By: David Elzey,
on 3/14/2011
by David Ezra Stein Candlewick Press 2010 Bedtime, and little Chicken just can't seem to fall asleep... Indeed, just as Papa begins a bedtime fairy tale Chicken jumps up and interrupts. She warns Hansel and Gretel away from the witch, Red away from the Wolf, and tell Chicken Little that the sky is really just an acorn. Finally Papa gets the idea to have Chicken read him a bedtime story
By: David Elzey,
on 3/3/2011
by Barbara Kerley illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham In an everything-old-is-new-again twist we get a biographical picture book portrait of Samuel Langhorne Clemens from a fresh pair of eyes... his daughter's. "According to Susy, people were... well, just plain wrong about her papa." And so begins both the story of and about Mark Twain's oldest daughter's attempt to capture the man she
By: David Elzey,
on 2/28/2011
A Book of Reversible Poems by Marylin Singer illustrated by Josee Masse Dutton / Penguin 2010 Alas, I do Singer an injustice with this review (depending on your point of view). There are two sides to every story~ Whether given or received, an apple can mean life or death as far as Snow White is concerned. & To a hungry Wolf, and Little Red in the woods, a treat means different things.
By: David Elzey,
on 2/25/2011
by Judith Viorst illustrations by Lane Smith Atheneum 2010 Lulu is the sort of girl who won't take no for an answer when she demands a dinosaur for her birthday so she goes out to find one on her her own. Hilarity Mild amusement ensues, with a whiff of forced nostalgia. Lulu, an only child, is spoiled to the point that she has never heard the word 'no' before. So when she announces for
By: David Elzey,
on 2/23/2011
by Adam Gidwitz Dutton / Penguin 2010 An award-worthy collection of Grimm tales retold as a continuous narrative about the adventures of Hansel and Gretel. Bloody. Violent. Just the way Grimm's tales ought to be. In the Kingdom of Grimm there lived two children named Hansel and Gretel. What we are told of their story in "classic" editions of the stories is that they found a house made
By: David Elzey,
on 2/15/2011
Pick Any Path. 3,856 Possibilities by Jason Shiga Amulet / Abrams 2010 2010 Cybils Winner for Middle Grade Graphic Novels It seems like such a small decision – chocolate or vanilla ice cream? – but whichever one the reader chooses for Jimmy will send them down one of 3,856 paths. Some paths lead to death and the end of the world as we know it, some lead to a parallel dimension, some
By: David Elzey,
on 2/4/2011
by Kyo Maclear illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault Kids Can Press 2010 Neither Fork nor Spoon, can the lonely Spork find acceptance in the world? Poor Spork. A misfit in the cutlery tray, a one-of-a-kind in a world of deeply polar divisions. In a place were different kitchen utensils can live in harmony in the drawer this misfit simply doesn't fit in. In an effort to fit in, to
By: David Elzey,
on 1/31/2011
by Peter Brown Little, Brown & Co. 2010 A bear finds a boy and brings him home, only to discover the truth in the book's title. In the storytelling industry (publishing, theatre, film) there is an undue amount of emphasis placed in promoting the idea of the "high concept" story. The high concept is easily grasped in under 25 words (under 10 if you're really good) that is open to quite a
By: David Elzey,
on 1/20/2011
Mirror Seven Footer Press 2003 Shadow Chronicle Books 2010 A pair of wordless picture books with similar themes from an artist I like to think of as the Master of the Gutter. That's a good thing, I'll explain. In Mirror, a sullen girl notices the mirror she is slumped near and makes a series of poses, modifying and monitoring her image. Slowly she begins to dance with her
By: David Elzey,
on 12/8/2010
by Don Calame Candlewick Press 2010 (This review is being cross-posted at Guys Lit Wire today, for those of you keeping score at home.) There is no phrase that jolts my skeptical meter into the red faster than "laugh-out-loud funny." When a movie is described this way its almost guaranteed not to make me laugh, but it's worse when this line is used in books because it's so rare that I laugh
By: David Elzey,
on 11/16/2010
A Year of Haiku for Boys written by Bob Raczka drawings by Peter H. Reynolds Houghton Mifflin 2010 Haiku for and about boys, organized by seasons, full of the sort of things boys do. But not for haiku purists or people who want boys to really understand what haiku are really about. Full of observations of what it means to be a boy, full of mischief and the occasional moment of tenderness,
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 10/27/2010
Repaneled is a newish blog that recreates classic comics panels in new art styles. Up today:
Anthony Vukojevich’s reimagination of a key panel from Gabrielle Bell’s San Diego ComicCon Comicumentary
BTW, 2010 was my first time experiencing the unfettered party insanity that is the Indie Comix Embassy Suites Happy Hour. Long will it haunt my dreams.
BTW part 2: this blog post title was my official entry into the all time hardest to spell blog post title darby.
