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Author Cornelia Funke is one of our favorites and this week we have been celebrating her Inkheart series and other books from her collection. Earlier this week we jumped into her book The Thief Lord and also a deeper look at her Inkheart series here.
I’m so happy to be giving away her Inkheart Trilogy to bring your summer days alive. These are 3 of our favorite books which have been read over and over again.
Inkheart
One cruel night, Meggie’s father reads aloud from a book called INKHEART– and an evil ruler escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventure she has only read about in books. Meggie must learn to harness the magic that has conjured this nightmare. For only she can change the course of the story that has changed her life forever.
This is INKHEART–a timeless tale about books, about imagination, about life. Dare to read it aloud.
Inkspell
The sequel to Inkheart.
Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of INKHEART, the book whose characters became real. But for Dustfinger, the fire-eater brought into being from words, the need to return to the tale has become desperate. When he finds a crooked storyteller with the ability to read him back, Dustfinger leaves behind his young apprentice Farid and plunges into the medieval world of his past. Distraught, Farid goes in search of Meggie, and before long, both are caught inside the book, too. But the story is threatening to evolve in ways neither of them could ever have imagined.
Inkdeath
The conclusion to the trilogy.
The Adderhead–his immortality bound in a book by Meggie’s father, Mo–has ordered his henchmen to plunder the villages. The peasants’ only defense is a band of outlaws led by the Bluejay–Mo’s fictitious double, whose identity he has reluctantly adopted. But the Book of Immortality is unraveling, and the Adderhead again fears the White Women of Death. To bring the renegade Bluejay back to repair the book, the Adderhead kidnaps all the children in the kingdom, dooming them to slavery in his silver mines unless Mo surrenders. First Dustfinger, now Mo: Can anyone save this cursed story?
Giveaway Guidelines:
ONE winner will receive one copy of each book. Giveaway begins July 17th, 2015
Prizing & samples courtesy of Author of the above books
Giveaway open to US addresses only
ONE lucky winner will win one copy of each of the above books (Inkheart, Inkspell, Inkdeath)
Residents of USA only please.
Must be 18 years or older to enter
One entry per household.
Staff and family members of Audrey Press are not eligible.
Grand Prize winner has 48 hours to claim prize
Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on July 26th, 2015
Welcome to Week Seven of The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series!
This series is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of the books I am jumping into feature protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well. I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Bookjumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
This week we are celebrating the writing of Cornelia Funke in her Inkheart series. A little while ago we jumped into another one of her splendid novels called The Thief Lord. Her writing style is so inventive. No one book matches another and each one is unique unto itself. If you’ve enjoyed Inkheart, I know you’ll enjoy this one too. Happy Reading
We’ve just finished a very adventurous read by Cornelia Funke called The Thief Lord. Set in Venice, Italy, this magical tale took us on a whirlwind visit to a mysterious and unknown destination.
From Goodreads:
Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious character who calls himself the “Thief Lord.” Brilliant and charismatic, the Thief Lord leads a ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo relish being part of this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them, and readers, to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.
This coming of age story places the idea of Identity smack dab in the middle of this adventure. Who are we? How does one see themselves and how are we perceived? What masks do we wear? And what dreams do we hope to fulfill. Our journey took us deeper into the ideas around family and friendship, loyalty and trust, adoption, Venice, Italy, and the mystery of Carnevale/ Carnival .
I highly suggest adding this wonderful book to your Book-Jumper Summer Reading booklist!
Reminder: Don’t forget about our Wildwood Chronicles 3-Book Giveaway that will be ending this week!! Head over to that post ASAP and get entered! Good Luck.
Cornelia’s ABC’s: Happy browsing through Cornelia’s very personal dictionary. Find out astounding and amusing facts about her life and work. Our ABC will gradually grow, so drop in here now and then.
This 8-week eCurriculum is packed with ideas and inspiration to keep kids engaged and happy all summer long. It offers 8 kid-approved themes with outdoor activities, indoor projects, arts & crafts, recipes, field trip ideas, book & media suggestions, and more. The curriculum, now available for download, is a full-color PDF that can be read on a computer screen or tablet, or printed out. Designed for children ages 5-11, it is fun and easily-adaptable for all ages!
The At-Home Summer Nature Camp eGuide is packed with ideas & inspiration to keep your kids engaged all summer long. This unique eCurriculum is packed with ideas & inspiration from a group of creative “camp counselors.” Sign up, or get more details, HERE
Welcome to Week Seven of The Book-Jumper Summer Reading Series! This is my way of inspiring parents who are looking for creative ways to keep their kids reading this summer. All of the books I am jumping into feature protagonists are girls or women and most of our showcased authors are women as well. I will be offering up a combination of themed weeks, great novels, booklist giveaways, and blog post recaps so be sure and stop by to discover more wonderful ways have A Bookjumper Summer while Exploring Our World and Beyond!
Today I am review and sharing the book Inkheartby Cornelia Funke.
The beauty of a book’s adventure is that you have to go no further than your couch to experience it. A good story can help you to escape, make you new friends, even give you a thrill or two. We love our books and the experiences they give us. But what if these stories become a reality? What if the villains that we love to read about come knocking on our door? How much do we love the adventure then?
Meggie and her father Mo Fulchart love books beyond what any one word can express. As a living, Mo is lovingly called a book doctor who cares for and fixes the discarded and dilapidated books, and he has passed along his love of books to his daughter. But there is more to Mo’s connection with books than meets the eye, even more than Meggie knows. Mo has the most magical voice that can pull characters out of their world and place them in ours. This “power” unfortunately leaves Meggie without a mother, Mo without a wife, and a few particularly nasty villains following Mo’s every step.
