air was rent by piercing cries."). The illustrations are fantastically detailed, creating texture and nuance. It's a slightly more sophisticated fairy tale, a change of pace from the watered down tales to which kids have become accustomed.

Non-fiction book review

Title: The Constitution of the United States of America: modern edition
Edited by Henry Bain

My library owns a hard cover edition of the Constitution for kids. It's incredibly over sized, in no way fits on a shelf, and rarely circulates. So this book already has the advantage of being a "normal" size. My favorite feature of this book, though, is the side by side glossary. It's nice not having to flip to the back when you don't know a word. I also appreciate the reorganization of it, grouping like concepts together, while also maintaining the original order in the second half for historical accuracy. While this isn't a book most kids will pick up for pleasure reading, it's a great resource likely to be picked up by homeschoolers or kids working on projects.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book review - Night of the Frankenfrogs

Title: The Creeps #1: Night of the Frankenfrogs
Author: Chris Schweizer
Genre: horror, mystery, graphic novel
Similar books: Chickenhare by Chris Grine
                     Cardboard by Doug TenNapel
Rating:

odd but fun

Summary: The kids of Pumpkins County are used to seeing monsters. The only once who seem to care are the Creeps: Mitchell, Jarvis, Carol, and Rosario. Their efforts tend to get them in trouble but that won't stop them from trying. Someone has stolen the dissection frogs from the biology lab and they're beginning to show up as reanimated monsters. Their classmates don't care as long as it gets them out of classwork. It's up to the Creeps to track down the culprit and save the town.

My opinion: This book is like a cross between Goosebumps and Scooby Doo. Funny and creepy at turns, there is a level of real science backing up the oddness. Visually, it is reminiscent of Nickelodeon cartoons from the mid 90s. The cast of characters is broad and each kid's strength comes into play solving the mystery and stopping the monsters. While this book lacks the heart and complexity of Schweizer's Crogan series, its a fun read likely to appeal to young readers.

More information: Night of the Frankenfrogs releases August 11.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

The Great Owl Repaint Project part 2

Back in February, I told you about a collection of owls I'm repainting. (Check out my first owl, Clara, here). This weekend, I repainted another one.

The Before: 

This owl isn't awful, just a little dull. And I can't stand it's eyes.

The After:

I modeled the color and patterning of this one after an Eagle Owl

 This owl is the father of the family. His name is Leif.

Book review - Saving Mr. Terupt

Title: Saving Mr. Terupt
Author: Rob Buyea
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Zero Tolerance by Claudia Mills
                     The Landry News by Andrew Clements
Rating:

Not my favorite

Summary: Peter, Jeffrey, Alexia, Anna, Danielle, Luke, and Jessica had two great years with Mr. Terupt as their teacher. Now they're moving up to junior high and facing new challenges. Some of these things threaten to tear their tight knit group apart. It looks like Mr. Terupt was the glue that held them together. When they discover Mr. Terupt is in danger, could it be the push they need to work together again?

My opinion: To be 100% frank, I find these books tiresome. I found several of the kid's voices inauthentic, more like adults trying to talk like kids than real kids (in particular, I'm thinking of Alexia, whose chapters over use the word "like" as a Valley Girl would). The plot is predictable with the occasional ridiculous plot twist. The ending is a prime example of deus ex machina, resolution coming from happenstance rather than the efforts of the characters. The series does have it's positive points. There's a wide range of character types coming from different kids of families. The sheer number of perspectives make for quick, if occasionally confusing, reading. And the kids in these books are encouraged to be aware of current events, local politics, and the like which can encourage readers to do the same. So, while I don't care for them, I understand why this series is popular with kids.

More information: Saving Mr. Terupt is the third in a series, preceded by Because of Mr. Terupt and Mr. Terput Falls Again,
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.