Title: The Infamous Ratsos
Author: Kara LaReau
Genre: beginning reader
Similar books: Dexter the Tough by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Weekends With Max and His Dad by Linda Urba
Rating:
 |
| pretty cute |
Summary(provided by publisher): Louie and Ralphie Ratso are no softies! Readers are sure to chuckle as the determined Ratso brothers’ plans to act tough go hilariously awry.
Louie and Ralphie Ratso’s dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they’re going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What’ll Big Lou do when he finds out they’ve been acting like softies all over the Big City? Perfect for emerging and reluctant readers, this clever and surprisingly warmhearted chapter book shows that being tough all the time can be really tough.
My Opinion: Firstly, this is a solid choice for kids beginning to read chapter books. The characters are likeable and have a basic level of complexity. Their aim is one that kids will relate to: to seem tough and gain their father's acceptance. The resolution is more emotionally complex but stated clearly enough to guarantee understanding. It works well enough on this level. I could also imagine using this book with older kids as a simple way to explore characterization. The Ratsos see themselves as tough, as bad guys, but their efforts always work out to be positive. Their actions, while intended to be mean on the surface, always end up helping those they wanted to hurt, implying that they meant to be kind all along, revealing their true character. This interpretation may be a bit of a stretch but as a simple example, I think it works.
More Information: The Infamous Ratsos releases August 2.
Advance reader copy provided by NetGalley.
I've noted before how the characters in teen novels tend to have certain hobbies. They are often talented musicians and artists with a penchant for Converse shoes. Another character type that occurs far more often in novels than in reality is twins. A high percentage of novels have twins or other multiples involved in some way: the protagonist's siblings, friends, neighbors. Fictional worlds are overrun with multiples. Here are six books published in the last six months that include twins or other multiples.
6 new books that include twins:
1. Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den by Aimee Carter
2. Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate
3. Dreaming of Antigone by Robin Bridges
4. Tripping Back Blue by Kara Storti
5. True Born by L E Sterling
6. Gemini by Sonja Mukherjee
50 American Heroes Every Kids Should Meet by Dennis Denenberg and Lorraine Roscoe
This book has a few really strong points.
1. Brevity. The profiles are brief, no more than 2-3 pages apiece. Just a quick introduction to who the hero is/was and the heroic thing they did/are doing.
2. Variety. The heroes included span a variety of time periods and types: politicians, athletes, musicians, entrepreneurs, philanthropists.
3. Resources. Not only is the reader introduced to each hero, each section has recommended reading. Biographies, websites, and ways to get involved.
Those things combined create a book that could serve a number of purposes and reach a wide variety of audiences.
50 American Heroes Every Kids Should Meet releases September 1.
Title: Paths and Portals
Author: Gene Luen Yang and Mike Holmes
Genre: sci-fi/graphic novel
Similar books: Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks
Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker
Rating:
 |
| A solid second offering |
Summary(provided by publisher): There's something
lurking beneath the surface of Stately Academy—literally. In a secret
underground classroom Hopper, Eni, and Josh discover that the campus was
once home to the Bee School, an institute where teachers, students, and
robots worked together to unravel the mysteries of coding. Hopper and
her friends are eager to follow in this tradition and become top-rate
coders. But why are Principal Dean and the rugby team suddenly so
interested in their extracurricular activities?
From graphic novel
superstar (and high school computer programming teacher) Gene Luen Yang
comes the second volume of Secret Coders, a wildly entertaining new
series that combines logic puzzles and basic programming instruction
with a page-turning mystery plot!
My opinion: These books are a great way to teach kids the basic skills and philosophies associated with computer programming. Each program the characters learn builds on the skills they've learned previously. With each new idea, there is space left for the reader to work out a programming solution to a new problem.
And it's not just instruction. There is a larger plot, a purpose for the programming the characters are learning, as well as sub-plots related to character development. The art is eye-catching.
My only complaint is that each book ends with an unsolved programming challenge. If you read these books as they are published, that means there are six months or more between writing a program and seeing the author-provided solution. This also means that when I started reading this volume, I was somewhat lost for the first few pages, not having access to the first book to reference the program in question.
More information: Paths and Portals releases August 30.
See my review of the first Secret Coders book here.
Advance reader copy provided by NetGalley.
Today's craft is one I've actually done before. Previously, I'd decorated some baby food jars with plastic animals and paint and sold them at craft fairs. For myself, I had something a little different in mind. I've had some little superhero figures around for a while with a vague plan to use them in some sort of craft, especially since I had duplicates of Hawkman and Daredevil. When I found myself in possession of an empty jelly jar I knew right away what to do with it. My new Hawkman jar now holds flash-drives.
Title: Tales From the Haunted Mansion: The Fearsome Foursome
Author: John Espisito
Genre: horror
Similar books: A Dog's Breakfast by Annie Graves
The Doll Graveyard by Lois Ruby
Rating:
 |
| not particularly scary |
Summary(provided by publisher): Welcome, foolish mortals, to Disney Press' spookiest chapter book series yet: Tales from the Haunted Mansion! Based on the attractions from the Disney Parks, each new book tells the story of one of the Haunted Mansion's 999 ghosts. With eerie illustrations throughout and a beautiful three-piece cloth cover, the books are designed to look like they came straight from the library in the Haunted Mansion.
Tales from the Haunted Mansion is a fun, spooky ride, just like the attraction from the Disney Parks. And if readers are familiar with the ride, they'll see elements of it throughout the entire story, from items straight of the Mansion (are those pictures stretching?) to lyrics from the narration that is heard in each Doom Buggy.
In this bone-chilling book, you will hear the terrifying tales of the Fearsome Foursome--four kids who look to out-scare each other. But just wait until they hear my spooky stories. Who am I? I am Amicus Arcane, your librarian and host. Your Ghost Host. So read on... if you dare!
My opinion: My first reaction to this book is mild boredom. It's neither scary nor surprising. There's an emotional distance throughout that keeps the reader from really caring about the plot. Without jump scares or strong sense of atmosphere we really have to care about the characters and their welfare for monsters to be truly scary. The emotional distance is not helped by narrative asides that pull us out of the moment every few pages. These were meant to add to the spooky atmosphere. Mostly I found them annoying. Add in a style that consistently tells more than it shows. True fans of horror needn't bother with this one.
Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley.
Too Many Moose by Lisa M. Bakos
Normally I'm not a fan of rhyming picture books. I generally find them tiresome, the effort to maintain the rhyme obvious. This book not only rhymes, it is alliterative. Yet the writing is nearly effortless. IT reads well and is funny to boot. Not only that but the illustrations are varied and dynamic, entertaining in their own right. Kids of all ages will enjoy this book at different levels and it is a great example of a number of literary elements so it would work well in and English classroom too.
