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Hey Kiddos! October-December has been one huge rabbit hole for me! ((In a very good way)) I recently started my Graduate program. Having finished my Undergrad this past December, I am well on my way to TEACHING. YAY ME!!! So, in a way I feel as if I have fallen through one reality and landed in another. Now that it is sinking in bit, and I have gotten acclimated to some of the changes in my schedule, I am resuming my bookish habits. This means more posts! For starters, it is Lewis Carroll's birthday! <!--[if gte mso 9]>Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE<![endif]--> To celebrate, I dug up some old posts and also stumbled upon a little gem!
Original Manuscript Alice's Adventures Underground Provided by: The British Library
The British Library’s Online Gallery has archived Carroll’s original manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Underground, as the manuscript was first titled. Alice’s Adventures Underground would go on to become Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, published in 1865. The book catapulted Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's writing career, although he is better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, and he went on to write various woks featuring young Alice. If you wish to revisit my previous posts about Alice, click on the links below:
Hey, Kiddos! Cold season is upon us and The BOOG and I are NOT immune. This is our third day of sniffles so far and it is very taxing to say the least. On the upside, we are both in cuddle-mode, which is always nice. So while we break out the crayons and keep warm under our covers, I thought I would share a little Sesame Street Cheer.
In The Day Snuffy Had the Sniffles, Big Bird is on his way to visit with Mr. Snuffleupagus. Snuffy has a case of the sniffles and, being a good friend, Big Bird is going to pay a visit to his cave to cheer him up.
On his way there, Big Bird is greeted by other concerned Sesame Street friends. Each friend gives Snuffy a gift to help cheer him up. By the end of the trip, Snuffy will be the proud owner of a cookie tin, with a few cookie crumbs, a jar of sardine-and-saurkraut soup (from you know who), a bottle cap collection (again, you can only guess), a few choice books, a box of tissues and a pint of half melted ice cream.
As Big Bird begins to feel a bit embarrassed for having not brought anything to share with Snuffy, the gifts begin to slip!
Snuffy blows his nose, with a hankie the size of a table cloth, and tells Bird that what he really wanted most was a visit from his good old pal Bird.
The End
All's well that ends well for the Sesame Street Gang. See you next time.
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Madeline has stolen our hearts for the past 75 years! 75 years of solid readership! Not bad for a picture book written in 1939.
Madeline’s Rescue was our first introduction to the Madeline Series, written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans. It was published in 1953 and is the second book in the Madeline Series and won the Caldecott Medal for illustration. The familiar story begins once again with the addition of a new character--- Genevieve:
In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. They left the house at half past nine in two straight lines in rain or shine. The smallest one was Madeline. She was not afraid of mice. She loved winter, snow, and ice. To the tiger in the zoo Madeline just said, “Pooh pooh!”… And nobody knew so well how to frighten Miss Clavel--- until the day she slipped and fell.
Madeline’s Rescue reiterates the first few pages included in the introduction to the first book, Madeline (1939), but with an addition of a new epilogue. Madeline finds herself again in need of a rescue, except this time instead of a Doctor, the heroine is a female stray dog.
The new pupil was ever so helpful and clever. The dog loved biscuits, milk, and beef and they named it Genevieve.
She causes Miss Clavel such grief as the girls fight over her, but Genevieve is much loved.
All was well until Lord CuCuface banishes her to the streets!
Madeline jumped on a chair.
“Lord Cucuface,” she cried, “beware!“Miss Genevieve, noblest dog in France, “You shall have your VEN-GE-ANCE!”
They went searching high and low but came home broken-hearted. Again sensing something was not right, Miss Clavel turned on the light and found Genevieve outside.
That evening there was ruckus and a fight as each girl claimed “Geneive is mine tonight!”
The third time that night, after Miss Clavel turned on the light, she found “That suddenly there was enough hound to go all around!”
The End
We have a very dear connection to Madeline and our collection of favorites now includes various titles, a beloved doll and quite a few animated retellings of the books, which we have grown to love so much. It would seem that Madeline was born from Bemelmans’s heart, straight into the hearts of many and many more to come!
