Sequels and Adventures

Thus, we end sequel week. In an irony of sorts, I hope to do a sequel to sequel week. Perhaps I will event make a sequel to that. However, before any of these doubled-up plans come to fruition, I need to finish this week.

Since it is summer, the season of pirates, giant robots, reboots, and superheroes, we will focus on adventure items.

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Dragons of Blueland

Gannet, Ruth. Dragons of Blueland. New York : Knopf : Distributed by Random House, 1987.

Plot: The novel actually consists of three books, My Father's Dragon and two sequels. Elmer Elevator finally fulfills his dream to fly after assisting an imprisoned baby dragon. However, escape merely provides the beginning of the pair's adventures. Shortly after evading the cruel animals of Wild Island, the boy and dragon discover treasure with the help of a long-missing friend. Later, Elmer comes to the assistance of the young dragon when his family is threatened by hunters.

Genre: Fantasy, Adventure

Reading Level: Aimed at ages 9-12, but younger readers may enjoy listening to the book or observing the illustrations.

Similar Titles: Kiki's Delivery Service, The Dragonling, The Warm Place

Personal Thoughts: Like many sequels, the book does not enjoy quite as much attention as the original, which is unfortunate. The stories logically follow the tale from the first book while expanding the characters and situations inevitably and unexpectedly. Elmer's history and the dragon's personality naturally flow into the situations presented by the tales which, like the first, are reminiscent of old cartoons and backyard adventures. Highly recommended as a read-out-loud or bedtime story book.

Side note: I could not take a picture of Jerome looking at the book because he kept falling off of the chair.

Howliday Inn

Howe, James. Howliday Inn. New York : Atheneum, 1982.

Plot: A sequel to Bunnicula. While the Monroes go on a car trip, Chester the cat and Harold the dog find themselves boarded at Chateau Bow-Wow. Despite Mrs. Monroe's assurance that adventure is good for the soul, the pair of pets discover slew of strange situations awaiting them, including a love triangle between two poodles and a bulldog, a clash  between the kennel's staff, and a strangely absent vet. The situation becomes worse when two wire-haired dachshunds keep the boarding house awake with their howls, making Chester suspect some werewolf genes exist in their background. Chester's over-active imagination becomes even more irregular when an unpopular boarder unexpectedly disappears. However, his response may not be quite as strange as initially suspected, particularly when another animal vanishes...

Genre: Animals, Mystery

Reading Level: Ages 9-12

Similar Titles: Bunnicula, The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, The Buddy Files series

Personal Thoughts: While I am especially found of the novel now, I adored it during middle school. It provides a simple, but unexpected mystery and can be a good introduction to the genre. Additionally, the storyline is believable and the twists, while surprising, remain in character with the initial introductions. Overall, a solid sequel to the original.

Penguins

So, the special request week ends. Please keep in mind these themes are, by no means, exhaustive. Penguins are very popular and many more resources await, but I only have one week to focus on them.

Since it is summer, we will focus on a subject that seems to arise for three months starting in June. We will have a sequel week. Sequel weeks will focus on the sequels of items I have already reviewed. So relax and see how the stories continue.

Bobby Burns and Walter Stull
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