Another character from this world of villains comes knocking on Mo’s door one night, asking for a particular book and a particular favor that Meggie cannot decode. Warning of the danger of the mysterious “Capricorn,” Meggie, Mo, Dustfinger, and his pet marten Gwin take off to small village where Eleanor, Mo’s aunt-in-law lives. Eleanor’s vast library will be a good hiding place for Mo’s book and a nice cover for Meggie’s sudden absence in school.
This arrival sparks a domino effect of events that one cannot even imagine. Characters being read out of their worlds, Meggie being held hostage, Mo being threatened, escapes, new friends, self-involved authors, and a new ending to a story that was starting to look very dim.
This story illustrates the amazing power of the written word, since “Writing is a type of magic,” as Mo says. I have read many books in my time, and I started way before I read Inkheart in my sixth year of school. But Cornelia Funke’s powerful words made me want to create powerful words of my own. Her characters are so very real and her story so very vivid that for a week, I lived in the adventure of Inkheart right along with Meggie and Dustfinger and Mo. I got lost in the words, in a good way. This second reading, I stretched out my time with the story, thoroughly enjoying it again. And in ten more years, maybe I’ll pick it up again and rediscover its magic. Inkheart is a timeless tale that will never be forgotten.
*Be sure to finish the Inkheart tale with the rest of the trilogy: Inkspell and Inkdeath. You don’t want to miss out on the grand finale!
Inside this guide you will find very imaginative and inventive games that will bring this book wonderfully to life.
Round Table Card Game (Parts of a Book)
Decoding Famous Quotations
Also included in an extension activity using cryptography with the quotes.
Fantastic Heroes and Vile Villains
Scholastic who actually owns the imprint which publishes author Cornelia Funke, has a great videos of Cornelia talking about what inspired her to write this series of books. You can view the whole video in its entirety or watch it in one of 8 sections. You choose which ones. These are really fantastic videos which give us a behind the scene look into the mind of the author.
Once you’re on the video page, if you look to the right hand side bar you’ll find the individual videos.
As in love with Cornelia Funke’s writing as we are we want you to discover other great reading adventures. Here’s a link to her full list of novels.
I was given a copy of this book for this for review. The opinions expressed are purely my own.
***
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The Book Thief, without a doubt, falls into the latter category. From the opening pages of the prologue it was clear that this book needed to be savoured. And that’s exactly what I did.
Now, I could discuss at length all that I loved about The Book Thief but I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’m going to offer you a glimpse. Why? Because this is a book best experienced as it rests in your hands.
The narrator is Death. That’s what struck me immediately. Death’s tone, pace and honesty. His tone is solemn. His pace is steady. His honesty is brutal. Death isn’t cruel but, for the lack of a better word, human. How can that be? Well, because he feels. Though he may resist at times, he feels the same as you and me.
It’s not hard to tell that the responsibility that rests solely in Death’s hands weighs on him. But this isn’t his only job. He also sets out to tell the story of Liesel Meminger. The reader recognizes instantly that he takes this task just as seriously. You hear it through the compassion in his voice and the fondness in his recollections. Death no longer wields a scythe but simply his two hands.
My advice when it comes to The Book Thief is to take your time. There’s a lot to ingest and digest. But, believe me, it’s worth it.
0 Comments on My Bookshelf: The Book Thief as of 1/1/1900
Jacob and Will grew up with an absent father and a mother who slipped into deep depression after her husband disappeared. Shortly after his father's disappearance, Jacob found the mirror that led him into another world. However, this world is changing from one populated by fox spirits, gingerbread houses, and other fairy tale tropes. Our world is coming in with trains and machinery. To top it off, the Goyl have come from the underground and are fighting a war with the Empresses--a war she can never win.
As the years have passed, Jacob has spent more and more time in the mirror world, leaving the pain and misery of his life in our world behind. Until, one day, Will follows him. Before Jacob can get him back, they're attacked by Goyl and now Will is turning into one of them. Jacob, Will, Will's girlfriend Clara, and a fox spirit called Fox are now on a mission that will take them to witche's houses, faerie islands, dwarf cities and the heart of the Goyl kingdom itself, all in an attempt to save Will before it is too late.
It's an exciting adventure with many recognizable characters and settings, but Funke manages to make them different than what we'd expect. There is a princess asleep in a tower, but she's covered in dust, her dress is faded and old-fashioned, and her skin has gone dry and papery over the centuries.
But, what I really appreciated about this book was the structure. We get to Will in the mirror-world very quickly (page 8). The back story of how the boys grew up, of how mirror world is changing, of the Goyl and their war, of Jacob's exploits, they're all told in bits and pieces strung through the adventure. It's a life we get to piece together with deeper meanings as we follow Jacob's quest to save his brother-- the only thing tying him to our world.
It was dark and wonderful.
Book Provided by... my local library
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Guest Blogger Rachael Walker is the Outreach Consultant for Reading Rockets, a national multimedia initiative which aims to inform and inspire parents, teachers, childcare providers, and others who touch the life of a child by providing comprehensive, accessible information on how to teach kids to read and help those who struggle. Rachael began her career in children’s literacy at Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), has also served as a consultant to the NEA’s Read Across America campaign, and was most recently the Executive Director of Reach Out and Read of Metro DC.