In an essay reliving his memories from birth to age six entitled Swan Country, Bemelmans describes events that add a particular candid undertone to the artwork and story behind his creation of Madeline. Bemelmans was born in Austria in 1898 and spent his early days being cared for by a French governess, whom he referred to as Gazelle, his pronunciation of mademoiselle. Bemelmans recalls his father’s departure from his family, as well as the sudden loss of Gazelle. In the photo on the right, he draws a picture of he and Gazelle sitting in a Gazebo covered in vines, much like the "old house in Paris" he describes in his books. He also calls to attention the stories of his mother, who would tell him stories of when she grew up in a convent. It is an interesting and revealing read.
Hey Kiddos! We have a nice little post in store for you today featuring BFFs Woodstock and Snoopy. I don’t know about you guys, but The BOOG and I think Woodstock steals the show! The duo is a force to be reckoned with in The BOOG’s Pick of the Week- It’s a Mystery Charlie Brown.
Originally an animated television which aired on CBS in 1974, It’s a Mystery follows Woodstock and Snoopy as they solve the mystery of the disappearing nest. Snoopy is hot on the trail, interrogating the usual suspects Charlie Brown, Lucy and Linus and a very spry Peppermint Patty.
Broken-hearted, they return to the scene of the crime, Woodstock’s treetop home, and notice footprints leading “The Great Detective and his faithful assistant” to the school. They procure the nest and return it to its rightful branch, where Woodstock settles in for a good night’s sleep… … …
That’s when the real fun begins! The culprit behind the nest napping is none other than SALLY! Sally feels duped when she figures out someone stole “the best exhibit in her entire first grade career.” She demands justice! She demands restitution!
The objective party they find to settle the dispute between Sally and BFFs Woodstock and Snoopy is Lucy, who is happy to provide a ruling for a mere 7 cents of course.
Sally sites “Finders Keepers, losers weepers” as her primary defense but the court finds in favor of …. The bird.
In a last ditch effort to present something in class of the Pavolvian persuasion!
It is not as if you need a reason to enjoy Peanuts all year round, but when the holidays do roll around, it’s always great to tune in to some Charlie Brown goodness.
The Giving Tree celebrates 50 years in publication today, October 7th, 2014. It is among Silverstein's best known classics and has been interpreted a number of ways. Here is my interpretation of The Giving Tree originally posted in 2011. I was introduced to Where the Sidewalk Ends at around the age of 8. It opened up a whole new world of literature for me. Poetry, especially silly poetry, was an outlet into another realm of expression. To tell you the truth I loved Where the Sidewalk Ends so much I had no idea Shel Silverstien wrote anything else. That is, until, while working at a big chain bookstore, I wandered into the children’s section and found a copy of The Giving Tree. I read the whole entire book on the spot and it actually got me all misty eyed.
The Giving Tree is a story about a connection between a little boy and a tree. The tree always grants the boy whatever he wants: branches on which to swing, shade in which to sit, apples to eat, branches with which the boy, eventually a man, builds a home. As the boy grows older he calls for further sacrifice of the tree. The tree, loving the boy very much, gives him anything he asks for. In the ultimate act of altruism, the tree permits the boy to cut her down to build a boat in which he can sail.
The boy leaves the tree, which is now, after all these years, merely a stump, only to return many years later, a very old man.
The tree says, "I have nothing left to give you." To which the boy replies, "I do not need much now, just a quiet place to sit and rest." The tree then says, "Well, an old tree stump is a good place for sitting and resting. Come boy, sit down and rest." The old man sits amiably upon the stump that once gave him great happiness and the tree, once again was content.
The boy may seem a bit selfish, but it is the tree's job to provide him with whatever he needs, isn't it?
I suppose this story speaks to me in a way it hadn’t that day at the bookstore, for I am now a mother to a beautiful little girl, and given the chance, would risk life and limb for her happiness. She in return will always find use for me, even if it’s just for a nice place to sit and rest awhile, to which, I will forever be obliged.
After a few bad apples, I was able to find an animated version of The Giving Tree narrated by Shel Silverstein. Enjoy!
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The theme prevalent in all of Sendak’s work is “how children survive their parents.” Mommy? Is no exception.
You have this ordinary looking little boy who appears to be lost in this haunted mansion, searching for his mommy. In each spread there is spooky monster trying to scare him, along with a depiction of the little boy getting the best of each of them, until the very end when mommy and son are reunited. There is this huge explosion of monsters at the end that pop out at the reader. It’s Marvelous!
