Babymouse 11: Dragonslayer

Dragons may not care for the title

Holm, Jennifer L. and Holm, Matthew. Babymouse 11: Dragonslayer. New York : Random House Children's Books, 2009.

Plot: After failing another math test, Babymouse's teacher offers her a chance to improve her grade. Babymouse must join the school's mathlete team and compete in the math olympics. While the mathlete's teacher seems confident and her team counts on her, Babymouse feels overwhelmed. The mathletes speak of one with the pure heart who will redeem the school's honor from the dreaded Owlgarthims. Hoping for the legendary hero, the team captain asks if she is the one. Then the team sees her test. Babymouse must face math and conquer the creature she fears most (besides Felicia Furrypaws).

Genre: Animals, School, Graphic Novels

Reading Level: Grades 4-6

Similar Titles: Uncle Scrooge: Around the World in 80 Bucks, Fangbone series

Personal Thoughts: Like many readers, I have some "dragons" of my own to slay. While I have graduated from test fears, I still struggle against some concepts, pressures, and challenges. Much like Babymouse, the trials I face seem overwhelming. However, like the ink heroine, I need to realize that, while I may never excel in specific talents, I do not need to be terrible at them, either. Such is the real power behind books, even casual, graphic-novel titles. Like G.K. Chesterton noted, such stories "are more than true: not because they teach us dragons exist, but because they teach us dragons can be beaten." While some may mock the title for its silly characters or predictable outcome, it still brings a needed reminder: readers can conquer their fears, even if their fears are greater than they are. I will be purchasing this title.

Titus Rules!

I'll just take this

King-Smith, Dick. Titus Rules!. New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2003.

Plot: While Queen Elizabeth II of England enjoys the service of the land, she personally serves her pack of Welsh corgis. Titus, the youngest dog, learns quickly to treat his servant well. He takes his lessons to heart by protecting Her Majesty's jewelry, castle, and husband. However, he must also face a thief, a prince, and a jealous rival. Still, he rises as a king among the dogs while steadily encouraging the king and queen to bond.

Genre: Animals, Humor

Reading Level: Grades 1-6

Similar Titles: Hank the Cowdog series, The Invisible Dog

Personal Thoughts: The title provides a short, funny view of the royal family. While Titus' antics fill most of the plot, the story also touches on aspects such as affection, loyalty, respect, and love through the interactions of the king and queen. The two royals fight constantly, but they also understand and genuinely care for each other. However, the deeper aspects of the story remain light, preventing the story from becoming preachy or sappy. 

Lady Lollipop

+ 2 dragon approval

King-Smith, Dick. Lady Lollipop. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2001.

Plot: Princess Penelope is the most hopelessly selfish princess in the world. Her father spoils her further by promising her any animal she wants for her birthday. Much to her mother's distress, the princess demands a pet pig. After viewing the finest pigs in the kingdom, she selects a trained pig known as Lollipop. She also makes her father promise to house the pig's former owner, Johnny, with her pet. At the request of the king, Johnny promises to continue to train Lollipop. However, the king will make Johnny a duke if he can tame the wild Penelope. Through patience, Johnny and Lollipop convince the princess to be less selfish. Can he convince the queen to allow Lollipop into the palace, though?

Genre: Animals

Reading Level: Grades 2-6

Similar Titles: Clever Lollipop, Mercy Watkins series

Personal Thoughts: A unusual rendition of the classic tame-the-shrew plot. The princess is appropriately spoiled, the queen is appropriately upset, and the king is appropriately desperate. While readers are inclined to cheer for Lollipop, Johnny emerges as the real hero of the story. He recognizes the trouble and the challenges in fixing it. While he offers the king his full respect, Johnny does not minimize the spoiled status of Penelope. Similarly, while he trains the princess, he never treats her like she is not royalty. As such, he displays a quiet, respectful sort of heroism capable of changing people for the better.

Dumpling Days

I'm hungry!

Lin, Grace. Dumpling Days. Prince Frederick, MD : Recorded Books, 2012.

