Leave it to a middle schooler to know The Meaning of Life…and Other Stuff

Amelia Rules!: The Meaning of Life…and Other Stuff written and illustrated by Jimmy Gownley; Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York; 2011.

NOTE: This review is based on an ARC (advance reading copy) provided for free by the publisher.  The publication information is subject to change.

This was my first introduction to Amelia McBride.  I’m sorry I didn’t know about her, her Aunt Tanner and G.A.S.P. (Gathering of Awesome Super Pals) when I worked in an elementary school library; the fifth graders could’ve used her advice before moving up to middle school.  The Meaning of Life…and Other Stuff is Jimmy Gownley’s seventh installment in the Amelia Rules! series (more due out soon!) and explores some heavy subjects, like the scariness of having a parent serving overseas in the military.  Although in graphic novel/comic book format, the experiences of this young lady are universal, real and sometimes overwhelming, just like the daily life of most middle school students.

I look forward to many more titles in this series.  As a librarian, I’d use these books in a pathfinder for middle school students (like a survival guide, maybe?) and in displays related to middle school.  Perhaps elementary or grade school librarians would want to start promoting the series before students graduate to middle school.  Librarians should refer educators to the series (and the teaching guide, as noted below).

Resources for the series are available from the publisher’s dedicated website (http://series.simonandschuster.net/Amelia-Rules!).  In addition to a teaching guide, high resolution images are available to download and print–perfect for displays.  The site also includes a video by the author about the inspiration for the series (http://www.simonandschuster.net/multimedia?video=70864389001) which would be great for a book discussion group.

Best of all, this is definitely a read-alike option for Jeff Kinney’s Wimpy Kid series.

Tales from the Crypt #9 is Wickeder

Tales from the Crypt #9: Wickeder by Stefan Petrucha, Maia Kinney-Petrucha, Margo Kinney-Petrucha, Scott
Lobdell, Jim Salicrup, writers; and Diego Jourdan, Rick Parker, James
Romberger, and Marguerite Van Cook, artists; published by Papercutz; 2010.

The Crypt-Keeper returns with his GhouLunatics for the ninth incarnation of twisted tales and peculiar parodies in this graphic novel.  Three tales are introduced by the Crypt-Keeper and friends in ghastly good humor.  The first tale is a sequel.  Because the parody of Diary of a Wimpy Kid was so successful, Glugg returns in “Dead Dog Dies!”  Celebrating his one year death day isn’t all Glugg thought it would be—zombies don’t do gifts.  Thanks to his one living friend, Crowley, Glugg may still have something other than dirt to open.  In the second story, nature takes revenge after an oil spill at an off-shore drilling rig.  “Kill, Baby, Kill!” pits big business, green advocates and a surprise avenger against each other.  Who will win?  The scariest part of this story is how close it hits home.  The graphic novel ends with the Crypt-Keeper’s friend, the Old Witch, presenting a play.  “Wickeder” is based on “Frank N. Balmed’s Wizard of Ooze.”  The story follows Dotty’s trial in the murder of Alfalfa, the Wickeder Witch.  All preconceptions are destroyed in this retelling of a classic story.

Because this graphic novel continues in the Tales of the Crypt tradition, readers will expect a bit of guts and gore with a lot of tongue-in-cheek.  All of that is served with illustrations that seamlessly shift styles to enhance each story.  Add text that delivers shocks and laughs simultaneously and you’ve got a fun read for older tweens.  Parody fans of all ages will find this a satisfying read as well.

For me, the word play was most fun.  The Crypt-Keeper’s puns were fairly obvious but still made me chuckle.  However, the witticisms in the three main stories often had me laughing out, (I apologize to the people sitting near me at library).  That wittiness is why I like this book so much:  I think humor is the best way to coerce reluctant readers into picking up books.  With the humor and terrific art, I expect many reluctant readers will be making friends with the Crypt-Keeper and his GhouLunatics.

I would recommend this book to older tweens that appreciate a little gross-out and a lot of laughs.  Reluctant readers should eat this up, especially those with younger siblings that love Diary of a Wimpy Kid or still put The Wizard of Oz on a continuous play loop on the DVD player.  It’s the perfect addition to the graphic novels in the children’s department at the public library.

More information about the book is available from the publisher at http://www.papercutz.com/crypt/cryptgn9_moreinfo.html.  The Tales from the Crypt series is also represented online at http://www.papercutz.com/tc/tc.html.

(Note: A free copy of this book was provided by the book’s publicist for me to review for Stories for Children Magazine. I include the review here.  Please note that all books I review for Stories for Children Magazine are donated to a local tutoring program for homeless and marginalized families.)

To dream, to dare, to dance

To Dance by Siena Cherson Siegel, illustrated by Mark Siegel; published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York; 2006.

A quick look at the end pages summarizes the story—from a young girl dancing on the beach to a young mother with her child and husband dancing on the beach.  The story opens with Seigel explaining that “big, empty spaces always made me dance”—ah, the end pages explained in just a few words.  Siegel’s story, illustrated by her husband Mark, is a biography that will speak to all children who have a passion for something, but especially for the little girls that spend so many Saturday mornings in ballet class, dreaming of becoming a prima ballerina.  Words and pictures blend into a singular story that tells of the development of her passion.  I can’t imagine this story told in any format other than a graphic novel.  For all these reasons and more, this book was an ALA Notable Children’s Book and was a Sibert honoree.

I would certainly use this to introduce upper elementary students to biographies.  I would also use it in a ballet kit for families to borrow or in a display about careers.  Hmm, I think it would be well-paired with a fiction title in a fiction/non-fiction paired kit, maybe with Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield.

Dreaming of friendship

Robot Dreams by Sara Varon; published by First Second Books, New York; 2007.

The innocent images of Dog and his Robot friend belie the depth of emotion in this wordless graphic novel.  Line art is highlighted with typical graphic novel colors, except when Dog and Robot share a day at the beach, which exhibits warm tones of a sunny day on water.  The passage of time is noted in the chapter titles, the passing of the seasons, and in the types of friends Dog finds as he tries to replace Robot.  The theme of friendship, loss and redemption will probably be lost on the youngest readers but will be accessible to children in upper elementary classes, along with their parents.

I would recommend this book to teachers to stimulate language art skills in storytelling.  I might use it in a program in which the children take turns narrating the story.