MONSTERS AND FEARS (alphabetically by title)
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: A Bad Case of Stripes
AUTHOR: David Shannon
YEAR: 2007
This is an amusing tale of an impressionable girl who endures a series of maladies conjured by the tastes and expectations of others. The only cure is finding the courage to be herself.
TITLE: A Bad Case of Stripes
AUTHOR: David Shannon
YEAR: 2007
This is an amusing tale of an impressionable girl who endures a series of maladies conjured by the tastes and expectations of others. The only cure is finding the courage to be herself.
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: The Book that Eats People
AUTHOR: John Perry and Mark Fearing
YEAR: 2009
Open this book if you dare, but be warned -- it eats people! Original and hilarious (and maybe a tiny bit scary for younger kids).
TITLE: The Book that Eats People
AUTHOR: John Perry and Mark Fearing
YEAR: 2009
Open this book if you dare, but be warned -- it eats people! Original and hilarious (and maybe a tiny bit scary for younger kids).
Mom: Thumbs Middle Nicholas: Thumbs Middle Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Creepy Carrots
AUTHOR: Aaron Reynolds
YEAR: 2012
Creepy Carrots tells the story of a rabbit with a habit of taking carrots from a field, until he starts being followed by giant, menacing-looking carrots. I think we are supposed to think it is his conscience (his parents are never able to see them) reflecting his guilt for something --being greedy? stealing? -- I'm not really sure. He puts an end to the haunting by building a big fence around the carrot field, making it impossible for him to get at the carrots, which we see was the carrots' plan all along. With "creepy" black and white and orange illustrations.
TITLE: Creepy Carrots
AUTHOR: Aaron Reynolds
YEAR: 2012
Creepy Carrots tells the story of a rabbit with a habit of taking carrots from a field, until he starts being followed by giant, menacing-looking carrots. I think we are supposed to think it is his conscience (his parents are never able to see them) reflecting his guilt for something --being greedy? stealing? -- I'm not really sure. He puts an end to the haunting by building a big fence around the carrot field, making it impossible for him to get at the carrots, which we see was the carrots' plan all along. With "creepy" black and white and orange illustrations.
Mom: Thumbs Down Nicholas: Thumbs Middle Julia: Thumbs Middle
TITLE: Good Enough to Eat
AUTHOR: Brock Cole
YEAR: 2007
The critics (the real ones) seem to really like this book about a town that offers a poor orphan girl to a menacing ogre to keep him from "ravaging" them all. But I had a strong negative reaction to the violence, the dark themes, and especially the cruelty of the townspeople toward the girl. I know there is a lot of this kind of thing in fairy tales and children's books in general, but something about this one seemed particularly distasteful and disturbing. The kids didn't mind it, but I would not recommend it.
TITLE: Good Enough to Eat
AUTHOR: Brock Cole
YEAR: 2007
The critics (the real ones) seem to really like this book about a town that offers a poor orphan girl to a menacing ogre to keep him from "ravaging" them all. But I had a strong negative reaction to the violence, the dark themes, and especially the cruelty of the townspeople toward the girl. I know there is a lot of this kind of thing in fairy tales and children's books in general, but something about this one seemed particularly distasteful and disturbing. The kids didn't mind it, but I would not recommend it.
Mom: Thumbs down Nicholas: Thumbs Middle Julia: Thumbs Middle
TITLE: Kate and the Beanstalk
AUTHOR: Mary Pope Osborn
YEAR: 2005
This is another version of the Jack and the Beanstalk fairytale by the author of the Magic Tree House series. There is nothing particularly special about this version (other than the replacement of Jack with a girl). And I don't like the way Kate mistreats the much put-upon giantess, and at the end does her the "favor" of allowing her to become the servant. Not the best lesson in kindness/morality.
TITLE: Kate and the Beanstalk
AUTHOR: Mary Pope Osborn
YEAR: 2005
This is another version of the Jack and the Beanstalk fairytale by the author of the Magic Tree House series. There is nothing particularly special about this version (other than the replacement of Jack with a girl). And I don't like the way Kate mistreats the much put-upon giantess, and at the end does her the "favor" of allowing her to become the servant. Not the best lesson in kindness/morality.
Mom: Thumbs Up Nicholas: Thumbs Up Julia: Thumbs Up
TITLE: Otis and Rae and the Grumbling Splunk
AUTHOR: Laura and Leo Espinosa
YEAR: 2008
This is a refreshingly original tale by a local couple (Newton, MA) featuring two friends, one brave, one less so, who go camping and encounter and befriend the grumbling splunk of campfire story legend.
TITLE: Otis and Rae and the Grumbling Splunk
AUTHOR: Laura and Leo Espinosa
YEAR: 2008
This is a refreshingly original tale by a local couple (Newton, MA) featuring two friends, one brave, one less so, who go camping and encounter and befriend the grumbling splunk of campfire story legend.