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Merry Christmas from me and my minions!

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Leo's my favorite

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles produced by Nickelodeon.

Plot: A new version of the popular series, Nickelodeon shares the story of four mutated turtles and their rat sensei, Splinter. After going above the sewers for the first time, the four teenagers find themselves assisting a girl named April as she tries to rescue her father from evil aliens. While they manage to defeat other mutants created by the aliens, the turtles abruptly find themselves targeted by their teacher's old nemesis, the Shredder. The four must learn to work as a team to rescue April's father, but their adventures attract many foes and allies.

Genre: Television, Animation

Reading Level: Most episodes are rated TV-Y7

Similar Titles: Ben 10, Power Rangers

Personal Thoughts: The show balances new and old concepts from the franchise very well. Most of the major characters maintain their core personalities while achieving deeper development. For example, Michelangelo remains the goof-off, but he also displays a desire for acceptance and affection, making him more sympathetic and less stereotypical. The turtles are much younger in this show than previous lines, but this seems to enhance the story. In other shows, the teenagers do not act like teenagers. They behave like naive adults. Reducing the age provides a more natural opportunity to display lessons about growing up, accepting responsibility, and developing talents within the show's context. April also enjoys an age reduction, making her more of a team member than a foil for the turtles. While some long-time fans protest the changes in tone, characterization, and style of the show, it seems to suit the post-2010 audience very well.

The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again

Try reading it together

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again. New York : Ballantine, 1937.

Plot: Bilbo Baggins, one of the most respectable and undramatic hobbits in the Shire, finds himself on an adventure. Pressed into service by Gandalf the wizard and thirteen dwarves, he begins a quest to steal the treasure of the Mountain King from the wicked dragon, Smaug. The journey quickly becomes difficult when the group of fifteen meet trolls, goblins, eagles, skin changers, giant spiders, elves, and men. Eventually, they reach the mountain and the treasure, but keeping the wealth may prove difficult. Still, Baggins possesses luck and common sense, allowing him to rescue the dwarves once Gandalf leaves them. Yet, his most notable accomplishment comes before the wizard's absence. He discovers a cold, metal ring on a cave floor...

Genre: Fantasy

Reading Level: Grades 9-12

Similar Titles: Sea of Trolls, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, A Book of Three

Personal Thoughts: The title remains one of the most famous and influential fantasy novels of the modern era, outlining many current characterizations of dwarves, elves, and orcs. However, it may prove difficult for readers, particularly tweens, to read. While the story elements are suitable enough for all ages, the language and style of the text proves daunting to younger readers. The novel may be a better choice for reading out loud in a class or with a family than a personal read for a young tween.

The story provided the basis for a truly cheesy animation in 1977 and a blockbuster-styled trilogy in 2012.  

Wrapped-Up Foxtrot: A Treasury with the Final Daily Strips

A gift for me? Ooooo

Amend, Bill. Wrapped-Up Foxtrot: A Treasury with the Final Daily Strips. Kansas City, MO : Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2009.

Plot: The text provides a two-year collection of Foxtrot comics, including the final daily strips. The comics explore the adventures of the Fox family. Notable arcs include Peter and Paige cookies, camping in the backyard, and gold farming in WarQuest.

Genre: Comics

Reading Level: Suitable for grades 2 and up

Similar Titles: Camp Foxtrot, Zits, Baby Blues

Personal Thoughts: I grew up reading Foxtrot in the daily newspaper, so the text represents a bit of an ending for me. Amend's family sitcom-styled humor provides an entertaining but easily read text. While the longer story arcs will be missed, the Sunday strips continue to reach newspapers nationwide. 

Good Eats

Snack time?

Good Eats presented by the Food Network.

Plot: The show provides a cultural, scientific, practical, and comedic approach to food. Each episode, hosted by Alton Brown, discusses a particular dish, ingredient, or cooking style. After he introduces the topic of the episode, Brown addresses current beliefs or views of the food, usually with colorful graphics, "family" stories, or animated images. He then consults experts explaining the traditional relevance or science behind the topic in an approachable manner. For example, for the fish and chips episode, he discusses the different chemical makeup of fats through the use of a toy train. Similarly, he speaks with a historical anthropologist to discuss the original dishes of Thanksgiving, as well as an explanation for the transition to turkey. Brown then prepares a dish using the topic, offering the recipe to viewers. Through the use of humor, science, and culture, Alton Brown provides a food show for non-foodies.

Genre: Documentary, Food

Similar Titles: America's Test Kitchen

Personal Thoughts: Brown uses a surprising amount of humor to capture the imagination and science behind food. As such, the show provides surprisingly approachable and entertaining lesson about the things we eat. In some ways, it is similar to Mythbusters, since it addresses legends and science surrounding often overlooked or dismissed subjects.