Wooden Spoon Puppets

I am a big fan of wooden spoon puppets. With a very simple shape you have a great deal of room to play with details. These are the designs I came up with for the craft fair. Given a short time frame, I wasn't able to put in as many details as I had hoped. I may be able to upgrade them in future.

Book review - Gorilla Tactics

Title: Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions: Gorilla Tactics
Author: Sheila Grau
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Fairy Tale Reform School series by Jen Calonita
                     Goblins by Philip Reeve
Rating:

Excellent Read

Summary (provided by publisher): The second book in this hilarious, illustrated series cracks the imaginative world of minions wide open, and we meet the other schools and Evil Overlords that surround Dr. Critchlore's. Runt Higgins needs answers, fast. Someone cursed him to die on his sixteenth birthday, but no one seems to know who cursed him or why. Runt decides he must find the Great Library, where all true knowledge is hidden. Unfortunately, the only people who know the location of the Great Library are a covert network of librarian-spies who'd rather die than give up the Library's secrets. And when one of Runt's professors is attacked, it soon becomes clear that others are also out to find the Library at any cost. Meanwhile, Runt's not the only one whose days are numbered. To save the floundering school from an inevitable sale, Dr. Critchlore takes some desperate measures. His master plan to save the school: a fashion show.

My opinion: Sometimes the second book in a series flounders. That is certainly not the case here. This is a solid, entertaining read. There's a decent recap of the events in the last book, enough to serve as a reminder if it's been a while since you read it but not so much as to become an annoyance if it hasn't. This book focuses on it's own plot while also building on the larger series plot, that of Runt trying to identify his origins. Characters are solidly portrayed with a little development. The book is infused with enough humor to keep it from becoming overly bleak or melodramatic. While foreshadowing in this volume seems to be hinting at some developments that don't thrill me, as it stands now this is a series I'll continue to eagerly recommend.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Graphic Novel Spotlight: Astronaut Academy

Astronaut Academy by Dave Roman

Initially, Astronaut Academy was the webcomic Astronaut Elementary. This is reflected in episodic style of the book. Connections between each episode are barely present at times, making this book easy to read in fits and starts. In fact, that's how I recommend reading it, each episode read and absorbed on it's own. Mull each over for a bit before moving on. Some are not very deep, more humorous than thought-provoking. We have scenes of dinosaur racing, school rivalries, the love of toys or snack foods. Then there are the hearts. Roman's portrayal of love, crushes, and heartbreak really sets this book apart. In the world of Astronaut Academy, when you love someone you literally give them one of your hearts. If they love you in return, they also give you heart, leaving each person with a complete collection of hearts. If many people love you, you may have an abundance of hearts and love. If your love is not returned, you are stretched thin, left slightly empty. And worst, if your heart is broken, it never fits right again. I've read those scenes repeatedly and it never fails to have impact. While certainly quirky, Astronaut Academy: Zero Gravity and it's sequel Re-Entry remain some of my favorites are definitely worth a read.

Non-fiction book review - Helen Thayer's Arctic Adventure

Helen Thayer's Arctic Adventure by Sally Isaacs

This is a pretty cool story for kids. A great sense of adventure and danger but enough distance to keep it from being overly frightening.\. The level of detail is just about perfect for elementary age readers. The images weren't as polished as I might have liked but the subject appeal makes up for that somewhat. This wouldn't be the first non-fiction book I'd recommend, but given the right circumstances I could imagine directing a kid to it.

Book review - The Maypop Kidnapping

Title: The Maypop Kidnapping
Author: C. M. Surrisi
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
                     Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
Rating:

solid

Summary(provided by publisher):A mystery has washed ashore at the coastal town of Maiden Rock. Quinnie Boyd's teacher, Ms. Stillford, hasn't shown up on the first day of school—or the day after that. Quinnie thinks it's a kidnapping case. Her mom, the town sheriff, doesn't believe her, but Quinnie's going to follow her instincts—even if she has to tiptoe around her mom to do it.
Quinnie's investigation will take her through a damp marsh, a lobster pound, and more of Maine's messiest places. On the way, she'll have help from her glamorous new neighbor, Mariella from New York, whether Quinnie wants it or not. As the girls hunt for clues around Maiden Rock, they'll encounter a swarm of cats, two nuns with a speeding habit, and a group of tattooed rocker-types who've been pigging out on lobster fries at the town café. And if Quinnie's hunch is right, the search may lead them right into danger .

My Opinion: The first thing to note is that the intended audience for this novel is middle grade. I'd go so far as to say young middle grade. Therefore, some simplicity in the plot and predictability are not unexpected. As a mystery, it follows investigative procedure fairly well. Quinnie looks at suspects, explores motives, and hunts for evidence. There is equal focus given to the mystery and exploring relationships, both with her mother and the new girl next door. This personalizes the story and gives the reader more to reflect upon. I could see this working well as a book club selection as there is plenty to discuss.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Craft foam menagerie

I signed up to do a craft fair soon and then realized that a large percentage of what I usually take to fairs is Christmas themed. Preparing for this next craft fair has taken an extra dose of creativity. 

Remembering how much I enjoyed making my Harry Potter puppet, I thought a few animal puppets made in the same manner might be a good idea.

Book review - The Genius factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat

Title: How to Capture and Invisible Cat
Author: Paul Tobin
Genre: sci-fi/humor
Similar books: How Lunchbox Jones Saved Me from Robots, Traitors, and Missy the Cruel by Jennifer Brown
                     Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell
Rating:

quirky and entertaining

Summary (provided by publisher): Every Friday the 13th, 6th grade genius and inventor extraordinaire Nate Bannister does three not-so-smart things to keep life interesting. This time, he taught a caterpillar math, mailed a love letter, and super-sized his cat Proton before turning him invisible.
As Nate and his new (well, only) friend Delphine race to stop Proton from crushing everyone and everything in town, they come face-to-face with Sir Jakob Maculte (the twenty-seventh lord of Mayberry Castle and leader of the nefarious Red Death Tea Society). Known for its criminal activity, killer tactics, and impressive tea brewing skills, the Red Death Tea Society will do anything to get in their way.
Nate and Delphine must pull out every mind-blowing gadget, half-perfected invention, and unproven but theoretically sound strategy they've got up their sleeves in order to survive to see Saturday the 14th!
Eisner winner Paul Tobin's extraordinarily madcap middle grade debut features black and white illustrations from film talent Thierry Lafontaine and is the first of five novels in the series.

My opinion: First of all, the plot of this novel is entirely ridiculous. A study in the absurd. What redeems it is the fact that it knows it is absurd. Tobin plays with the plot, escalating the ridiculous to the point that it becomes humorous instead of tiresome and unbelievable. It's almost a spoof while maintaining a (mostly) logical plot. This is not the best book you'll ever read. It relies a little too heavily on coincidence and toilet humor for my taste. Some will find the odd narration style, the unusual phrasing and occasional repetition annoying rather than humorous. Not for everyone but hose who enjoy the quirky and offbeat will likely get a kick out of this one.

More information: How to Capture and Invisible Cat releases March 1.
Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.