I know that in many parts of the country, kids have already started the new school year, but in our house, we still have a few weeks of summer to enjoy. So while I planned to blog today about back-to-school resources, I just couldn’t make myself do it! I just need a little more time to mentally prepare for the return of the daily packing of lunches, the establishing of the homework routine, and the morning scramble for shoes and backpacks.
There are still so many items left on our summer to do list. You may want to think about some of them for your own last days of leisure or incorporate these activities into the new school year:
There’s lots of writing still on our list. Everyone in our family has summer birthdays and there are a few thank you notes still outstanding. I’m not getting many volunteers for letter writing. When it comes to writing in the summer, a few rounds of Mad Libs seems to be the favorite pencil and paper activity, though I also recommend the online version to help build up a good Mad Lib vocabulary.
We have certainly done quite a bit of it this summer, but reading never leaves the to do list. Alex Rider has fired several imaginations in our household as has the 39 Clues and the Warriors series. Summer always gives us more time to read aloud so my husband hopes to finish up Cornelia Funke’s Inkdeath before the school year begins and I have just started reading aloud Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Farmer Boy to our youngest in the hopes that he’ll better appreciate the state fair this year.
Must add to the to do list for the kids: finish the summer math packet. Summer reading loss I don’t think we’ll have to worry about.
I fell in love with Inkheart over two years ago, after I had devoured The Thief Lord and needed more, more, more of Cornelia Funke. I was enchanted and amazed and in love with that humongous book. The I read the sequel, Inkspell, and was a bit less enchanted. Still, it was wonderful and the characters are so colorful and the scenery so beautiful. Now, I've finally gotten my hands on the eagerly anticipated final book in the trilogy, Inkdeath....and I was oh-so-disappointed. I started "reading" it via an audiobook while I exercised at night and halfway through I had to stop and switch to the print book. I was so confused all the time, constantly having to rewind and listen again...SO bummed.
Inkdeath picks up right where Inkspell has left off. We get roughly 100 pages of backstory (though an index in the back is still needed to explain over 100 characters and their purpose in the plot), and then are led back into the Inkworld where dark magic has taken over. Fenoglio can no longer write, only drink, Orpheous has the biggest ego ever and has taken Fenoglio's words and begun twisting them to make the story his own, with often disasterous results. Mo (or the Blue Jay) has it in his mind to kill the Adderhead with Violante's assitance, but is either in a castle dungeon or somewhere else completely unlucky through the most of the book. Meggie can't decide if she is in love with Farid or just the idea of love and Farid can't decide if he cares more about Meggie or Dustfinger. And Resa and Mo are about to have another child, but poor Resa is more focused on keeping her husband safe and out of the Adderhead's hands and Elinor and Darius come back into the Inkworld and...and...and...
Phew.
Unfortunately, the pages in Inkdeath are muddled with characters and the secondary names characters are called (I swear every single character goes by two names...sometimes three!). If there wasn't an index, I would be lost. Breaking Dawn anyone? I can't imagine how a 12 year old would feel, taking on this enormous book, though that is exactly the age bracket this series is targeted to. There is just not nearly the amount of action as in the previous two novels, and the end was more than a bit disappointing for the completion of a trilogy.
The story-telling is still completely magical, Cornelia Funke truly has a gift and I really hope she continues writing books for kids. Inkheart and The Thief Lord are still two of my favorites, Inkdeath just fell short for me.
To learn more or to purchase, click on the book cover above to link to Amazon.
Oh booger! I had no idea this book was so long. I've signed up for the challenge, so I am going with audio. With so many books to read, I go with as many audios as possible.
I loved the series overall. But I was also disappointed by Inkdeath. My problem with it was that Meggie is essentially passive through large chunks of the book. I mean... it's a children's book. Yet the adult characters get to take all of the action. But, like you, I still love Cornelia Funke's writing, and the inkworld, and will look forward to her future books.
I've heard a lot about Inkheart, but this is the first review I've read for the later books. I hate starting a series before several, if not all of the books are out for two reasons:
1. I hate cliffhangers--generally, I'm pretty patient, but this the exception.
2. Once I get hooked, I'm hooked, and some series drop off in quality after the first book and I find myself wading through dismal plot and writing to solve my first problem of not liking cliffhangers.
So, that was a roundabout way to say I think Inkheart goes to the bottom of the TBR pile. Maybe I'll catch the movie.
I'm sorry to hear the second and third books were disappointing. I just saw the movie with Serena and my daughter, which prompted me to buy the books for me and my daughter to share. Well, I'll still give them a go. Thanks for the honest review!
A 2006 U.S. release, When Santa Fell To Earth is a less than traditional tale told in Funkesque style. The Great Christmas Council, consisting of hundreds of Santas, goes bad under the leadership of Gerold Geronimus Goblynch. After turning all but one of the reindeer into salami, the money-hungry, tradition-crushing Goblynch unjustly bars Niklas Goodfellow from working as a Santa.
Niklas (who is the last true Santa), two pint-sized angels, and a drawerful of hilariously grumpy elves, find themselves stranded on Earth when their invisible, marzipan-loving reindeer panics in a storm.
“Terrified, Twinklestar reared up, broke his reins, and bolted down toward Earth. Niklas Goodfellow’s reindeerless caravan swayed from side to side like a boat on a churning sea. Then it toppled forward into the swirling clouds, Niklas tumbled out of bed, hitting his head on the leg of a chair, and rolled helter-skelter under a table” (Page 2).