Mathew Reinhart must be credited with bringing Sendak's illustrations to life. He is the paper engineering genius behind Mommy?, and other favorites. Reinhart's resume includes work with fellow pop-up artist, and renowned paper engineer, RobertSabuda. The duo created pop-up classics such as The Wonderful Wizard of OZ, Tomie dePaola's Brava Strega Nona!. Here is the original Strega Nona that won Mr. dePaola a Caldecott Honor, posted by yours truly, with some interesting info on the back story involved in its creation.
Visit Barnes & Noble for an exclusive interview with all of the artists, including Mr. Sendak!
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This morning I was inspired by an article in SchoolArts Magazine that connected children’s art projects with literature. No doubt it was its reference to Maurice Sendak that caught my eye.
As a student of teaching, I am currently enrolled in a class that pairs literature with lesson plans and, considering my background in the Arts, I am always interested in using art methodologies wherever possible when creating my lesson plans. This is the sort of thing that makes me love what I do as a future educator and mother. Even in the early stages of literacy, with The Boog, we crafted alongside our favorite picture books. (See our version of George Shrinks below)
Image Source: George Shrinks by William Joyce GooGooGallery
The instructor featured in the article, Silvia Huggler, an art teacher from New York, uses Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are as an illustrative guide; in the process demonstrating the mastery of expression through the elements of art. Students explore artistic freedom in their choices and build a one of a kind unique monster. Organizations of space and color choices are entirely up to their discretion. The instructor merely acts as a guide, giving the students the tools to materialize their interpretations through artistic expression.
Using symbolism and ideas to convey meaning adds a developmental element to the lesson as well, where students can reflect on their own personal experiences in a dynamic way. The added bonus is that they also learn the basic elements of visual art.
The Tale of the Dark Crystal is based on the movie The DarkCrystal (1982) directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz.
The story takes place in a far away time on the Planet of Thra, home to urSkeks, Gelflings and Pod People. (Stay with me, I know it seems a bit confusing) Pretty much there were three races living in harmony, basking in the glow of the Crystal. Every thousand years Thra’s three suns aligned with one another, known as the Great Conjunction.
First page- Chapter One
During one of these Conjuctions, the UrSkeks split into two separate beings: The good and wise urRu and the evil Skeksis. It was the Skeksis who gained control of the Crystal and everything went dark. The Crystal cracked and darkness prevailed for the next 1,000 years.
As legend would have it, a gelfling would fix the Crystal by replacing the one missing shard during the next Great Conjunction, thus defeating the evil Skeksis.
That is when we are introduced to Gelflings Jen and Kira, the hero and heroine of the story.
The illustrated version is no substitute for the film, however, Bruce McNally, who was incidentally the VP of Art and Design for the Jim Henson Company, does the film justice. It is a very general adaptation of the The Dark Crystal film but a very enticing one at that.
Henson’s inspiration for the visual portrayal of his characters emerged from an illustration by Loenard B. Lubin’s 1975 picture book, which was based on Lewis Carroll’s poem The Pig-Tale. One illustration in particular shows a crocodile bathing in a Victorian era bathroom. This image would move on to become Henson’s inspiration behind the villainous Skeksis in The Dark Crystal.
Just some Monday Madness for you today. I know that art purists won’t find this amusing but I love when art is transformed into pop culture. It becomes art with a twist. The latest marriage between art and pop culture, created by artist Rodney Pike, features Mr. Bean.
For those of you who haven’t a clue as to who the Bean is, I will fill you in. Mr Bean is a fictional character, portrayed by actor Rowan Atkinson, made popular by the hit 1991 British series of the same name. There were only 14 actual episodes of Mr Bean and every last one of them the Bean stumbles upon everyday occurrences with the grace of a silent elephant. He is a walking disaster area!
Generally, the Bean rarely speaks, making Atkinson’s brand of comedy all the more funny with his twisted expressions and low grimaces. Since then he has been featured in an animated series and two feature films.
Lately, I have been following him on facebook. If you do not, I encourage you to do so. Here is his youtube channel just in case you need a bit more coercing. He sparks a bit of humor in the most mundane of ways.
“Anthony Browne? Eh, never heard of him.” That was my first thought the first time I laid eyes on this book. The cover caught me by surprise though. I mean, a boy holding a cube that looks like the sky. I would say that’s pretty surreal, wouldn’t you? So I bought it, brought it home and read it. Although the story didn’t really impress me all that much, some of illustrations in here are begging to be blown up and put on a wall.
