Friday, March 16, 2012

I Don't Believe It, Archie


I Don't Believe It, Archie
By: Andrew Norriss
128 Pages
Ages: 7-10

Summary:
Life is anything but predictable and boring for Archie. You never know what will happen. However, you do know that if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, you wouldn't have believed it.

Every day it's something new. From a piano delivery going wrong, to being mistaken for a kidnapped boy who looks just like him, to getting his hands glued to the library door handles. The possibilities are endless.

Now you get to spend a week with Archie. On Monday you'll see the craziness that involves a piano, a little girl stuck in a car, and tons of stones. On Tuesday you will see a misunderstanding involving Archie and a dog take one bizarre turn after another. Wednesday will have an innocent trip to the library end up with a protest involving superglue. On Thursday, a case of mistaken identity will occur. Friday will show you how a toy rescue involves a real lion and a real leopard. On Saturday will interrupt a real robbery when he tries to watch a staged robbery. When Sunday arrives, while it pails in comparison to the other days, chaos arrives no less.

If you like to laugh and giggle while you read a book, then this is the book for you. I Don't Believe It, Archie was fun from cover to cover. Children will love seeing all the crazy things that find Archie.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Star Wars Jedi: Volume 1 The Dark Side

Okay all you Star Wars fans. A new graphic novel has hit the bookstores and Kids Korner has enlisted our resident Star Wars reviewer to tell you what you should know about it. We present to you...

Star Wars Jedi: Volume 1 The Dark Side
120 Pages
Ages: Teen & Up

Star Wars: Jedi is a graphic novel (compilation of comic books) that takes place in the Star Wars time line before Episode 1. In Jedi, we follow Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan learner, Xanatos, who are paired with another Jedi master and another padawan. The group must travel to Xanatos' home world of Telos IV where a political assassination must be investigated. Once there, the group is attacked and ambushed, all the while Xanatos must face his biggest trial: choosing between his birth family and his Jedi family.
Jedi is fast-paced, illustrated well, and informative for background knowledge of the characters. It gives more detailed information about the life lessons and struggles between Qui-Gon and the padawan he had before Obi-Wan Kenobi, Xanatos, whom we first really see in the second book in the young adult series Jedi Apprentice. The plot is well thought out, the character interaction is good, and you get to see a younger Mace Windu, with hair! The writing leaves the ending open for future volumes, which, if you are like me, you always want more Star Wars. Anyone interested in Star Wars graphic novels should take a look at collecting this at book stores.


Mrs. Noodlekugel


Mrs. Noodlekugel
By: Daniel Pinkwater
72 Pages
Ages: 5-10

Summary:
What sort of person lives in a small cottage surrounded by tall buildings? What kinds of wondrous things happen there? Find out when you read Mrs. Noodlekugel.

Nick and Maxine live in a tall apartment building. All around them are tall buildings. So imagine their surprise when they notice a small house in the backyard of their building. Curiosity gets the better of them and they go investigate.

As they walk through the gate of the house, they see normal things. There's the birdbath, statues, flowers... and a skinny black cat that talks. Not only does Mr. Fuzzface talk, but he bakes and plays the piano, as well.

Now, if that doesn't surprise you, just wait until you attend one of her tea parties. Among the guests will be you, Mr. Fuzzface, Mrs. Noodlekugel, and 4 farsighted mice. And be come prepared for anything but a normal baking time when she invites you to bake gingerbread mice cookies.

Mrs. Noodlekugel is such a fun, charming read. The way the ordinary becomes the extraordinary will capture readers of all ages. I loved meeting her and spending an afternoon with her. I hope this is the first of a new series, because I would lover to have further adventures with Mrs. Noodlekugel.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again!


Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
By: Frank Cottrell Boyce
214 Pages
Ages: 9-12
The Tooting children are on Summer Vacation and Dad has just lost his job due to his fingers being too big. When Dad's "home improvements" don't work out well, Mom Tooting beings home an old 1966 camper van that is literally falling apart. The idea is to get it up and running, then travel the world in it.
When Dad and Jem take the car for a spin, they realize a little fixing is in need before the world travels can begin. A visit to the auto parts place leads to a discovery that changes everything. Dad finds an old, big engine in a tree. It still works, so the new discovery is put into the camper van. Soon the family is en route to Paris, among other places.
Wacky adventures await the Tootings at each destination. The family discovers that they aren't driving the car, but the car is driving them. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang lands them on top of the Eiffel Tower, in front of the Sphinx, and even plunges them underwater. The question is: what is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang up to?
Kids will enjoy the cute adventures. A little bit of history is thrown in at each destination, so it's a fun way to learn about famous places. It was a cute book.