By: David Elzey,
on 10/20/2010
by Katherine Erskine Philomel / Penguin 2010 Everyone's been raving about this book. It just got nominated from a National Book Award. It's been on the periphery of my radar so I figured it was time to pick it up. Twenty-five pages later it was time to put it down. There is no worse feeling than to not like a popular book and feel, somehow, like you're defective for thinking it. Worse if
By: David Elzey,
on 10/18/2010
by Hope Larson Atheneum / Simon & Schuster 2010 A tale of gold prospecting and romance and karmic debts paid off over several generations with just a kiss of magical realism in this graphic novel. In the settled Canadian province of Nova Scotia the Fraser's of French Hill have settled into a life of barely sustainable farm life when the mysterious stranger Asa Curry comes calling. He's
By: David Elzey,
on 10/13/2010
The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri illustrated by Randy DuBurke Lee and Low Books 2010 The tragic account of an act of inner city violence that briefly gripped the nation and put a young face to seriousness of the problem. In the spring of 1994 there was a shooting in the Roseland area of Chicago, on the city's southside. Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, age 11, out to make a
By: David Elzey,
on 10/8/2010
by Kazu Kibuishi Graphix / Scholastic 2010 A collection of occasionally-connected comic strips about a boy and his dog and a very strange, strangely reminiscent world... As a boy named Copper walks home with his dog he imagines his backpack is a jetpack that takes him zooming around the skies. Instantly he's surrounded by other jetpack fliers... who all are dropping bombs on a city below.
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 10/7/2010
Inaki Miranda’s amazing work on TRIBES has gotten a lot of attention, and he’ll be at the show. details below.
The creators of the widescreen sci-fi epic TRIBES: The Dog Years, both writer Michael Geszel and all the way from Spain, artist Inaki Miranda, will be signing at the IDW Booth #2115 Saturday 10/9 from 3pm to 4pm.
They will be signing books all weekend and giving out FREE T-Shirts, at the SoulCraft Comics booth
SMALL PRESS SECTION
BOOTH #457Read the first 30+ pages of TRIBES: The Dog Years free: http://tribesthecomic.com
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 10/7/2010
Podcast favorite Indie Spinner Rack (Booth #425) will have the Awesome Anthologies and more but also a wide array of indie talent whom will be signing, selling their books and sketches as well. PLUS the big Rock Comic-Con party on Saturday night.
ISR BOOTH SIGNINGS NYCC 2010
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
1:00 pm – 3pm
Charly La Greca – The Hair Pair(Disney)& The Awesome Anthologies
Hamza Pecenkovic – Murder Machine & The Skeptic
Alex Serra – Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century, Teen Titans Go, Growing Up Enchanted, Toybox Turmoil and Sleeping Dragons.4:00 – 5pm
Rebekah Isaacs – DV8, Hack/Slash & Magus(Upcoming)
Jon Price - Magus (Upcoming)5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Charles Soule – Strong Man & – 27(Upcoming)
Nick Runge - Angel, Farscape, Ghostbusters, & WWII graphic novel called Cockatoo Newsgies (Upcoming)SATURDAY SCHEDULE
10:00 – 12:00 pm
Miss Lasko Gross – Escape From Special
Henni – Hand Colored Mini(House of Twelve)
Hamza Pecenkovic12:00- 2pm
Jamie Tanner – The Aviary & Upcoming - ‘Blackwell’(Upcoming)
MK Reed – Cross Country & Americus (Upcoming)2:00- 3:00 pm
Rebekah Isaacs
Jon Price3:00 – 5 pm
Charly La Greca
Alex Serra
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Rich Miller – The Awesome Anthologies & DC Comics
Charles SouleSUNDAY SCHEDULE
10:00 – 1:00 pm
MK Reed
Charly La Greca1:00 –
5:00 pm
Nathan Schrieber – Xeric Winner – ‘Power Out’
Jamie Tanner5:00
TBD
Rich Miller
By: David Elzey,
on 10/6/2010
A Zombie Novel in Haiku?! by K. A. Holt illustrated by Gahan Wilson Neal Porter / Roaring Brook Press 2010 zombied middle school desegregation among living and undead haiku and romance bullies and librarians imperfect but fun Loeb's a zombie smart, but he hides it from friends has brains, eats them, too cute librarian suggests Loeb enters contest reading his
By: Heidi MacDonald,
on 10/6/2010
It is worth running this press release jut to run this graphic. Events include a signing at the NY Toys ‘r’ Us at 7 pm on Friday.
If you’re one of the lucky fans attending New York Comic-Con (http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com) October 8th – 10th, there are some pretty cool McFarlane-related events and giveaways you do NOT want to miss. Image Comics (#1647) and 38 Studios (#2257) are giving YOU the chance to meet Todd McFarlane, Curt Schilling and Greg Capullo at the show.
TODD McFARLANE – FRIDAY
Todd McFarlane and Greg Capullo Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Image Comics Booth #1647
Head to the Image Comics’ booth (http://www.imagecomics.com) for a very rare joint autograph signing with McFarlane (Spawn, Haunt) and Capullo (Spawn, Haunt). The Image Booth will be selling both Haunt ($9.99) and Spawn ($14.99) trade paperbacks. 125 FREE tickets for the autograph session will be given away at the Image Comics booth starting at 1pm on Friday. No purchase required. Limit two signatures per person.
