Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Too Cute

So adorable...



Too Cute presented by Animal Planet.

Plot: The series follows the first weeks of young animals. Dogs and cats form the bulk of the episodes, but other animals, such as ducks and goats, eventually find their way into the show. The animals are filmed from birth to approximately eight weeks of age, showing their developments while referring to the history of their breeds. Additionally, the show touches on training animals for various tasks, such as agility courses and shows. The result is a show that is overwhelmingly cute, but still educational.

Genre: Documentary, Animals

Reading Level: Rated TV-G (some of the animals are slimy when they are first born, so sensitive viewers may appreciate a warning)

Similar Titles: Animal Odd Couples, America's Cutest

Personal Thoughts: While some parts of the documentary are clearly set-up (a puppy running away from home and a litter of kittens escaping their room, for example), the series does show the various stages of growth young animals experience. It also alerts viewers to necessities present in specific breeds, such as the need for warmth with sphinx cats, frequent grooming with Havanese, and socialization with bullmastiffs. As such, the show appeals to audiences seeking cute films while warning future pet owners of their animals' requirements.

Battle Bunny

 Mosasaur forts: the only known protection against battle bunnies

Scieszka, Jon. Battle Bunny. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2013.

Plot: Originally a sappy story about a rabbit recepiant of a surprise party, the title morphs into an epic tale through the intervention of Alex. Alex utilizes his imagination and pencil to transform an overly-cute birthday present into the record of a helmeted, patch-eyed, meglomaniac bunny and his quest to take over the world. The planet seems doomed until the intervention of an unlikely but undeniable hero.

Genre: Humor, Animals

Reading Level: Aimed at preschool through fourth graders, but it made me and my family laugh.

Similar Titles: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The Math Curse, Help Me Mr. Mutt: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems

Personal Thoughts: Anyone ever obligated to read, accept, or acknowledge a title clearly written for a lower reading (or interest) level will appreciate Alex's creative solution to the problem. The "original" illustrations and text are appropriately sickly-sweet, while Alex's improvements tap into the typical drawing and interest style of elementary students. The result is a title that, while hard to describe, is undeniably fun to read.