Plot: Much to her frustration, Pacy Lin finds herself on a long flight to Taiwan. While her parents insist the trip will teach her and her sisters about their culture, she doubts she will find anything of importance. The first jet-lagged days seem to confirm her fears. The customs, language, and lessons frustrate and alienate her. Eventually, though, she discovers the positive aspects of the country, such as its stories and food, especially its dumplings. She discovers herself as a Taiwanese-American, and learns to accept and enjoy both worlds.

Genre: Growing Up, Asian-American, Coming of Age

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Year of the Dog, Turtle in Paradise

Personal Thoughts: While I enjoyed the title, it seemed to fall into the trap plaguing most mixed-culture novels. Typically, the books reflect exclusively on the difficult aspects of growing up in two cultures and, frustratingly, most of Dumpling Days focuses on the alienation facing Taiwanese-Americans. While a mixed background can be difficult, it can also be fun, which Lin's previous titles describe in detail. Unfortunately, only two pages of Dumpling Days address the benefits of both cultures. Still, it does offer a realistic view of a trip to Taiwan, as well as insight to Taiwanese traditions and lifestyles. As such, the title remains recommended, but not as recommended as Year of the Rat or Year of the Dog.

The Golden Goose

A golden band for reading The Golden Goose

King-Smith. The Golden Goose. New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

Plot: Farmer Skint is perhaps the worst farmer in the country. However, his luck seems destined to change after his geese, Sorrow and Misery, produce a beautiful, golden egg. While the rest of the eggs hatch into perfectly normal goslings, the special egg releases a bird with golden coloration. The farmer names the bird Joy, and Joy proceeds to change the attitudes and fortunes of all who touch her. However, the Skints fear the beautiful bird may attract robbers, so they attempt to keep her a secret. A wildlife filmmaker discovers her, though. While he initially promises to keep the farmer's secret, he finds something capable of changing the Skints forever.

Genre: Animals

Reading Level: Grades 2-6

Similar Titles: King Puck, The Farmer and the Poor God: A Folktale from Japan

Personal Thoughts: A short, sweet story about a change in luck. True, most of the changes occur through supernatural circumstances, but the title also mentions how success can change a person for the better. Joy brings opportunities, but the Skints must make use of them and use the results wisely, showing how fortune favors the bold.


Side note: I found a King-Smith novel cover that does not consist of the protagonist looking down at the mentor.

A Practical Guide to Monsters

I got ya, little buddy

Hess, Nina. A Practical Guide to Monsters. Reston, WA : Mirrorstone, 2007.

Plot: The title acts as a study source for apprentice adventurers before they take their final. Each creature enjoys elaborate, colored illustrations, as well as a fact box outlining basic characteristics and behaviors. Occasionally, the descriptions include notes from the professor written in red ink, usually for humorous purposes. Mythical creatures, such as goblins, medusas, griffins, and vampires find mention, but so do modern Dungeons and Dragons staples, such as zombies, nightwalkers, and fire giants.

Genre: Fantasy, Picture Books

Reading Level: Grades 1 and up; however, older readers will probably appreciate the cultural context of the creatures more than younger readers.

Similar Titles: A Practical Guide to Dragons, A Practical Guide to Wizardry, A Practical Guide to Fairies

Personal Thoughts: While the title appears intended for younger readers, many of the topics and terminology seem better suited for tweens. The illustrations and text balance each other nicely, so the title appears neither too wordy nor too picturesque.

Apparently, most of the text's references relate to Dungeons and Dragons, although most of the game's technical aspects and lore remains subdued. By approaching the subject matter in this manner, some of the more controversial aspects of the series remain unstated, appeasing sensitive readers. However, the many allusions can act as a "bonus" for players familiar with the game.

Babe: The Gallant Pig

I'm up here

King-Smith, Dick. Babe: The Gallant Pig. New York : Crown, 1983.