Browne seems to include a ton of imagery in one illustration. You may see a normal scene, such as the front of a building, but upon further inspection you’ll start to notice something odd in the windows. He is also obsessed with gorillas, so you'll see a gorilla in pretty much every book he has illustrated. This one is without exception.
The story is about two boys, Sam and Jeremy. Sam is minding his own beeswax when along comes Jeremy, a boasting spoiled brat; whom, after bragging, always seems to get his comeuppance. After several boastful episodes, Jeremy gets abducted by pirates, made to walk a plank and even then, while Sam is trying to rescue him from drowning, Jeremy is still bragging!
Browne’s work has been referred to as surrealist, it’s his belief that all children see life through surrealist eyes and because children are seeing the world for the first time, everything is exciting and fresh; taking on new meaning. The story is a bit nonsensical, but so are the illustrations and, I for one, think that’s a good thing! Sometimes reading is more fun that way! Join us at Etsy and FaceBook
Winnie-the-Pooh is part of a collection of stories written by A. A. Milne featuring a boy, Christopher Robin, and his group of animal friends, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Rabbit, Owl, Kanga and Little Roo, and Eeyore. This book has delighted audiences for many generations, so why was it banned?
Since Disney purchased the rights to Milne’s classic Winnie-the-Pooh in the 1960s, many of us grew up watching Winnie-the-Pooh and have witnessed spin offs such as The Tigger Movie, Piglet’s Big Movie (The Boog’s Fave!), and the Heffalump Movie. However, it still receives harsh criticisms.
Like Alice in Wonderland, Winnie-the-Pooh has been criticized for its characterization of talking animals alongside human counterparts. Aside from any controversy, religious or otherwise, it remains a classic in Children’s literature. It speaks to the inner child in all of us.
Pooh was inspired by real life stories that Milne shared with his young son, aptly named Christopher Robin. In fact, much of the book is narrated by Milne and Christopher Robin. What was once simply “Teddy Bear” in 1924’s When We Were Very Young, then Edward Bear, who deciding he would like Christopher Robin to “give him an exciting name all to himself,” became the now infamous Winnie-the-Pooh.
The legacy of Pooh has even created a sort of culture among literature enthusiasts emerging into a material culture referred to as Poohology. It is widely discussed and critiqued for its psychoanalytic properties, much like Where the Wild Things are, because it deals with the inner voice of a child. Poohology was spawned by the development of child analysis in the 1920s and refers to the use of Pooh as a vehicle for psychoanalysis and critical theory. In fact many books lend themselves to psychological discourse, which may lead to critics challenging them in the first place.
Originally banned in china because of the humanistic portrayal of some of the animal characters, namely their being able to talk and more recently challenged in the 1960’s in relation to the drug culture of that time, Carroll’s story of Alice has been met with trepidation. Still, it’s a fine example of fantasy in children’s literature.
Honestly, most of the underlying themes are way above children’s heads in the first place, which is what makes reading Carroll’s work so transformative. It can relate to many age groups, from it’s inception into Disney culture, all the way to the hearts of grownups who have come to rely on the symbolism interwoven within the story. It can be looked at through many lenses, one being a coming of age story in which Alice undergoes immense physical and mental changes, or a reminder of our ever present mortality. Mostly, it is just a story about a little girl conquering a new world.
Nothing against Sir John Tenniel however, an interesting marriage of literature and illustration rests in the hands of Salvador Dali who, in 1969, released 12 illustrations for the Annotated Alice. Digital versions of the images can be viewed online via the William Bennett Gallery.
The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill
Heliogravure with Woodblock
Salvador Dali
1969
It makes for a great modern rendering of a vintage classic!
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Where the Wild Things Are is a story about a child coming to grips with his emotions. Max is truly a terror and is punished for being so. Alone in his room, Max creates an alternate reality complete with tumultuous seas, sharp toothed monstrous Wild Things and deep dark forests. In this reality Max is King and enjoys romping around creating chaos, that is until he craves the comforts of home.
Where the Wild Things Are is hailed as a psychological masterpiece in its delivery of an angry young boy and his outrageous imagination; exploring the realm of dangerous possibilities in the comfort and safety of his own home. It was different than any other picture book written during this time simply because Sendak was concerned with the honest emotional lives of the children he was writing for. Again, much like Silverstein, he was creating a world authenticated by his own interpretations of childhood emotion.