Todd McFarlane Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Midtown Comics Booth #2143
When the con doors open at 1pm, Midtown Comics’ booth (http://www.midtowncomics.com/) will give away 100 FREE tickets to fans wanting to attend the special McFarlane signing. Midtown will have a wide range of McFarlane’s work available for purchase. One ticket per person. No purchase required. Limit two signatures, per person.
PANEL: Toys Are Us! How Your Favorite Toys Are Made with Special Guest Todd McFarlane (http://nycc_nyaf10.mapyourshow.com/3_0/sessions/sessiondetails.cfm?ScheduledSessionID=1049)
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th 6 PM – 7 PM
Panel Room 6 (1A21)
Panelists:
• Todd McFarlane, Founder of McFarlane Toys
• Shawn Smith, Creative Director and CEO of Shawnimals
• Jesse Falcon, VP of Product Development at Marvel Entertainment
• David Scroggy, VP of Product Development at Dark Horse Comics
• Zach Oat, former ToyFare Editor and Co-author of Pop Sculpture: How to Create Action Figures and Collectible Statues
Todd McFarlane at Toys “R” Us Times Square Autograph Signing
Date/Time: Friday, October 8th 7:00 PM
Location: Toys R Us Times Square, Level Three, The Skybox
If you weren’t lucky enough to score a ticket to NYCC, McFarlane and Toy R Us are doing a special autograph signing after the con closes for the night, and EVERYONE is invited. 400 fans will get the chance to meet and get an autograph from the legendary Artist and McFarlane Toys Founder. Tickets are available in advance and day of the event with a $20 purchase at the Toys “R” Us Times Square store (http://www.toysrusinc.com/about-us/times-square/special-events/). Tickets are limited to one per person. Autographs are limited to one action figure and one additional memorabilia item, time permitting.
TODD MCFARLANE – SATURDAY
Todd McFarlane and Curt Schilling, Autograph Signing, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning FREE Limited Edition Posters
Date/Time: Saturday, October 9th 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: 38 Studio’s Booth #2257
Many of you have been following the news about 38 Studios (http://38studios.com/) Founder and Chairman, and three-time World Series Champion, Curt Schilling, and our very own Todd McFarlane teaming up on an exciting new video game slated to release in 2011. NYCC attendees will definitely want to visit 38 Studi0 Comments on NYCC 10: Todd McFarlane, Greg Capullo and Curt Schilling as of 1/1/1900Add a Comment
By: David Elzey,
on 10/4/2010
by Raina Telgemeier Scholastic 2010 The memoir of the author's teen years told in graphic novel format focusing on her orthodontic adventures following a severe injury. Everyone has a story tell about themselves, and in theory everyone has a reason for telling that story. We do this all the time in conversation when someone mentions a topic and our memories spark with a story, account, or
By: David Elzey,
on 10/1/2010
A Memoir in Rhyme Ghostwritten by Bobbi Katz Illustrated by Adam McCauley Sterling 2010 A picture book collection of monster poems in the guise of a memoir of a monster hunter. What's not to like? Every couple of years is seems we get a collection of ghoulish rhymes and monster-themed picture books, with one that stands out. Off the top of my head the only recent one I can think of is
By: David Elzey,
on 9/15/2010
A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio illustrated by Javaka Steptoe Clarion 2010 A picture book storyography of the 60's icon's early years told with an unusual objective that isn't obtrusive or moralistic. Or is it? Okay, a picture book about Jimi makes me wonder two things before I even open the book: how do you convey the sense of person who would come to change the way rock
By: David Elzey,
on 9/10/2010
& Other Strange Things Adults Tell You written by Catherine Rondina illustrated by Kevin Sylvester Kids Can Press 2010 A collection of superstitions and folklore passed down by adults, refuted and supported, and an attempt to arm kids with the facts behind the phrases. Entertaining, but it's no snopes.com. I like the idea of arming kids with the truth as a way of disarming the myths kids
By: David Elzey,
on 9/6/2010
by Kat Falls Scholastic 2010 A dystopic sci-fi hybrid of life between settlers who have gone to homestead the sea and the topsiders who remain on land in overcrowded conditions. And a child shall lead them... Living and farming under the sea with his family, Ty cannot wait to turn 18 and claim a homestead of his own. One of the first children born and raised entirely in the ocean, Ty's
This book is on my "to be reviewed" list. I think it's interesting that you felt something was missing emotionally. I found the book very funny, and I loved the illustrations, but I'm not sure I felt emotionally satisfied in the end either. At the very least, I felt like the ending was somewhat predictable. But your review makes me want to read it again to see how I feel.
Katie, if after reading it you still find there was something more than the ending at question, let me know. I gave it several readings and I just couldn't put my finger on it.