Plot: Farmer Hogget wins a young piglet at the fair. While he intends to raise it for meat, his sheepdog, Fly, finds herself adopting it. At the pig's insistence, she teaches it to be a sheep-pig. Yet, the pig, called Babe, cannot bring himself to harass and dominate the sheep like his mentor does. Instead, he tries to be polite to them and, much to the shock of Fly and Hogget, they respond. Babe continues to endear himself to the sheep, the sheepdog, and the farmer through his loyalty, consideration, and manners, causing a minor revolution in farmyard relations. The farmer suspects the pig could do more, though. He signs himself and Babe up for the national sheepdog trials, where good manners may not be enough to help Babe. The assistance of his foster mother and flock may prove greater than any obstacle, though.

Genre: Animals

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Ace: The Very Important Pig, Charlotte's Web

Personal Thoughts: The book surprised me. Watching the 1995 live-action movie familiarized me with the plot, but the characters really stand out in the novel. Strangely, the book includes fewer characters than the film. Only Ma, Babe, Fly, Farmer Hogget, and Mrs. Hogget find their way into the novel, allowing better exploration into their personalities and actions. Babe's actions become heroic because he must actively conquer natural, "pig-like" behaviors. Similarly, Fly becomes more maternal in the book, since she willingly accepts her own faults to assist Babe. The novel also presents itself as more lighthearted than the movie, with fewer mentions of butchering, death, and separation.

Originally, the title was published as The Sheep-Pig.

Side Note: I just noticed both of the King-Smith book covers show the two protagonists looking down at another major character. I wonder if it's a characteristic of the author.

The Merman

I can see you!

King-Smith, Dick. The Merman. New York : Crown Publishers, 1999.

Plot: Zeta takes her birthday present, a new set of binoculars, out to the beach to watch gulls and seals near her family's vacation spot early one morning. Someone unexpected waits for her, though. Swimming effortlessly with the seals is a man with white hair, a young face, and a fish's tail. The merman convinces her to face her fear of water by teaching her to swim. He also gives her lessons in astronomy, biology, and French. The vacation passes quickly as Zeta displays her new knowledge to her parents through events orchestrated by the merman. As the summer comes to a close, she promises to see the merman again, although he seems oddly quiet the last day. It takes her two years to return to the merman's beach, and Zeta may not find what she expects when she returns.

Genre: Fantasy, Growing Up

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, The Secret Garden

Personal Thoughts: The title freely mingles the common with the supernatural. Zeta acts like a normal child, with an interest in birds, a desire to learn, and a fear of water. By contrast, the merman forms a larger-than life character with an extraordinary intellect and lifestyle. Still, the two's interactions flow naturally, since she responds like a child while he reacts like a grandpa. The ending of the story may surprise readers, since it is abruptly bittersweet. However, the tale may offer a solid "next step" of reading for fairy tale-loving tweens.

Tintin: Red Rackham's Treasure

Where is it?

Herge. Tintin: Red Rackham's Treasure. Boston : Little, Brown and Co.,1974.

Plot: After escaping a vindictive foe, Tintin, Snowy, and Captain Haddock can finally seek Red Rackham's legendary treasure unhindered... until more trouble discovers them before they set sail.. The team dodges supposed heirs, questionable equipment, and ominous warnings. Their most persistent issue comes in the form of Professor Calculus, a technical genius who refuses to accept their refusal. Nevertheless, the team eventually discovers the sunken Unicorn. Yet, the treasure seems oddly absent. Following the discovery of a set of unexpected clues, TinTin may yet discover the legendary captain's true wealth.

Genre: Comics, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Tintin: The Blue Lotus, LEGO Ninjaro, Indiana Jones Adventures

Personal Thoughts: Despite showing its age, particularly in the depiction of minorities, the Tintin series remains one of the most popular comics in the world. The appeal is difficult to pinpoint, since the simple style of the comics, the adventure-driven mysteries, the unexpected humor, and the everyman hero mesh together excellently.

Recently, the first three Tintin books (including this one) provided the inspiration for a computer-animated movie in 2011. While the plot enjoyed high reviews, some viewers found the "realistic" Tintin animation uncanny.