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At approximately 9:22 EST on Friday, July 27th I sent the following Tweet to the interwebs:

These are the kinds of serious thoughts that course through my brain on a given morning.  I might hear a One Direction song (yes, I’m a 34-year-old mother, what of it?) and think “That song could be a lot better if it just had some children’s authors involved.”

So I tweeted.  And to my infinite joy the tweets blossomed and bloomed to the point where we now have a serious task before us, people.  Namely, name this boy band.

The members would include Tom Angleberger (the shy one), Mac Barnett (the dreamy one – evidence here), Michael Buckley (the big brother), Tony DiTerlizzi (the one who understands you), Jarrett Krosoczka (the street smart one), and Dan Santat (the goofy one <— Jarrett’s suggestion).

Names that have been bandied about include (but are not limited to): D-Zine, Vizual Literacy, Reluctant Readerz, 32Pagez (my personal favorite), The Endpaperz, The Krosoczka Effect, the Origami Lunch Ladies and their Sidekick Dan, The Spine Tinglers, Cloth Overboardz, The Flappet Jacks (but only if it’s a jam band).  Surely there are more named to be had here.  Let’s have a redo of the time I asked you for good roller derby names.  Boy band names . . . GO!

After all, where were you the last time you heard the pop hits:

• U Don’t Need a Newbery (To Know I Luv U) – Suggested by T.S. Ferguson

• Rad Bladz

• Advance Praise

• Blurb Me – All three suggested by Alison Fargis

• OH NO! I did it again - Suggested by Mike Boldt

• Edit Me Badd – Suggested by Cece Bell
  

These would all be from the album “Wordz+Picturez” (as suggested by Jarrett).

And yes, I’ll talk about the opening ceremonies at the Olympics yesterday soon.  I just need to process it is all.  So many Mary Poppins . . . . so many . . . .

#87 The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger (2010)
22 points

On the one hand, it’s a gimmick. On the other hand, it’s a hilarious gimmick that gets middle school boys and their insecurities down pat. That said, it’s accessible and well-written. You can’t get much better than that. - Melissa Fox

At last!  The appearance of a book that has come out recently enough that I had a chance to review it myself!

Here’s the plot description from my own review: “Tommy comes right out with his dilemma on page one. ‘The big question: Is Origami Yoda real? . . . It’s REALLY important for me to figure out if he’s real. Because I’ve got to decide whether to take his advice or not, and if I make the wrong choice, I’m doomed!’ It’s strange to think that Tommy would be this torn up over an origami finger puppet belonging to the school’s biggest dork. But then he starts recounting for us the wonders of Origami Yoda’s advice. It may not always be spot on, but it’s certainly heads and tales more intelligent than Dwight, the boy who created the puppet and who voices him (poorly). Example: How do you get out of a potentially embarrassing situation when you’re in the bathroom and you spill water on your pants so that it looks like you peed yourself? Origami Yoda says: ‘All of pants, you must wet.’ See? Strangely good advice. Of course, then Tommy starts asking Origami about Sara, the girl he likes, and the answer he receives leaves him conflicted. Believe the talking folded paper or consider it a hoax and play it safe? The book is filled with little drawings and sidenotes as different classmates weigh in on the Origami Yoda conundrum.”

Here we have yet another Abrams surprise hit.  Angleberger had been writing middle grade novels for years prior to Yoda’s success but it was always under his pseudonym Sam Riddleberger.  With Yoda he was able to break out of his confining nom de plume and take advantage of the near universal love of Star Wars we all share (the real Star Wars, not The Clone Wars or the faux prequels, thank you very much).  Thanks in part to its brilliant cover, in part to its post-Wimpy Kid era interiors, and the fact that Angleberger knows how to put pen to paper, the book has been popular ever since.  There was the sequel starring Darth Paper and another that will be out this fall (I believe) involving a Wookie-related cootie catcher.  And yes.  Mr. Angleberger does one helluva good wookie call when asked.

For extras, I’m just including my review’s previous links wholesale!

Other Blog Reviews:

• books4yourkids.com
• emilyreads
• 100 Scope Notes
• Book Nook Club
• The Boy Reader
• Shelf Elf
• BookMoot
• 7 Comments on Top 100 Children’s Novels #87: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, last added: 5/17/2012