With Goblynch’s band of giant, evil Nutcrackers in hot pursuit and the threat of being turned into a chocolate Santa looming large, the clan joins forces with two neighborhood kids to set Christmas right.
The poetic style, dazzling imagery and timeless themes Funke is famous for are certainly present in this book, and exquisite pencil drawings by Paul Howard brilliantly complement the richness of her writing. The main question that weighs in my mind is whether a middle grader will buy into the concept of Santa. If so, this book is sure to please.
It’s also important to keep in mind that When Santa Fell To Earth is not part of the Inkheart trilogy. With far less sub-plotting, emotion and conflict, this book is shorter and simpler in every way. That’s not to say it’s less in anyway. It’s simply for the youngest end of the 9 to12-year old range.
More Info:
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: The Chicken House; 1 edition (October 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 043978204X
ISBN-13: 978-0439782043
4 Comments on When Santa Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke, last added: 1/15/2009
Well, Well, I hope you all are having a fun and pleasant summer while I, the-Sith-who-scares his-own-bad-self, Darth Bill works extra hard helping out the many denizens of the universe in need. It is a thankless job, but here are some pretty good photos of my good works this summer:
Giving the Sandpeople girlfriend advice. Women, dealing with these creatures despite the species, can be most challenging.
Explaining to Ewoks why they can't ride really cool coasters like on the left because they are not tall enough for the ride requirements.
Trying to explain to Lord Vader that pastels are not the new black!!!!!!!!!
Some exciting news here at the library on the comic book front. We are now receiving in the Spangler Room at ImaginOn the following monthly comic titles:
1) The Batman Strikes 2) Marvel Adventures Spider-Man 3) Scooby-Doo!!! 4) DC's Super Friends 5) Tiny Titans
They're located with the magazines toward the back of the Spangler Room. So come by and read the latest issues of these titles and older issues you may have missed.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - What if you when you read aloud, the possibility of characters from a book leaving the pages of said book into our world existed? Do you think it would be pretty cool? Would you risk it? You may want to read this book first before you answer that question. The story begins with Mo and his daughter Meggie, 12 years old, are visited by an old friend of Mo's Dustfinger late one night. Calling Meggie's father Silvertongue, it seems Dustfinger has come to warn him that an old acquaintance of his named Capricorn has located him and will be coming after him and a book that he is very protective named "Inkheart." It seems that Mo has a secret that his daughter does not know about. The ability to read characters from the pages of books, but little control in determining who comes out and no ability, that he knows, of putting them back. Thus starts a great adventure in which fictional characters are brought to life from such works as the book in this story, Peter Pan, Tales from the Arabian Nights and others. This book has great villains such as Capricorn, a man who rules through terror, his evil henchmen and a creature Capricorn wants read into existence whose mere touch or breath brings death known as The Shadow. This book has a great story and many great characters, many more than I have mentioned, and I highly recommend giving it a go over. Two thumbs up!!!!!!
The Batman Strikes #46 by Russell Lissau & Christopher Jones - This is one of the new comics we are now getting in the Spangler Room and one of my favorites to read. This issue's villain is big, green, scaly and just has awful manners when it comes to dealing with Batman, Robin and Batgirl. It's Killer Croc and he's robbing the town of roses, stuffed teddy bears, pretty trinkets, er........ Does this sound a bit odd to you? Well it's up to our costumed crusaders to figure it out and stop his vile, if a bit odd, crime spree!!!! Good Stuff!!!!
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #41 by Marc Sumerak & Ryan Stegman - Peter Parker, like all kids in high school, dreams of the day he can get his driver's license and sit behind the wheel of his very own cool ride. Peter, in this issue, is getting his big chance to show his driving prowess to his Driver's Ed teacher, Mr. Cornblum. Peter is ready and things are looking up--um, that is until Man-Bull shows up on his driving route. Will Peter pass Driver's Education? Will Spider-Man defeat Man-Bull? Will there be mayhem and comedy? Only one way to find out. Give this issue a read. You won't be disappointed that you did.
Well, that's all I have for now, hipcats!!!!! Until next time take it light,
I love Cornelia Funke. This love affair started with The Thief Lord, which I found on a "what to read while waiting for the next Harry Potter book" list and really enjoyed the imagery and imagination. I wanted to be with those kids, hiding from evil aunts, etc. Next came Inkheart which to this day is my favorite book. I've since read all the books that she has published (at least in English), including two picture books. She is one of the few authors that I will buy on site, even if I haven't heard anything about the book.
Igraine the Brave is a book aimed at a slightly younger crowd than Inkheart and Thief Lord, but I found it very enjoyable. Igraine is the 12 year old daughter of a couple of powerful magicians. Her older brother is also training to be a magician, but Igraine wants to be a knight. Not just any knight, but the kind of knight that wins competitions and that people will remember for generations.
Shortly after the story begins, Igraine and her family are warned by a friend that their castle will soon be under attack by an evil nephew of a neighbor. Igraine's parents decide to wait until after Igraine's birthday to worry about him though. Unfortunately,they turn themselves into pigs while finishing Igraine's birthday present. In order to reverse the spell, the magicians need some hair from the head of a giant, which they are all out of. Igraine volunteers to fetch the hairs, and the adventure begins!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found Igraine an engaging heroine. She could really stand on her own and her friends only added to the fun. The addition of the Sorrowful Knight was a great way of including things that all honorable knights should know in an unpretentious manner. Everything just fits well together, and the silliness of the story doesn't necessarily feel silly. Somehow, it just works. Cornelia Funke has a way with words that always makes the the story feel so real for me. Also, I believe she sketched the artwork that appears throughout the book.
