Book of Elements: Magic and Tech

Book of Elements: Magic and Tech. New York : Grosset & Dunlap, 2012.

Plot: A world-building title for the popular Skylanders video game series, the text offers background information on the Tech and Magic based skylanders. Each character gets its own profile, as well as a two-page story of its adventures. Additionally, the book offers information on a particular element's effects on Skylands and its inhabitants.

Genre: Video Games, Fantasy

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Machine of Doom, Pokemon Adventures, LEGO Ninjago

Personal Thoughts: Unlike The Machine of Doom, the Book of Elements series does not offer a full novel. Instead, it offers an-image heavy, world-building title for readers. The book reflects a growing trend in video games. Many series, including those aimed at older users, such as World of Warcraft and Halo, use traditional media to convey information about nontraditional entertainment. It seems like an ideal compromise, since users with a desire for more information can learn more about the series while play-focused participants do not need to spend excessive time clicking through explainations.

Personally, I enjoy the text's imagery and humor. Many of the illustrations occur in-game, encouraging readers by offering familiar sights. The jokes in the book follow the style of those in the game. For example, one epic battle reportedly lasted one hundred nights, but only thirty-nine days. Such quips display the text's willingness not to take itself too seriously.

A Few Side Notes: The title is the first in the series; the next will come out in January. No, I will not review anymore Skylander titles. Yes, I have played the games. No, I will not exchange game codes with you. Drobot is my favorite, but Whirlwind is my strongest. I only bought one figure through special-order. For the rest, I learned to look and wait for in various stores, which taught me patience and self-control. The end.

Pearls Freaks the #*%# Out: A (Freaky) Pearls Before Swine Treasury

Pastis, Stephan. Pearls Freaks the #*%# Out: A (Freaky) Pearls Before Swine Treasury. Kansas City, MO : Andrews McMeel, 2012.

Plot: A two-year collection of Pearls Before Swine comics. The text includes storylines such as the great gopher spill, Larry in Wonderland, and Guard Duck vs. the drama cow. Pastis includes a commentary on some of the comics and the creation process.

Genre: Comics

Reading Level: Due to their appearance in newspapers, the comics are suitable for all readers. Pastis' commentary, however, is not, so warn sensitive readers.

Similar Titles: Get Fuzzy, Sherman's Lagoon, Lio

Personal Thoughts: The commentary adds depth to the comics, offering a view into the creative process, reader reactions, and events leading to a particular strip.

Eyewitness Books: Arms and Armor

Eyewitness Books: Arms and Armor. New York : DK Publishing, 2011.

Plot: A review of weapons and armor presented in traditional Eyewitness fashion. Stark white backgrounds allow colorful, detailed images of arms and armor to capture the reader's attention. The text describes the development of defensive and offensive tools chronologically and geographically. Projectile weapons also find special mention. Additionally, the book includes an interactive CD and information-laden poster.

Genre: History, Social Studies

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Eyewitness Books: Knight, Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor

Personal Thoughts: As I have mentioned previously, I am a great fan of the Eyewitness Books series due to its solid information and creative presentation. Also, I recently discovered the publishers update their texts fairly frequently, keeping the books relevant. However, some readers raise some justifiable complaints about this particular title. It does not include arms from the past two centuries or so. Weapons find more mention than armor. While the images are beautiful, they tend to focus on custom-built items, rather than weapons common to the "everymen" of the times. The title still offers useful information, though, so I still recommend it for fanciers of historical warfare.

Blizzard!

Murphy, Jim. Blizzard!. New York : Scholastic Press, 2000.

Plot: Murphy offers an in-depth look at the 1888 blizzard's effect on New York City and the surrounding area through photographs, biographies, and illustrations. After a mellow winter, New York suddenly found itself in the middle of two large, frigid storms. The snow blocked transportation, supplies, and communication. It also lasted longer than expected, catching the off-guard population without basic supplies such as food or fuel. Hundreds died due to exposure during the storms and their aftermath. As a result of the unexpected weather, the United States changed. Cities became responsible for their people's safety in natural disasters, and mandated new communication, transportation, cleaning, and services ordinances that remain in use even in modern times.