According to the Rolling Stone Magazine (issue #229, 1976), psychologist and writer Bruno Bettelheim warned parents not to purchase Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are because, “… Little Max’s dreamlike foray into the world of monsters would scare children, and that Max’s rebellion against adult authority was psychologically harmful.” It was subsequently banned heavily in the Southern States and numerous libraries nationwide in the first year of its release. This did not stop the book from selling millions of copies and earning Sendak a Caldecott Medal for his work.
Perhaps Sendak’s rebuttle came in the form of his acceptance speech for his 1964 Caldecott Medal, in which he stated:
“ [There are] games children must conjure up to combat an awful fact of childhood: the fact of their vulnerability to fear, anger, hate, frustration--- all the emotions that are an ordinary part of their lives and that they can perceive only as ungovernable and dangerous forces. To master these forces, children turn to fantasy: that imagined world where disturbing emotional solutions are solved to their satisfaction. Through fantasy, Max, the hero of my book, discharges his anger against his mother, and returns to the real world sleepy, hungry and at peace with himself…. It is through fantasy that children achieve catharsis. It is the best means they have for taming Wild Things. It is my involvement with this inescapable fact of childhood --- the awful vulnerability of children and their struggle to make themselves King of all Wild Things--- That gives my work whatever truth and passion it may have.”
Sendak’s creative visions, truth and passion have changed the picturebook world forever. It is still a much beloved tale enjoyed by many children and, because of it's sincerity, remains as relevant in our contemporary world of today as it was when it was first published. I believe it will remain so indefinitely.
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Many of Silverstein’s books have been banned quite frequently. Along with A Light in the Attic, number 51 on the American Library Association’s list of 100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999, are two other Silverstein classics, The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends. These are books most of us are familiar with and yet they were all challenged at one time or another because of controversy surrounding some of their content. So why has Silverstein’s work been challenged so often?
The power of children’s literature for kids is that it is regarded as a safe place to venture out and discover more about themselves. That being said, parents and teachers do have the right to protect children from outside influences that they deem inappropriate. I am being completely honest in saying that some of the subject matter in Silverstein’s work includes thoughts about death and some mention of supernatural themes.
Granted, Silverstein has a very dry and somewhat morbid view of childhood, this happens to be what I like most about his illustrations and poems. He writes unabashedly about childhood outside of the realm of possibility; trying to figure his way around the question “What if?” His work is whimsical, humorous and unapologetically humanizing. He persuades his readers to open themselves up to the dubiousness of reality and what is considered strange and unusual. He uses familiar settings and typical characters children can relate to in order to transition children from the realistic world, to the world he has created. Again, it is his perspective and his truth about the world that makes his work so vivid and authentic.
All of this may sound romantic, but it is a formula for successful children’s literature that makes his work so profound. He has sold millions of copies of his work and is revered by many to be one of the most prolific children’s book authors of his time.
Choose to read him or choose to shun his work. That is up to a matter of individual preference. I adore his work and choose to share it with those who do as well.
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It’s Banned Books Week this week, all the way through September 27th. Libraries, bookstores, and classrooms around the country celebrate the freedom to read through elaborate displays and fun events. Books that have been challenged or banned both in the U.S and around the world will receive recognition this week.
So what exactly is a banned book?
They are books where access has been removed from libraries, bookstores, or the classrooms due to controversy surrounding their content.
Why should we care?
Book banning and censorship is still prevalent in parts of the United States, as well as around the world. It is important to get the word out and create awareness because people should have the freedom to choose or express their opinions, even if those opinions are not shared by others. They should have the freedom to read!
So in honor of Banned Book Week I will be showcasing some of my favorite banned books this week.
Thanks for reading along and check back often to view some of my favorite banned books! To find more information about banned books week visit the American Library Association at ala.org or the Banned Books Week website, bannedbooksweek.org.
Hey Kiddos! The Boog and I are up to our ears in nature books and I thought I would share one of her Faves. I have posted on this book before. It's always a big hit with the kids, especially since it is sung instead of read. My last post only touched on the book briefly and there was some interest as to the lyrics and music by a few readers. It always makes me smile to know that my readers have a connection with the material I post. That being said, I would like to share a bit more than just the cover. The pictures are double spreads so I decided to take pictures instead of scan them. Musical notations included in the closing photo.
Enjoy!