Recommended for Readers 10 and up, though it would make a good read aloud for ages 6 and up.
0 Comments on Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke as of 1/1/1900
Ms. Yingling said, on 2/15/2008 1:17:00 PM
This was an amusing book, but my middle schoolers (12-14)thought that it looked way too young for them.
Emily said, on 2/15/2008 2:09:00 PM
Interesting. Thanks for sharing your perspective with us.
Robyn said, on 2/15/2008 7:37:00 PM
I am currently reading this out loud to my 7 and 9 year old. They are enjoying it. It has been a pleasure to find and read your blog.
How'd you like to increase your vocabulary, have fun doing it and by doing so be contributing to fighting world hunger?
Head on over to Free Rice and see how many bowls of rice you can donate. I managed to donate 2000 grains in about ten minutes. I'm addicted! They have great words like weald and taiga. Go! Visit! Donate rice!
Even though the Inkheartmovie isn't due to be released until September, 2008, the first trailer has been posted online!
I think it looks pretty good, and for the most part, they've done an awesome job of casting. I didn't picture Basta with a mohawk, though. (I assume the guy with the mohawk is Basta).
The third book in the trilogy, entitled Inkdeath, is also due to be released in 2008. Amazon.com lists the release date as April 7. 2008, but The Official Cornelia Funke web site says that there's a "little less than a year to go" until the U.S. release of Inkdeath, so I think a Fall publication date is more likely. You can't preorder the Inkdeath hardcover on Amazon.com, but you can preorder the audio CD. If you absolutely can't wait, you may be able to find the German version, Tintentod.
My four year old granddaughter Jasmine loves pigs. She loves pigs so much she's asked me to start a whole new theme on AmoXcalli - a reviewing the pigs of kidlit series. Being utterly helpless where Jasmine is concerned and being quite fond of pigs myself, I agreed.
I never knew much about pigs before Jasmine. Her obsession with them started with Pig, the very old and venerable Pig who was won by her Auntie Bernie (my daughter Bernadette) in the claw game at Carrows over a family out for dinner night when Jasmine was only six months old. Jasmine immediately fell in love with Pig and he has rarely Extreme Pig Makeover at Christmas and soon his shredding and threadbare material will be patched with my crochet hook and pink yarn because the material just can't survive being sewn yet again. I've bought replacement pigs and Jasmine loves them but Pig is Pig and nothing else will do. I've learned more techniques in stitches because of Pig and for that I am grateful. Pig must survive at all costs because the alternative is a broken hearted little girl and that I just can't handle.
As Jasmine has gotten older her love for all things pig has grown. I have watched Babe and Babe, Pig in the City more times than I can count. I wish I could find a copy of the wonderful Babe, The Gallant Pig on which these movies were based. We've watched Charlotte's Web - the animated older version with the wonderful Paul Lynde as the rat and the new Dakota Fanning Charlotte which was charming. Being book lovers (and oh boy does Jasmine love books!) first one pig book drifted into her shelves and now there are at least 40. I do believe she is amassing the largest Pig book collection in California. If you know of any Pig books, please do tell us and we will hunt them down for her library.
I think children's book authors and illustrators must love pigs as much as Jasmine does because we sure find many wonderful books about them! Pigs do seem to be quite well thought of. They even have a patron saint of swineherds - St. Anthony. They get their own literature category.
I asked Jasmine which books to start her Pig book series with and she chose the following two books. I do hope you enjoy them as much as we have! We're also coining a term which is kind of a pun. Piglit. Not piglet. Piglit.
Piglet and Papa Author: Margaret Wild Illustrator: Stephen Michael King Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers ISBN-10: 081091476X ISBN-13: 978-0810914766 Piglet and Papa is the charming and warm sequel to Piglet and Mama. It's a perfect book for the little ones with it's simple and beautifully told story. Piglet has hurt feelings after misunderstanding Papa's gruffness and distraction. She sets off believing he doesn't love her and encounters one animal after another and asks each if they love her. Each replies that they do love her but that there is someone who loves her even more. Tired, discouraged, hungry and in desperate need of a hug Piglet heads home to find not only Papa waiting for her but that he loves her best of anything in the world.
Stephen Michael King's simple yet evocative watercolors capture the farm animals and make the pigs something really special and fun. He manages to convey so much emotion in the faces of his pigs. Jasmine laughed with delight at Piglet who is sweet then forlorn. Her little face is unbelievably funny as she jumps on Papa's belly. Her joyous little smile will charm little children as will the story of the love between a Papa and his Piglet.
About the author
Margaret Wild is Australia's leading picture book writer, with wide acclaim in countries across the globe. She was born in Eschew, a small town in South Africa. Her brother's death at the age of seven inspired Jenny Angel, Margaret's picture book with illustrator Anne Spudvilas, which won the Children's Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year Award in 2000. Margaret has written over forty books.
About the Illustrator
Stephen Michael King's first picture book won the Family Award for Children's Books in Australia. He lives in Sydney, Australia.
The next book isn't about a pig - it's about a princess, another of Jasmine's favorite things. She does prefer pigs to princesses but this story has both and that makes it special to her. What makes it special to me is Cornelia Funke and darned goo storytelling.
