Since becoming literate, our eldest has enthusiastically joined in on the practice of spelling things she doesn't want her little brother to overhear. The other day in the car she asked us, "Can we go to the m-a-u-l?"
Luckily we were only gobsmacked for a minute before figuring it out. "No. And 'mall' is spelled m-a-l-l."
Too many monster stories on the brain, I guess.
In other news, do you remember the Heck series, by Dale E. Basye? Well the fourth book, Fibble: The Fourth Circle of Heck, is due to come out on May 24! That's mere days away! And, well...it was on the shelf when we were at the bookstore yesterday, so you may not even have to wait those few days. The argument over who gets to read it first at our house will probably last until at least the 24th, though.
Last but not least, here's a bashful beast to maul you with cuteness:
Blimpo: The Third Circle of Heck
Written by Dale E. Basye
Illustrations by Bob Dob
Random House Children's Books, 2010
ISBN: 978-0-375-95676-8
"I'm going to write the Heck review tonight."
That's what I've been saying for the past several weeks to my dear wife, whose eyes can take no more rolling. And just for the record, I've written this review 5 times on 4 different machines. Every time I finish, I walk away knowing that it did not do justice to the level of awesomeness that Dale E. Basye has acheieve with his third installment in the Heck series.
Today I'm pleased to inform you that I'm not going to stop writing until it's done. In fact, I'm going to blab on and on until I've said everything I can possibly say about the book, and then maybe throw in a recipe for good measure.
You may remember Dale E. Basye from the incredibly hilarious interview he did with us earlier this year. Or perhaps you recall us raving about his very funny books, Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go, and Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck. Hopefully you've followed our advice and checked them out!
Now in honour of Rapacia's paperback release, he's giving away three autographed sets of the books in a contest. Check out the Where The Bad Kids Go blog for details and your chance to win!
Also, keep your eye out for Blimpo: The Third Circle of Heck, which is due out next month!
(In unrelated news, I really am going to make a dent in the KinderScares to-be-read mountain in the next week - expect many a post. More if you send coffee and/or babysitters. I've been busy writing everything in the world EXCEPT reviews, but I'll get back to work...soon)
S.
How do you know when you’re on the road to a bizarre and hilarious interview experience? Well, when your interviewee (in our case today one Dale E. Basye) starts matters off like this, it’s a big clue:
Dale E Basye: Just so you know, I don't answer any personal questions or questions regarding my books, writing (in general), world events, history, new math, new Coke, or the New Deal. Anything else is fair game though.
And if your mental reaction when you read those words goes something like this: Huh. Well, two can play at this game, sir. Well, then it’s practically guaranteed:
KinderScares: Luckily for you we don’t like math, prefer Pepsi to Coke, have no interest in Depression-era economics, and pretty much only mention books or writing in the most roundabout of ways. How about pancakes? Do you answer questions about pancakes? There we go, our first question:
Rapacia: The Second Circle Of Heck
Written by: Dale E. Basye
Illustrations by: Bob Dob
Random House, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-375-84077-7
We reviewed Heck: Where The Bad Kids Go (go read the review if you’re new to the Heck series!) a couple months ago when we were just getting this blog up and running. After generally raving about it, we mentioned that we couldn't wait to read the next book. We wanted it really badly. And immediately! We wanted it badly enough to pay for it in hardcover (I know...who does that?). And then bring it home and fight over it. And then complain about having to wait for the third book, which we also want NOW.
We’d like to believe it was the subject matter rubbing off on us, because we’re not usually like that (or so we’d have you believe...). Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck is all about greed! Milton has escaped Heck and made it back to ‘the Stage’ (otherwise known as the land of the living). Left behind, his sister Marlo takes the blame and ends up a little deeper in Heck than she was before - in Rapacia.
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I just got Fibble in the mail!! Can't wait to read it.