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National Geographic By Ronald M. Fisher Photographs by Gordon W. Gahan Illustrations by Tony Chen 1975
The Boog loves BUGS! We have an extensive library on the subjects of bugs/insects/nature. Natural Science has encompassed our daily lives since she was about 4 years old. This is probably very common in little ones, as they have such healthy appetites for knowledge. What she loves more than anything though are realistic picture books. Informational picture books are at the heart of our collection right now. Stories where children interact with other children are especially gobbled up with enthusiasm.
This book in particular has the best of both worlds. We get to follow young Harley and Joan on a forest adventure.
Cricket Frog
Larva of Rusty Mud Salamander
Inspecting a dead log in the forest
"A dead log in the forest is like an apartment house. Creatures of all kinds move in. Some live under it. Some live in it. Some dig tunnels in the ground below it... In many years the log will be gone. The plants and animals that feed on the log help to change it into soil."
Earth Worms and a Slug
"Some eggs look like little balls of glass. Slugs and snails lay eggs like these."
"A shiny black beetle crawls on Harley's knee. Next to it is a millipede with many legs. It pulls in it's legs and curls up like a wheel."
"The land snail lives in its shell. Inside, it looks like a slug."
Scarlet King Snake
"Joan has found a scarlet king snake on the forest floor. She knows its not poisonous. So she picks it up. Its skin feels smooth and dry. The snake wiggles and tries to get away. The king snake looks like a poisonous snake, called the coral snake. Never pick up any snake, unless an adult tells you it is not poisonous!"
"Joan and Harley find a piece of skin a snake has left behind."
"Joan stops and feels the rough bark of a pine tree. When the bark is rough, a corn snake can climb a tree without slipping."
"Joan and Harley dig up a young tree. They carry it to a sunny spot. They replant it so it will have room to grow."
"The children find some leafy ferns growing in shady parts of the forest. Poison Ivy can grow in shady spots too. The children are careful not to touch it. The oil in the plant can give them a very bad rash and blisters."
Poison Ivy
Pine seedling
When its time to go home, Joan and Harley have learned that there are many wonderful things to discover in the forest!
The endpapers in this book are amazingly illustrated by Tony Chen. Have a look!
Thanks for spending your Sunday with us! See you next time!
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a gang of anthropomorphic turtles, named after Renaissance artists, and well trained in the art of Ninjutsu, which they learned from their anthropomorphic rat sensei Splinter. They live in the sewers of New York, kick major butt, and enjoy eating Pizza while defending the citizens of New York from evil overlords Krang and Shredder. There were many hours of my youth spent sitting in front of the tube, eating sugar clumps in milk, watching Saturday morning cartoons. Not very productive, not to mention probably not so healthy, but that was the 80s world I grew up in. Things are much different these days…. But I still have a love for the turtles.
That is why, as of late, I have been trolling all of ebay and etsy, picking things up here and there. Turtle lunch boxes, vhs, action figures and trapper keepers. Some of them are actually a decent price, and some are severely over priced. (Some totally rad items listed below.)
The other day I picked up a TMNT vhs tape circa 1988. I know I usually post about books and such, but today I have turtle fever. I have, for your viewing pleasure, compiled a little taste of TMNT Awesomeness: Case of the Killer Pizzas, snapped from the comforts of my living room.
So, these bad dudes take it upon themselves to poison the Turtles with what appear to be tiny little meatballs, only they happen to house little tiny creatures inside. You with me so far?
Now, in order to entice the Turtles to eat the imposter meatballs, Krang assigns Shredder and Baxter with the task of enticing them with a Free Pizza Bakeoff. Of course they can’t resist and find themselves face to face with the Shredder.
He gets a little pie in the eye while in the meantime the Turtles gift their pizza to a Miss April O’neil- Reporter extraordinaire, and Irma. The other was accidentally intercepted by the pizza boy who delivers it to a couple of snot nosed kids.
The creatures hatch in the microwave while the pizza is being reheated. (Again, it is the 80’s so it appears that reheating pizza in the microwave was not only acceptable, but common practice.)
The Turtles chase these creatures into the sewer, intercept the remote from evil doers Shredder and Baxter, and arrive home in time to enjoy some pizza that may or may not have been laced with the leftover meatballs containing the horrid meatball creatures.
Everyone has a laugh. The End.
On a side note, I always wanted to be an April. It's like the classic Betty vs. Veronica.... I am in reality an Irma. See Irma, looking around the corner there? That's me, well, minus the yearning for romance and creepy glare.
Now here are those "totally rad" items I promised.