Princess Pigsty Author: Cornelia Funke Illustrator: Kersten Meyer Translated by Chantal Wright Publisher: Chicken House (Scholastic) ISBN-10: 1905294328 ISBN-13: 978-1905294329
Isabella is a real, honest-to-goodness princess as are her sisters. The thing is Isabella would much rather be doing something else besides wearing fancy dresses and having her ladies in waiting well waiting on her. In fact, Isabella is so sick of her life that she sits in front of the window looking at the moon and sighing. One day she gets so fed up that she hides under the bed and refuses to be a princess anymore. As a punishment for various things, her father sends her to work in the pigsty where she learns quite a bit about pigs and how things are done. She can even educate her father! Princess Pigsty is wonderful story about a strong willed heroine who teaches by example that doing is so much better than just sitting around having people do things for you. It shows little children that we can make our own path in life if we're just brave enough, determined enough to do it. Jasmine cheered Isabella on in her quest to work with the pigs. I loved that Isabella loved doing chores over being waited upon.
The illustrations are wonderful. Bold, deep colors and regal strokes of the brush covey the lush life of the palace with a comedic flair. The pigs are wonderfully illustrated as well with quizzical and sometimes surprised faces. Isabella's angry face as she screams that she is bored is classic.
I also loved the bold faced type with words like Yuckety Yuck. Jasmine loves this story told out loud over and over. There's something about the rhythm of it that she loves. It's very bouncy, happy and upbeat.
We hope you enjoy our piglit. Look for more soon!
0 Comments on Jasmine Loves Pigs, Pigs in Kidlit, Two Pig Books and a New Theme as of 8/10/2007 12:32:00 AM
Last year, I read and enjoyed Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart. I saw The Thief Lord in a teacher’s classroom last week, and I decided to pick it up.
It read very quickly–it’s shorter and less dense than Inkheart–and it was an enjoyable story, but it didn’t nearly captivate me in the way that Inkheart did. The Thief Lord is much more a middle-reader novel than a YA one.
The Thief Lord is the story of two young boys, orphans, who are trying to escape the aunt and uncle who have applied for custody of the younger brother, Bo, but want to send the older brother, Prosper, to boarding school.
Prosper and Bo flee to Venice, the city their mother used to tell them stories about. They fall in with a group of street kids with a mysterious leader, Scipio The Thief Lord. Scipio gives the kids a place to live and keeps them warm and fed.
The boys soon find themselves being tailed by a private detective, hired by their aunt.
The story is fun, and it takes some unexpected turns, and even an element of fantasy.
Producer Andy Licht is suing New Line and author Cornelia Funke, claiming that he first submitted a manuscript of the book "Inkheart" for consideration as a feature film but was elbowed aside when the movie was greenlighted. New Line recently wrapped production on the Iain Softley-directed film, a children's fantasy starring Brendan Fraser, and set it for distribution in spring 2008..." (full details)
Suing the original author seemed an odd movie, but apparently this fella is claiming that both Funke and New Line removed him from the project in 2003. And who is Andy Licht? The producer of Waterworld and The Cable Guy. And if it turns out that Funke did indeed remove him as he said, I'm not sure I blame her as much as I should.
Eeeps! If he did work on setting the film up back before Inkheart was a big success, don't go dissing the man based on Waterworld (a flop) of Cable Guy (a success). You wouldn't want me taking full credit for Fuse 8 -- The Musical after all your hard work, would ya, even if it followed The Ishtarsical and A Riverdance Runs Through It....
lifelongreader said, on 5/8/2007 3:31:00 AM
Great find, Fuse. I just hope the movie lives up to my expectations.
It is still such a long way off, though. I will check imdb for updates nearer the time - it is due in March 2008, at the moment.
The cast sounds great - I have high hopes.
fusenumber8 said, on 5/8/2007 4:55:00 AM
Cable Guy was a success? Oh my stars and garters.
I'm now off to write The Ishtarsical since the name makes it sound so doggone good.
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is this weekend, April 28-29, 2007. I look forward to this festival every year and usually go both days. It's a great place to meet up with old friends, meet authors, get your books signed, buy books, hang out and just have fun.
This year I'll be there all day Saturday and am really excited about it. Sunday I'll be there from opening till about 3pm and I'll have the grandkids along so I'm betting I'll be in the storytelling area a lot with the exception of swinging by to meet one of my literary idols Paco Taibo III and buy his new book on Pancho Villa.
If any of you authors, publishers, publicity people are interested in saying hello, shoot me an email and I'll make the time to swing by your booth, panels or maybe we can grab a coffee. Hope to see you all there!
1 Comments on Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, last added: 4/27/2007
I came to your book log through library thing - you came up as the person I have the most books in common with; your list is impressive over 10,000 - mine just over 2 with the books I have around the house. I have 40 boxes of book in storage - there's no room to display them all in my current abode . . . sigh!
Just wanted to come by and say hello. I'm a writer and fellow book lover and you can find me at http://www.chicken-scratch.ca
Inkspell Author: Cornelia Funke Publisher: The Chicken House ISBN-10: 0439554004 ISBN-13: 978-0439554008
Imagine a world within the pages of a book. Imagine blue fairies, a world with men made of glass, a world where women have no rights. Imagine a man who can make flowers out of fire, who can speak to the fire and command it. Imagine that words come to life, stories become real, that someone with a powerful voice saying the right words can talk you right into that world and that world is very real.