Genre: History

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Great Fire, Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting

Personal Thoughts: The text reviews the most influential weather event no one knows about. Perhaps my assessment is harsh (I live in a chronically snowless part of the world), but not too many people mention the blizzard of 1888, which is unfortunate. The storms did cause lasting effects across the nation. Through the panic following the blizzard, weather forecasting took a national importance. Additionally, hazards caused by the weather sparked new rules for communication lines, city development, civic workers, and transportation methods. They even initiated some of the first litter laws. While not everyone in the United States suffered from the snow, the entire country still responds to its effects.

Every Thing on It: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

 
Silverstein, Shel. Every Thing on It: Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein. New York : Harper, 2011.

Plot: Published after the passing of the popular children's poet, the text consists of over one hundred previously unprinted work by Silverstein. Like his previous titles,  poems play with the quirks, fears, games, thoughts, and lessons encountered during childhood. They also showcase Silverstein's classic humor through ink illustrations. A very funny title.

Genre: Humor, Poetry

Reading Level:  Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Where the Sidewalk Ends, My Dog May Be a Genius, Food Hates You Too

Personal Thoughts: Any fan of Where the Sidwalk Ends or A Light in the Attic should read the title. It maintains Silverstein's classic brand of humor and timelessness, offering a good introduction to poetry to young readers, as well.

The Machine of Doom

Scott, Cavan. The Machine of Doom. New York : Grosset & Dunlap, 2012.

Plot: Spyro the dragon regularly faces zombies, monsters, and supervillains to protect Skylands. Now, his adventures take him and his friends to face...flying sheep. Based on the popular video game series, the text expands on the magical world of Skylands, a land protected by a group of warriors known as the Skylanders. The seemingly unimportant inspection of a marketplace shattered by soaring ewes launches the heroes to a new challenge. They must stop the evil sorcerer Kaos from stealing the legendary Chattering Key and unleashing an ancient war machine upon Skylands. Yet, the diminutive villain's actions hint at a much bigger plan.

Genre: Fantasy, Video Games

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Book of Elements: Magic and Tech, Battle for Skylands

Personal Thoughts: Video game novels typically receive criticism for their lack of originality, trite characters, and mediocre writing. However, I was pleasantly surprised by The Machine of Doom. True, it has some corny moments, such as the reference to one hero's poor singing skills, but it redeems itself with funny metaphors, consistent characterizations, and unexpected plot twists. The book uses popular characters to tell a good story, so it is highly recommended to fans of fantasy and video games.


Side Note: Dragon vs. dragon.

 

Changes

I...really dropped the ball this week. Lately, getting motivated to do the blog has been difficult. So, next week, we will return to the previous method of blogging. I will read/watch three or four random titles a week and review them. Hopefully, enjoying some good titles without having to worry about making a theme around them will prove encouraging.

Until next time...see ya!

Jerome and a blacksmith

How to Be a Werewolf: The Claws-On Guide for the Modern Lycanthrope

Valentino, Serena. How to Be a Werewolf: The Claws-On Guide for the Modern Lycanthrope. Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2011.

Plot: The text offers guidance for those fortunate to find themselves living with lycanthropy. While folklore-based shapeshifters, such as the kitsune and Beast of Gévaudan, find mention, the book also addresses movie and television show creations, such as the Wolf Man and Jacob Black. Additionally, the text offers basic information such as pack organization, hunter avoidance methods, and transformation processes. Several chapters also recommend specific lifestyles, music, and hobbies for enthusiastic lycanthropes.