“This Book is all about you. We wrote it because we thought you’d like to know exactly where you came from, and how it all happened.”
A good old fashioned birds and bees book. I picked this up because it looked familiar to me, as I witnessed the animated version (here) of the book on vhs at the ripe age of 8. My sister and I would giggle during the bath tub scene and share crooked glances at one another during some of the more preposterous parts. Some of the key elements in the book were changed around a bit for the animated version, which Howie Mandel narrated.
As you can see, this copy has seen better days. I was hoping to hang on to it to bestow upon my little one someday since it made such an impact on me and my sister. I wonder if she would have a giggle or two herself.
This book is one of a kind, as far as I can tell. I am sure there are others that might be more accurate in their portrayal of human anatomy, but this is the only one I came across that brings a light hearted charm to depicting the physical differences between men and women.
In the book you will find cartoon versions of mom and dad in their birthday suits, slang versions for different body parts, portrayals of the reproductive organs and gestation period, as well as homage to breast feeding.
My favorite illustrations depict the gestation period from conception to birth.
“There. Now you know where you came from. You may think it sounds like a lot of hard work for such a little person. But there’s a very good reason why your mother and father went through it all. And if you want to know what that reason is, just take a look in the mirror.”
So I have been away doing shcoolish things as of late. I am working my way towards a degree and The Boog and I have been paving the way towards the start of first grade. Although I do updates on my Facebook Page Books We Grew Up With, I came to the sad realization that my last posting on the bloggedy blog was in January. I aim to remedy that with an impromptu post and the promise to return more frequently. The Boog's reading skills and taste in books have changed substantially over the last half of this year and I look forward to sharing some of our new found favorites along with some classic standbys.
With that I leave with this poem I recently stumbled upon from Roald Dahl's version of Little Red Riding Hood. The poem can be found in his ghastly collection of classics "Revolting Rhymes."
The best Concept books ever are written and illustrated by Richard Scarry. His Busytown series is amazing for both knowledge and comprehension. The Busytown board game takes all of those concepts and puts them into one clever Eye Found It! game. While playing this game you’re working on numerical understanding, vocabulary and deductive reasoning skills (since part of the game is finding objects hidden within the board). The game Clue is much the same and offers the same benefit, but I doubt it would keep my 6 year old’s attention; nor did Candy Land for that matter. This game, on the other hand, kept her engaged for quite a bit.
The object of the game is to get your pieces to the end of the board before the pigs eat all the food at the picnic. You spin the spinner and can advance in one of two ways. You can move forward the numerical amount listed, or, if you land on the goldbug symbol, you can draw up a card. The card has an object that you must find in a timely fashion, allotted by a sand timer. Then you may advance the numerical value set forth by however many objects you are able to find within the board. If you spin a pig symbol, the pigs get to eat one of the food items at the picnic. Those are the rules, but The Boog and I always see room for improvement and almost always will end up playing a second time making the rules up as we go along. Sometimes the Hubby will get in on the Busytown madness and voila!, family time is created.
I have written about Richard Scarry quite extensively in the past (here) and I am quite a fan. Not too long ago I sold a Look and Learn Boxed set (here) to pay for The Boog’s summer camp program a couple years back. Although I miss it immensely, and hope it found a great home, I do have many of his titles that remain in print. They seem to have redesigned some of the images and changed a few characters, but The Boog is none the wiser. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing, but Richard Scarry remains one my favorite illustrators to date.
P.S You will need a lot of floor space since this game is set up like a puzzle of sorts and is a bit on the loooooong side. :)
Edward St. John Gorey (February 22, 1925 – April 15, 2000) was an American writer and artist noted for his illustrated books. Today would have been his 88th birthday so I thought I would share a post from a while back featuring his Gashlycrumb Tinies. (my most fave of all that is Gorey)
Enjoy!
I have fond memories of this book but for some reason I was reluctant to make a post about it. Maybe because it is so, um, well, it’s so, Gorey. (Pun definitely intended) It’s one of those guilty pleasure books. You know the kind, the sort of book that you don’t really like to admit liking unless you find someone who admits they like it first. For me Edward Gorey books fall under that category simply because they are a bit macabre and also because I have come to realize you either get his work or you don’t. It’s hard to explain his books, this one in particular, to a person who has never picked one up but if you had to the explanation would go something like this:
“In The Gashlycrumb Tinies, Gorey tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) ………….. and their very untimely, sometimes ghastly, surprisingly awful deaths ….. oh, and did I mention the book is told in rhyming couplets?”