Cornelia Funke first introduced the Inkworld in her very popular Inkheart (Scholastic, 2003) and I like so many booklovers who read it, fell completely in love. Inkspell is the unplanned sequel in what is now to be a trilogy and I for one am thrilled.
Inkspell is the story of Meggie, daughter to Mo the bookbinder (also known as Silvertongue) and Resa who was trapped in Inkheart. Meggie is fascinated by her mute mother’s written tales of the Inkworld and of the characters therein. Mo is frightened for his daughter and tries to discourage her from being so fascinated by it. But there’s no stopping Meggie when she wants something and she is determined to keep her dreams of the Inkworld.
Then there’s Dustfinger and Farid. Dustfinger is the fire-eater, the man who can command the fire to become flowers. Farid is a boy who was read out of yet another book. They are both trapped in Meggie’s modern world. Dustfinger has been trapped ten years and is dying to go home. He’s finally found someone with the power to read him back and even though Farid thinks it’s dangerous, he gets this person, Orpheus to read him back and it works. Dustfinger is suddenly home!
But Orpheus has ulterior motives and brings danger to Meggie’s family’s door. The evil witch Mortola and the equally evil Basta are back and they have horrible things planned for Meggie and Silvertongue.
A lot going on? Wait, it gets even better. Meggie is determined to go visit the Inkworld and Farid is equally determined to find Dustfinger. Between them they find a way and soon they too are magically transported to the Inkworld and set off in search of Dustfinger and Fenoglio, the writer of Inkheart. Meanwhile, Mo’s heart is broken because he’s lost his daughter, the family is in danger, Dustfinger encounters his own set of problems and the story is taking on a life of its own – out of Fenoglio’s control. Inkspell is wonderful! The characters, the names, the worlds, the stories within stories, everything about it is fantastic. There are names like Cheeseface, Clouddancer, Her Ugliness… There’s fire honey that gives Dustfinger his ability to talk to fire, the glass men sharpen quills, there is an illuminator and descriptions of his art. Oh, this is a book after any book lover’s heart. Highly recommended and in breathless anticipation of the sequel.
As Silvertongue says, "Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page."
La Perdida Author: Jessica Abel Publisher: Pantheon ISBN-10: 0375423656 ISBN-13: 978-0375423659 La Perdida is the story of Carla Olivares, a Mexican-American woman who decides to live in Mexico knowing virtually nothing about the real Mexico. She doesn’t speak Spanish and she has the romantic view that Mexico is somehow perfect. Like a lot of us Chicanas here she sees Mexico as her homeland and as something very different than what it really is.
Carla crashes at the apartment of her ex-boyfriend, a wealthy WASP till things get so bad he throws her out. Her time is spent visiting Frida Kahlo’s house, the pyramids and other monuments that she feels will help get her in touch with her Mexican side. She meets up with a bad group of people and some of the choices she makes are horrendous. I felt for Carla but was exasperated by her at the same time. Her treatment of people who are just trying to be her friends is apalling but understandable. I get why she's being such a bitch even while I'm cringing at her behavior.
The people Carla decides are her friends are petty criminals posing as revolutionaries. They play on Carla’s American guilt expertly, calling her conquistadora, a conquerer. To be a Chicana and to be called a conquistadora really hits home and these guys know how to play it up. Carla gets deeper and deeper, more and more sucked in, keeps making these incredibly stupid choices and Mexico becomes a dangerous nightmare. It’s an incredibly riveting story.
I know so many people like Carla (without the poor choices) so its easy to understand her. I get why Memo and Oscar give her such a hard time too. Jessica Abel writes so convincingly and it all rings very, very true.
The art just makes it even more incredible. Jessica Abel has such a commanding way of drawing characters. She manages to speak volumes with the way she draws a shoulder, an expression, the way people move. There are some great illustrations of the city that bring Mexico to life. I love the jacaranda trees that line the streets. They're so beautiful that I can almost smell them and feel their velvety purple blossoms.
Chicanos and Chicanas or pochos as they call us that grew up here longing for our homeland. It’s easy to glorify Mexico and its culture. It’s something we grew up lacking. Still, we are privileged here like it or not and when we go into Mexico, we’re perceived as American however much we see ourselves as Mexican. I’ve lived both in Mexico and here and even though for the most part I’ve fit in, there’s always been this sense of otherness that doesn’t quite fit.
La Perdida does a fantastic job of showing the angst felt by Mexican-Americans, our wanting to belong to our homeland while feeling cut off from it. It shows how much we love our culture and how different real Mexican life is from what we percieve it to be. The graphic novel medium adds incredible depth and intensity to the already riveting story.
In Honor of the Month of Poetry who better to talk about than Pablo Neruda?
On the blue shore of silence Poems of the Sea Pablo Neruda
Of all the Neruda anthologies that I have read, this is by far the most eloquent tribute to his love of the sea and his home on Isla Negra in Chile.
The English translations are done by Alastair Reid, Mr. Neruda’s favored translator and it flows as naturally as does the Spanish original. I speak both languages and it is always such a pleasure to see a translation so elegantly done. The artwork by Santa Barbara artist and writer Mary Heebner is as sumptuous as Pablo Neruda’s poetry and truly reflects the feel of the ocean. Her paintings capture the mood of each poem perfectly and add to the emotion of his words. (See her site for further viewing of all the Isla Negra paintings and her amazing collages).
It is I believe the only anthology that has focused solely on his poems of the sea.
The book is bilingual with the text in Spanish on one page and English on the other. It contains my favorite of Neruda’s poems, The Soliloquy of the Waves.
