Tinseland shares a similar premise with How the Grinch Stole Christmas but it’s not nearly as clever. When I read the epilogue to Tinseland, I literally groaned. It restated the extremely obvious message of the book which is basically that everyone should love everyone and have Christmas joy and peace. The more subtle message of the book is … [Read more...] about Tinseland by Micah K Hart
Children
How Funny Was It?
Having conversations with children is one of the best aspects of this job. The following conversation is a terrific example of why this is so. A child I recognized as one I had helped select picture books about police officers was back again, so I asked him how he liked the books. Referring to Sherman Crunchley, he said, and I quote, … [Read more...] about How Funny Was It?
Edgar and Ellen: Rare Beasts
If you are a fan of the Adams Family, then you may appreciate the darker humor of this series of books by Charles Ogden. The twins, Edgar and Ellen, are deplorable in their behavior and devise naughty schemes with which to trouble their neighbors. In Rare Beasts, the twins decide to steal the neighborhood pets and, with the help of glue, paint, and other supplies, turn the pets … [Read more...] about Edgar and Ellen: Rare Beasts
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key is about an elementary school student with attention-deficit disorder. Joey tries very, very hard to follow the rules, but between his disorder and his vivid imagination, he finds staying out of trouble to be quite difficult (often with humorous results). The author of the Joey Pigza books, Jack Gantos, does a phenomenal job of reaching into Joey's … [Read more...] about Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Much Ado About Shakespeare
Perhaps it’s the spring weather that has sprouted the Shakespeare phenomenon at my house, or perhaps it is mere coincidence, but Shakespeare is everywhere I turn lately. First a friend of mine invited me to see a Shakespeare play at the Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta. Then, my sixth grade son began spouting lines from the oft-quoted balcony scene in … [Read more...] about Much Ado About Shakespeare