The response to this explanation may be a look of bewilderment or amazement. Granted The Gashlycrumb Tinies is not a conventional alphabet book but it delivers a hilarious journey into the macabre while at least delivering some educational significance. One can see the paradox of Gorey’s work as being intriguing yet morose, hence the category “guilty pleasure”. Should you like seeing illustrations of children in peril? Probably not, but Gorey brings a whimsy to it that makes it palatable. Maybe it’s the Edwardian feel of the text and the dark crosshatch renderings of the hapless brood, whatever it is, I am a fan, and if you’re not faint of heart, perhaps you will be too.
Edward St. John Gorey (February 22, 1925 – April 15, 2000) was an American writer and artist noted for his illustrated books. Today would have been his 88th birthday so I thought I would share a post from a while back featuring his Gashlycrumb Tinies. (my most fave of all that is Gorey)
Enjoy!
I have fond memories of this book but for some reason I was reluctant to make a post about it. Maybe because it is so, um, well, it’s so, Gorey. (Pun definitely intended) It’s one of those guilty pleasure books. You know the kind, the sort of book that you don’t really like to admit liking unless you find someone who admits they like it first. For me Edward Gorey books fall under that category simply because they are a bit macabre and also because I have come to realize you either get his work or you don’t. It’s hard to explain his books, this one in particular, to a person who has never picked one up but if you had to the explanation would go something like this:
“In The Gashlycrumb Tinies, Gorey tells the tale of 26 children (each representing a letter of the alphabet) ………….. and their very untimely, sometimes ghastly, surprisingly awful deaths ….. oh, and did I mention the book is told in rhyming couplets?”
The response to this explanation may be a look of bewilderment or amazement. Granted The Gashlycrumb Tinies is not a conventional alphabet book but it delivers a hilarious journey into the macabre while at least delivering some educational significance. One can see the paradox of Gorey’s work as being intriguing yet morose, hence the category “guilty pleasure”. Should you like seeing illustrations of children in peril? Probably not, but Gorey brings a whimsy to it that makes it palatable. Maybe it’s the Edwardian feel of the text and the dark crosshatch renderings of the hapless brood, whatever it is, I am a fan, and if you’re not faint of heart, perhaps you will be too.
Happy Day Kiddos! I don't know how most of you are feeling this Holiday Season. I have heard mixed reviews about the whole Octonovemcember thing. Plenty of people were complaining about how the push for the holidays started way too early. I do know that our family is getting into the holiday spirit and have since The Boog's 5th birthday in October. Favorite Ornaments have made their way on to the tree and The Boog and I have made paper chains to cover our entire living room! Another holiday staple of ours, and I'm sure many will agree, is Charlie Brown. I always buy a Peanuts book whenever I see one. This one, in particular, has been in my collection for a few years now and I have just never gotten around to posting about it.
Christmas is....
Hearing about those partridges and pear trees until you're ready to lose your mind.
Going over the hills and through the woods to grandmother's house
....except she's moved to an apartment.
When people say nice things to you who otherwise don't even know you're alive.
When you hug your little brother.
Another box of candied fruit from your Aunt Agnes in California.
Getting all those cards from people you never sent any to.
Losing your mother downtown in a crowded store.
Wishing you had gotten this stupid present gift wrapped.
A box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family.
Suggesting we decorate the tree with strings of popcorn and cranberries like in the old days, but we never do it.
Waiting for the grown ups to finish eating so we can open the presents.
There are a few people I know who are big fans of A Charlie Brown's Christmas so I decided to knit each of them a very special ornament.....
"It just needs a little love...."
This is a picture of the one I made for our tree. One down 3 more to go!
Browne seems to include a ton of imagery in one illustration. You may see a normal scene, such as the front of a building, but upon further inspection you’ll start to notice something odd in the windows. He is also obsessed with gorillas, so you'll see a gorilla in pretty much every book he has illustrated. This one is without exception.
The story is about two boys, Sam and Jeremy. Sam is minding his own beeswax when along comes Jeremy, a boasting spoiled brat; whom, after bragging, always seems to get his comeuppance. After several boastful episodes, Jeremy gets abducted by pirates, made to walk a plank and even then, while Sam is trying to rescue him from drowning, Jeremy is still bragging!
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The Gashlycrumb Tinies: or, After the Outing 