Even the typeset and Neruda’s name on the dust jacket painted in a blurry sea blue reflect the ocean that the poems are about.
Pablo Neruda has been a favorite poet of mine for many, many years and this stunning book is a wonderful addition to my collection of his anthologies. It is a beautiful piece to celebrate his centenary.
3 Comments on Inkspell, La Perdida y Classic Neruda, last added: 4/12/2007
Are any of you going to be at the National Latino Writers' Conference next month? It's my first writers' conference ever and I am anxious about going to a party where I don't know anyone...
msedano said, on 4/12/2007 9:15:00 PM
classic neruda indeed. i recently shared some mp3 of neruda reading his love poems and song of desperation. to one he sounds like an early 20th C poet, to another a high mass reciting priest. that's one of the joys of poetry reading it through one's own ears in one's own voice. i hadn't thought of neruda today, yet, so thanks for the reminder.
Inkspell Author: Cornelia Funke Publisher: The Chicken House ISBN-10: 0439554004 ISBN-13: 978-0439554008
Imagine a world within the pages of a book. Imagine blue fairies, a world with men made of glass, a world where women have no rights. Imagine a man who can make flowers out of fire, who can speak to the fire and command it. Imagine that words come to life, stories become real, that someone with a powerful voice saying the right words can talk you right into that world and that world is very real.
Cornelia Funke first introduced the Inkworld in her very popular Inkheart (Scholastic, 2003) and I like so many booklovers who read it, fell completely in love. Inkspell is the unplanned sequel in what is now to be a trilogy and I for one am thrilled.
Inkspell is the story of Meggie, daughter to Mo the bookbinder (also known as Silvertongue) and Resa who was trapped in Inkheart. Meggie is fascinated by her mute mother’s written tales of the Inkworld and of the characters therein. Mo is frightened for his daughter and tries to discourage her from being so fascinated by it. But there’s no stopping Meggie when she wants something and she is determined to keep her dreams of the Inkworld.
Then there’s Dustfinger and Farid. Dustfinger is the fire-eater, the man who can command the fire to become flowers. Farid is a boy who was read out of yet another book. They are both trapped in Meggie’s modern world. Dustfinger has been trapped ten years and is dying to go home. He’s finally found someone with the power to read him back and even though Farid thinks it’s dangerous, he gets this person, Orpheus to read him back and it works. Dustfinger is suddenly home!
But Orpheus has ulterior motives and brings danger to Meggie’s family’s door. The evil witch Mortola and the equally evil Basta are back and they have horrible things planned for Meggie and Silvertongue.
A lot going on? Wait, it gets even better. Meggie is determined to go visit the Inkworld and Farid is equally determined to find Dustfinger. Between them they find a way and soon they too are magically transported to the Inkworld and set off in search of Dustfinger and Fenoglio, the writer of Inkheart. Meanwhile, Mo’s heart is broken because he’s lost his daughter, the family is in danger, Dustfinger encounters his own set of problems and the story is taking on a life of its own – out of Fenoglio’s control. Inkspell is wonderful! The characters, the names, the worlds, the stories within stories, everything about it is fantastic. There are names like Cheeseface, Clouddancer, Her Ugliness… There’s fire honey that gives Dustfinger his ability to talk to fire, the glass men sharpen quills, there is an illuminator and descriptions of his art. Oh this is a book after any book lover’s heart. Highly recommended and in breathless anticipation of the sequel.
As Silvertongue says, "Stories never really end, Meggie, even if the books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page, any more than they begin on the first page."
Geronimo Stilton is the main character in a fun series of kids books. They're chapter books done in a creative way, originally Italian. I bought my son one of the newer ones, and for some reason it has "Cornelia Funke" in big letters across the top of the book. She's an author, but not of these books. As far as I can tell, she has nothing to do with them. Why is her name plastered atop the book? None of the folks who actually write, translate and draw the books seem to get much credit. The author is listed as Geronimo Stilton, the main character. Fun stuff, but just another reminder of how poor and corporate-slanted the United States' copyright laws are.
Oh booger! I had no idea this book was so long. I've signed up for the challenge, so I am going with audio. With so many books to read, I go with as many audios as possible.
My first experience with Inkheart was the movie, which made me interested in the book! Now I'm wondering if I should bother starting with the books.
The books are worth it, just time consuming!
I loved the series overall. But I was also disappointed by Inkdeath. My problem with it was that Meggie is essentially passive through large chunks of the book. I mean... it's a children's book. Yet the adult characters get to take all of the action. But, like you, I still love Cornelia Funke's writing, and the inkworld, and will look forward to her future books.
I really loved Inkheart and was disappointed with the sequels as well. I do love Funke's writing though and look forward to more. Good review.
I've heard a lot about Inkheart, but this is the first review I've read for the later books. I hate starting a series before several, if not all of the books are out for two reasons:
1. I hate cliffhangers--generally, I'm pretty patient, but this the exception.
2. Once I get hooked, I'm hooked, and some series drop off in quality after the first book and I find myself wading through dismal plot and writing to solve my first problem of not liking cliffhangers.
So, that was a roundabout way to say I think Inkheart goes to the bottom of the TBR pile. Maybe I'll catch the movie.
I'm sorry to hear the second and third books were disappointing. I just saw the movie with Serena and my daughter, which prompted me to buy the books for me and my daughter to share. Well, I'll still give them a go. Thanks for the honest review!
--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric