Walking with Beasts: Whale Killer

 Mammals, mammals, everywhere!

Walking with Beasts: Whale Killer presented by BBC.

Plot: Following the success of Walking with Dinosaurs, Walking with Beasts: Whale Killer refers to the Age of Mammals. Most of the episode dedicates itself to ancient marine mammals, especially Basilosaurus, a massive, extinct whale. The show also addresses how changes in ocean climates affect land creatures, especially larger animals.

Genre: Documentary, Television

Reading Level: Not Rated; but does contain sequences with high violence and gore.

Similar Titles: Chased by Dinosaurs, Life of Mammals

Personal Thoughts: Like the previous Walking with series, the show attempts to recreate some of the world's most unique ancient animals. Unfortunately, it still falls into the speculation and spectacle trap. For example, the powerful Andrewsarchus is, in fact, known only through a single skull, making the description of muscles and hooves entirely speculative. Similarly, Basilosaurus' willingness to enter a shallow lagoon seems extremely unlikely, given the estimated size of the whale. Still, the show has its fans and, considering the still-impressive special effects, it is not difficult to understand why.

Tanked

Y U PUT TREVALLY IN THREE-FOOT TANK?

Tanked presented by Animal Planet.

Plot: The series follows the work, trials, and successes of a successful Las Vegas aquarium company. Some aquariums demand creative thinking under strict time schedules. Others allow the company to make a difference in their customer's lives.

Genre: Television, Documentary

Reading Level: Not Rated; occasional cursing may offend some viewers.

Similar Titles: Cake Boss, Billy the Exterminator

Personal Thoughts: I think I would enjoy this show more if I did not work at an aquarium. While I appreciate the series' ability to bring attention to the complexities of creating custom aquariums, it tends to avoid major issues facing the aquarium trade. For example, the show neglects to address the needs of the animals. Six-inch blacktip reef sharks, destined to reach four to six feet in length, cannot be housed in 4-foot long aquariums indefinitely. Triggerfish, pufferfish, lionfish, and naso tangs, while pretty, will eventually harass or devour anything they are kept with. Few public aquariums need any more of these animals, so donating such creatures is out of the question, leading to the abandonment or death of most of the fish. Also, the show neglects to mention the importance of "boring" but important aspects of maintaining a tank, such as cycling, water quality, and filtration. As a result, the tanks seemingly take an instant-creation quality, leading to misunderstanding of the difficulty in keeping a marine environment. To be fair, though, the show still manages to address some issues facing the aquarium trade, such as sustainability and tank size issues. The insider look, though, keeps me from really enjoying the program.

Walking with Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs

Dimetrodon explains how it really happened

Walking with Monsters: Life Before the Dinosaurs presented by BBC.

Plot: While dinosaurs remain the most beloved of ancient creatures, paleontologists find fossils that predate them. The show attempts to recreate life before the dinosaurs. Starting in the oceans, small, hard-bodied creatures eventually reach land and create a number of reptile-like animals. Strangely, the creatures eventually begin to show mammalian-like characteristics, leading to one of the oddest families, the mammal-like reptiles, no longer existing on the planet.

Genre: Documentary, Animals, Television

Reading Level: Not Rated, but examples of predation make it unsuitable for sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Walking with Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs Unearthed

Personal Thoughts: The series does promote interest in groups of animals often ignored by dinophiles. Unlike the more famous reptilians, most of the life addressed in Monsters is smaller, but still interesting. Unfortunately, the series lends itself to ample speculation, such as dimetrodon parental care or euchambersia toxicity. It also tends to focus on unlikely circumstances, such as a giant arthropod impaling itself on a tree stump. As a result, the series tends to be impressive, but not necessarily realistic.

Transformers: Prime

 Optimus is the best

Transformers: Prime presented by Hasbro Studios.

Plot: Following eons of war, the heroic Autobots find themselves on a strange planet inhabited by complex organic life. The planet, Earth, is one of the strangest they have encountered, but they quickly find allies among the humans. Three children form a team with the Autobots to help them adjust to the new land. However, the Autobots did not arrive alone. The evil Decepticons, lead by the former gladiator Megatron, also discover the planet. Unlike the Autobots, they do not crave peace, but domination at all costs.

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Television Shows, Science Fiction

Reading Level: I believe the show is rated TV-Y7; watchers may need to be cautioned about violence. Due to the robotic nature of most fights, however, there is not a lot of gore.

Similar Titles: Green Lantern: The Animated Series; Batman: The Animated Series

Personal Thoughts: The show represents a growing trend among animated programs. While they continue to be made for children, they also appeal to adults through character development and complex stories. It also displays realistic results. Heroism requires sacrifices with effects that do not disappear in the next episode. For example, when a character dies or gets injured, they stay dead or traumatized. While this makes good storytelling, it can also be too intense for sensitive viewers. For fans of character and action-focused programs, though, the series can be rewarding.

Side Note: I like how the kids act like actual characters. Previous series tend to fall into the trap of keeping children as props or loads.

Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine

Warning! The text does not advise, guide, or recommend self-experimentation

Boring, Mel. Guinea Pig Scientists: Bold Self-Experimenters in Science and Medicine. New York : Henry Holt & Co., 2005.

Plot: Throughout history, scientists used experiments to make their discoveries. However, some trials seem too dangerous to ask anyone to attempt, so scientists experiment on themselves. The text outlines nine remarkable self-experimenters in their quest to understand the human body's processes and limitations. While some scientists eventually succumb to the results of their tests, many continue in their desire to discover and identify the world around them.

Genre: Science, History

Reading Level: Grades 5-9

Similar Title: Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, The Frog Scientist

Personal Thoughts: I have a scientific background, so I found the book amazing. It combines human stories, natural science, and social history to give readers a sense of the danger, methodology, and necessity of influential scientists' experiments. The text also reminds readers some facts taken for granted, such as the human body's consistent temperature, had to be discovered. However, some readers find the text lengthy and complicated, especially since Boring tends to use advanced scientific terminology. Nevertheless, science-focused users may find the text useful, if not inspiring. 

Harry's Mad

Outdoor reading

King-Smith, Dick. Harry's Mad. New York : Crown, 1984.

Plot: Ten-year-old Harry becomes the heir to his uncle's African gray parrot, Madison. Much to the boy's shock and delight, the parrot does not merely mimic speech, but understands it. The parrot and the boy quickly bond over conversations, checkers, and chess. Eventually, Harry's parents discover the bird's talents, which also include cooking, Monopoly, and crossword puzzles. The family enjoys the new pet, until a robber takes the amazing bird. Madison must find a way to rejoin his new family, which may grow through the process.

Genre: Animals, Adventure

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Ace: The Very Important Pig, The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Personal Thoughts: Like many of King-Smith's stories, the text subtly combines the ordinary and extraordinary, resulting in a simple but fantastic tale. 

Side Note: If you were outside this morning and heard a loud yell, it may or may not have been due to the absolutely enormous spider I found on the chair after taking this photo.
 

Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings

He seems to be more of a dog person

Le Guin, Ursula K. Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings. New York : Orchard Books, 1994.

Plot: When Alexander, a lively, bossy kitten, decides to explore, he quickly finds himself in trouble. After managing to dodge a large truck, two hunting dogs, and a frightening owl, he becomes caught in a tree. Lost and bewildered, he can hardly believe his eyes when another cat appears...with a set of wings. She does not speak, but shows Alexander the way down the tree and to her home. At her farm, he meets the Catwings, four kittens with the ability to fly. Eventually, the wingless kitten becomes adopted by the farmers, but his desire for accomplishment remains unsatisfied. He needs to repay the wonderful Catwings to meet his true potential.

Genre: Animals, Friendship, Fantasy

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Jane on Her Own, The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian

Personal Thoughts: Like Catwings, the title enjoys an intriguing story with elaborate illustrations. The pictures complement the text well, since they combine detail with expressiveness. Also like its predecessor, the story does not gloss over the hardships adventurers encounter. The characters, while fantasy-based, still face reality. Hunger, trauma, fear, limitations, and discomfort find mention. However, so do the methods for overcoming such obstacles. The title offers a mythical story with realistic results, creating a fun tale.

Clever Lollipop

Secretly, Sprite enjoys reading princess stories

King-Smith, Dick. Clever Lollipop. Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2003.

Plot: Following the events of Lady Lollipop, Princess Penelope, Johnny, and Lollipop find themselves facing a new dilemma. The princess must get an education, but she has no desire to go to school. Johnny manages to convince her to accept a governess, but Penelope will submit only if Johnny and Lollipop can attend class with her. After her governess refuses the conditions, all seems lost. However, a clever conjuror may bring the key to Her Majesty's education. The wizard, known as Collie Cob, manages to teach the princess, Johnny, and Lollipop with little fuss. However, the need to learn is not the only issue facing the castle. Lollipop is changing into an adult sow, and she needs more than the royal family's favor to be happy.

Genre: Animals

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Lady Lollipop, Once Upon a Marigold, Freddy the Detective

Personal Thoughts: The title offers a simple, feel-good follow-up to Lady Lollipop. While the princess certainly retains the lessons Johnny taught her, she still shows flashes of her old temper. Yet, she also displays a new level of concern for her friend, family, and pet. Similarly, her parents still provide a lesson in exaggeration, but also show a willingness to provide more support than compliance to their daughter. Johnny gains assistance through Collie in the mission to help the royal family. Overall, the title provides a good sequel to its predecessor, showing the consistency and changes within the royal situation.