Genre: Fantasy, Humor, Horror

Reading Level: Grades 6 and up; be warned, some of the recommended movies and songs may be ill-suited for younger readers

Similar Titles: How to Be a Vampire: The Fangs-On Guide for the Newly Undead, How to Be a Zombie: The Essential Guide for Anyone Who Craves Brains

Personal Thoughts: The title has potential. Stories about werewolves enjoy a high popularity in traditions worldwide. The text also includes brightly colored illustrations and visually pleasing print. However, much of the actual text focuses on a mash of fashion and music guides, which seems out of place. Additionally, the music, television shows, and movie recommendations consist of titles unintended for children in the sixth grade. As a result, the glossy text fails to reach its full capacity.

Side Note: I brought the book to work. Many of my co-workers now wonder about me.

Zen Ghosts

Muth, John J. Zen Ghosts. New York : Scholastic Press, 2010.

Plot: The text offers the retelling of a traditional, but eerie, Buddhist tale. Stillwater, a panda neighbor to three children, offers to tell the kids a ghost story after they go trick-or-treating. The tale, told by a Stillwater look-alike, begins with two children falling in love. When the girl's parents choose a different man to marry her, the childhood friends elope. Guilt over leaving their families eventually drives the two to return to her parents, where they discover, much like the three children, things are not as they seem...

Genre: Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 1 and up

Similar Titles: Zen Shorts, Old Turtle and the Broken Truth

Personal Thoughts: Like Muth's previous works, the text combines beautiful watercolor illustrations with ancient tales to bring readers to a deeper understanding of the world. This particular tale focuses on duality. The daughter splits between her lover and her parents, revealing a different character within one person. Despite the strangeness of the tale, it does encourage readers to consider the truth of perception versus reality. The text offers a view differing wildly from many ghost stories, but still manages to maintain a sufficiently eerie tone.

Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird

Vande Velde, Vivian. Tales from the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird. San Diego : Harcourt Brace, 1995.

Plot: The text offers a series of re-imagined fairy tales in the tradition of Shrek and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. In some, such as "Rumplestiltskin," the villain actually acts as a hero, and saves a queen from a loveless marriage. "Hansel and Gretel" and "The Frog Prince" take the traditional stories in a different direction. Instead of serving as the protagonists, the heroes become spoiled brats...or worse. Many other stories, such as "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Beauty and the Beast" view the stories through a cynical, modern view, displaying an unexpected results and responses to the story archetypes.

Genre: Fairy Tales, Horror

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Frog Princess, Wolf! Wolf!

Plot: I found some of the stories disturbing, but younger readers will likely find them funny. Much like stories about grief, humor often reaches children differently from adults, so try to avoid over-analyzing the tales. Many are, actually, quite funny, and feature whinny "heroes" and sensible villains. A good example of the fractured fairy tale genre.

Ghosts, Vampires, and Werewolves: Eerie Tales from Translvania

Spariosu, Mihai. Ghosts, Vampires, and Werewolves: Eerie Tales from Transylvania. New York : Orchard Books, 1994.

Plot: A collection of strange and scary tales from one of the haunting (and misunderstood) places on earth. Many of the stories represent a blend of new beliefs and old superstitions. Like many tales, the text focuses on the interactions between the supernatural and mortal realms. In the stories, honest men sometimes prosper. More often, though, greed for gold and contempt for tradition condemn all parties involved. Each story enjoys notes at the back of the text offering further details such as the story's location, terms, and traditions.

Genre: Horror, Folktales

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: The Man Who Tricked a Ghost, The Headless Haunt and other African-American Ghost Stories

Personal Thoughts: The text offers solid retellings of stories from a little-known portion of the world. According to the author's notes, stories from Transylvania typically end unhappily, which may trouble sensitive readers. Also, some users may feel disappointed in the book's inclusion of only one werewolf and one vampire story. Fans of ghost stories will love the text, though. While the stories do not focus on gore, they do mention supernatural vengeance, deals, and promises persisting through the afterlife. A highly recommended collection for readers of creepy stories.

Side Note: Are you okay, Jerome?